The full story
The Sack of Rome in 1527 interrupted a brilliant period of artistic patronage, but the city recovered through later papal rebuilding. The result is the Rome of grand churches, theatrical squares and major works by artists such as Michelangelo and Bernini. See this period through contrasts: the defensive refuge of Castel Sant’Angelo recalls the sack, while St Peter’s, Piazza Navona and the angel-lined Ponte Sant’Angelo show the confidence of later papal Rome. For practical planning, treat Early modern Rome as part of a wider Rome day rather than an isolated checklist item. Pair the ideas here with the nearby places already named, allow time for walking and breaks, and keep the plan flexible around heat, crowds, and access changes. That pace leaves space to read the streets and neighbourhoods connecting the larger sights. It is often in those transitions that Rome’s layers become clearest.