During the middle age the Papal seat was moved to France, in Avignone, and Rome inhabitants pretty abandoned the eternal city due to the deep economic crisis involving Rome. The Renaissance age started only after the 1418, when the Pope decided to establish again in Rome and the city finally gained a very big revival.

Our itinerary obviously starts from the Musei Vaticani, visiting first the Cappella Sistina, world known masterpiece, due to the willing of Pope Sisto IV. This chapel has been decorated  by some 15th century extraordinary artists such as Ghirlandaio, Perugino, Luca Signorelli, Botticelli, but only later, at the beginning of 16th century it became what it is now, with the amazing paintings realized by Michelangelo Buonarroti.
This great Master from Tuscany, originally decorated the vault painting the famous Last Judgement with about 400 figures, almost all naked. He was still alive when, after being strongly criticized, his masterpiece was partially covered by Daniele da Volterra, who painted clothes and garments to cover naked bodies.
Only the complete restoration, realized in 1999, has made possible to admire the splendour and brightness of the Michelangelo’s work, in its original colours.
Even the dome of the Basilica di San Pietro, still considered the largest church of the world, was designed by Michelangelo. Visiting the basilica, symbol of the Christian Church and dominating the big round-shaped square, makes it possible to admire the magnificent “Pieta’”, a marble sculpture representing the Virgin and his child, a unique masterpiece which was personally signed by Michelangelo.
After this cultural immersion we suggest to visit   the narrow streets between Piazza del Fico and Via del Governo Vecchio, in a fascinating area where the old renaissance atmosphere is still alive: from the late afternoon till the early morning crowds of young people meet there for a tasty happy hour or a traditional pizza.
Continuing on this nice walk we will get to Corso Vittorio Emanuele with its beautiful buildings and churches and then to Piazza Campo dei Fiori, one of the most typical and lively squares of Rome, meeting place for those who like wine bars and pizzerie.
In the morning a nice food and vegetable open-air market  will be a good chance to meet with Italian people living in that area.
In the centre of the square you will admire the statue representing Giordano Bruno, a famous  Italian philosopher who was burned in this square because of his opinions about the Copernican theory, considered heretical.
In the beautiful but less animated Piazza Farnese there is the Palazzo Farnese, realized in 1534 by the willing of the Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, the future Pope Paolo III, today’s seat of the French Embassy.
Our itinerary can finish at Villa Chigi, in Via della Lungara, previously owned by a businessman from Siena who was very famous because of the sumptuous parties he used to organize: an old story tells that once, at the end of a party, some golden table-ware were thrown away in the river.
But no one was aware that some fishing nets had been previously put in the river to get the table-ware back!
In Via della Lungara there is also the famous Regina Coeli prison, realized in the 19th century nearby the remains of the church of Santa Maria Regina Coeli.
Musei Vaticani - Cappella Sistina, Viale del Vaticano. Opening times: 8.45am-15.45pm, closed on Sundays. there is an entrance fee.
Villa Farnesina alla Lungara, Via della Lungara 230. Opening times: 9.00am-13.00pm, close on Sundays. there is an entrance fee.