Hidden Art Treasures in Rome (Self Guided), Rome

Rome is one of the world's top living museums, replete with some of the most iconic pieces of art on the face of the planet. Famous artists, such as Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Raphael, Bernini, to mention but a few, had lived and worked here and left indelible marks in the city.

Needless to say that the abundance of masterpieces makes Rome crowded with tourists anxious to see them, causing the local museums to charge hefty fees. Still, there's also a surprising number of hidden art gems in Rome that are free to look at and routinely passed by tourists totally undetected.

Indeed, Rome has numerous layers and the density of its art scene is truly mind-boggling even for a discerning traveler or culture vulture. Luckily, with a bit of insider knowledge, one can find and enjoy the works of art by renowned masters completely free of charge. Here are some of the “secret spots” worth checking out:

Saint Mary of Peace Church – rededicated to the Virgin Mary after a miraculous bleeding of a Madonna image in 1480; among other features here is the “Sibyls Receiving Angelic Instruction” fresco by Raphael.

Basilica of St. Augustine – known for plentiful artwork by Caravaggio, Raphael, Guercino and Bernini, as well as the Buongiovanni Chapel (in the left transept) decorated by Giovanni Lanfranco and the "St Thomas of Villanova Distributing Alms" sculpture by Bernini's assistant Ercole Ferrata;

Church of St. Louis of the French – a small basilica just one block from Piazza Navona; a hidden gem absolutely worth a stop, if only for the spectacular Contarelli Chapel housing the in-situ triptych by Caravaggio depicting life of St. Matthew;

Elephant and Obelisk Statue – the red granite obelisk from Egypt, dated circa 580 BC, set upon the marble elephant carved by Ercole Ferrata;

Santa Maria sopra Minerva Church – renowned, in part, for housing the Cristo della Minerva, aka “Christ the Redeemer” or “Christ Carrying the Cross” marble sculpture by Michelangelo Buonarroti.

If you’re an art lover, traveling on a budget, and willing to be whisked off the beaten path for some unusual findings in Rome, take this self-guided walk and ferret out its less touristy and overlooked, but nonetheless just as magnificent, landmarks that are still under the radar.