A walk through Rome following the steps of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the leading artist in Rome in the 1600's. Rome has centuries of history and endless stories to tell - a whole lifetime is not enough to explore all that the city has to offer.

A Rome of Emperors and Popes, a Rome of artists and poets. Its history, its stories, its never ending variety of splendour and intrigue.

This itinerary is going to show you some of the best of Rome : the magnificence, the pomp, and the artistic creativity which caused much rivalry and fights for power.

In the seventeenth century there were twelve Popes of noble leading families who ruled Rome and the Church leaving their imprint throughout the city. Artists of all kinds worked for them and their families and friends, but it was Gian Lorenzo Bernini who stood out.

He was born in Naples of a Tuscan father who was a sculptor, and he grew up in Rome. He was able to study all the great ancient and contemporary treasures. He made himself popular with everybody. He was always ready to challenge tradition - making us of new ideas and ways of working.

To study Bernini's life is to understand the political and social life in Rome in the 1600's. This was an incredible period of Rome's history, you can live and breathe that history through Bernini's works. The Borghese Gallery was created for Cardinal Scipione Borghese, who was made cardinal when he was 29, by his uncle Pope Paul V.

He was a serious art collector and we have to thank him for many of the beautiful works of art, busts and frescoes which we find in the gallery. Many of Bernini's sculptures are here, such as Persephone, David, Apollo and Daphne and many more. Bernini had the amazing gift of making marble seem to be living flesh.

Seeing these statues you are caught up in the emotion of the moment. David, ready to throw the stone, his body and lips tight and a slight wrinkled frown. Persephone anguished tears with Pluto's fingers digging into her flesh. Daphne, her mouth and eyes filled with terror as she is transformed into a laurel tree to escape Apollo. They are known as 'tutto tondo' as you walk around the statues you perceptions change, it as if you are looking into their lives and times. In the city centre there are three masterpieces close to each other: the Triton Fountain, the Bee Fountain and Barberini Palace all created for Pope Urban VIII Barberini, and the Barberini family.

When the pope was a cardinal he was a friend of Bernini and helped Bernini's self portrait by holding a mirror while he sculpted David's face. In the nearby church of Santa Maria Della Vittoria, you find the impressive statue of Saint Theresa in Ecstasy: a pure white marble representation of a woman during her spiritual ecstasy with an angel gazing down at her, holding an arrow.

This is an example of the FIRE of Dan Brown in 'Angels and Demons. To sum up the Baroque period and one of the most important of Bernini's statues is the Four River Fountain in Navona square which was built for Pope Innocent X . Here the travertine stone is transformed into moss, palms, lions and dolphins. The cental spire rests on an open cavity formed by four giants who represent the four major rivers.

Here is Dan Brown's WATER in 'Angels and Demons. Still on the subject of angels, you must head for the Bernini's Angel Bridge, which crosses the tiber and takes you to the entrance of St Angel's Castle. This impressive building is both beautiful and mystical. The angels were designed by Bernini and sculpted by his pupils, although two of the statues are now preserved in the Church of Sant'Andrea Delle Fratte. Study the contrast of the violence of Christ's passion against the angels' slight bodies and sweet faces.

Saint Peter's Basilica and its square both have the mark of Bernini. Inside the Basilica, dominating the high altar we see the monumental Baldachino - canopy - which he created for Pope Urban VIII Barberini.

This masterpiece took nine years to complete. It marks the place where saint Peter is buried and fills the space beneath Michelangelo's dome. It is about 90 feet high and is decorated with angels, branches and the Barberini crests with the bees all over. Bernini worked thirty more years in the Vatican and created many great works of art.

From the Throne in gilded bronze held by the four Fathers of the Church who are fifteen feet tall with clouds, cherubs, spirals, waves and curves - to the Scala Regia, the royal monumental staircase connecting the square with the the papal residence. The equestrian statue dedicated to Emperor Costantine and the tomb of Urban VIII Barberini.

Not to missed is Bernini's monument of Alexander VII Chigi - showing the Pope's approaching death, surrounded by the virtues he pursued in life - Charity, Truth, Prudence and Justice. Last but not the least the Colonnato surrounding Saint Peter's square, which majestically rises into view as approaching visitors leave the narrow medieval streets.

See our "Angels & Demons" tour

Gian Lorenzo Bernini: a biography