Italy Virtual Tours: Art, Culture & Beauty - New York

REGISTRATION REQUIRED! Click here to register

Join us for a fascinating virtual tour with slides dedicated to Castel Sant’Angelo, one of Rome’s most impressive and historically layered monuments.
Standing beside the Tiber River and connected to the heart of Rome by the beautiful Ponte Sant’Angelo, this extraordinary building has witnessed almost two thousand years of history. Originally constructed in the 2nd century AD as the monumental mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian, it was intended to house the remains of the emperor and members of his family.
Over the centuries, the ancient tomb was transformed into a fortress, papal residence, prison and place of refuge, becoming closely connected with the history of the popes and the defence of the Vatican.
Through carefully selected slides, we will follow this remarkable transformation, from Hadrian’s Mausoleum to the powerful papal castle that still dominates the banks of the Tiber today. We will see how its massive Roman structure was incorporated into medieval fortifications and learn about the origin of its present name, linked to the legendary appearance of the Archangel Michael above the monument.
Our journey will take us through the castle’s imposing courtyards, defensive passages and historic prisons before entering the richly decorated papal apartments, created as both elegant residences and secure shelters. We will admire frescoed rooms, Renaissance decorations and spaces associated with some of the most influential popes in Italian history.
We will also learn about the famous Passetto di Borgo, the fortified corridor connecting Castel Sant’Angelo with the Vatican. This protected passage offered the popes an emergency escape route during moments of danger, including the dramatic Sack of Rome in 1527.
Along the way, we will encounter stories of emperors, popes, soldiers, prisoners and artists, discovering how a Roman funerary monument became one of the most powerful symbols of papal Rome.
Don’t miss this captivating journey through ancient Rome, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, bringing together architecture, art, power, faith and legend within one unforgettable monument.

HOW TO JOIN:
The tour will be hosted on Zoom. To register, you are required to enter your full name (first and last name).After the registration, you will receive via email a personal link to access the virtual event. To protect your privacy, your camera will be disabled during the event.
The tour will last approximately 1 hour. At the end of the tour you will be given the chance to interact and make questions just like a live tour. The tour takes place in English!
PRICE: How much does the virtual tour cost?
Our virtual tours are tip-based and not free, they rely entirely on contributions from participants. This means we do not impose a fixed ticket price to join. Every participant is welcome to take part in the tour and decide how much to contribute based on their satisfaction and personal budget. You can leave a tip here: https://nextstop-italy.com/donation/
❗Please note❗: To ensure the sustainability of the project, we regularly monitor the donations received, based on participation in previous tours, and, if necessary, we may apply participation limits or suspend accounts.This is essential to maintain the quality of our tours, ensure fairness, and continue rewarding the valuable work of our guides. If you register for a tour but cannot attend live or watch the recording, we kindly ask you to unsubscribe before the tour begins. Otherwise, your registration will still be counted as participation.
Can’t watch our virtual tour live due to the time zone or are you unable to join us live? Register at the virtual tour and we will send you the recording hence you can watch it in your own time! Recordings are also tip-based, as they support our cultural project and the work of our guides.
Check out all our Italy Virtual Tours

REGISTRATION REQUIRED! Click here to register

Join us for a fascinating virtual tour with slides of the Brancacci Chapel in Florence, a place filled with powerful stories, hidden faces, political secrets, and curious mysteries.
Located inside the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine, the chapel tells the story of Saint Peter through magnificent frescoes painted by Masolino, Masaccio, and Filippino Lippi. Three artists, three different personalities—and a project that took many years to complete.
But why was the work suddenly interrupted? Why did Masaccio leave Florence? What happened to the powerful Brancacci family after they were exiled? And were some of their faces deliberately erased from the frescoes?
Looking closely at the paintings, we will meet not only biblical characters but also real people from Renaissance Florence. Artists, wealthy citizens, politicians, and mysterious spectators appear within the scenes, wearing the clothes and expressions of their own time. Some figures may even be portraits of the painters themselves.
We will also discover the surprising story of Adam and Eve, whose naked bodies were covered centuries later, and learn how the chapel miraculously survived political conflicts, censorship, alterations, and a devastating fire.
Many famous artists came here to study and copy the frescoes. According to tradition, the young Michelangelo was among them—and a quarrel inside the chapel may have left him with his famous broken nose.
Join us to explore the Brancacci Chapel slide by slide, uncovering its hidden portraits, curious details, dramatic stories, and unanswered questions. This is not simply a chapel: it is a window into the real faces, ambitions, rivalries, and mysteries of Renaissance Florence.

HOW TO JOIN:
The tour will be hosted on Zoom. To register, you are required to enter your full name (first and last name).After the registration, you will receive via email a personal link to access the virtual event. To protect your privacy, your camera will be disabled during the event.
The tour will last approximately 1 hour. At the end of the tour you will be given the chance to interact and make questions just like a live tour. The tour takes place in English!
PRICE: How much does the virtual tour cost?
Our virtual tours are tip-based and not free, they rely entirely on contributions from participants. This means we do not impose a fixed ticket price to join. Every participant is welcome to take part in the tour and decide how much to contribute based on their satisfaction and personal budget. You can leave a tip here: https://nextstop-italy.com/donation/
❗Please note❗: To ensure the sustainability of the project, we regularly monitor the donations received, based on participation in previous tours, and, if necessary, we may apply participation limits or suspend accounts.This is essential to maintain the quality of our tours, ensure fairness, and continue rewarding the valuable work of our guides. If you register for a tour but cannot attend live or watch the recording, we kindly ask you to unsubscribe before the tour begins. Otherwise, your registration will still be counted as participation.
Can’t watch our virtual tour live due to the time zone or are you unable to join us live? Register at the virtual tour and we will send you the recording hence you can watch it in your own time! Recordings are also tip-based, as they support our cultural project and the work of our guides.
Check out all our Italy Virtual Tours

REGISTRATION REQUIRED! Click here to register

Join us for a brand-new virtual walking tour of Norcia, one of Umbria’s most fascinating and inspiring towns. Surrounded by the spectacular scenery of the Sibillini Mountains, Norcia is a place where history, spirituality, ancient traditions, and natural beauty come together.
As we walk through its historic centre, we will explore charming streets and lively squares while discovering the remarkable story of this ancient town. Norcia is famous as the birthplace of Saint Benedict, the founder of Western monasticism and one of the patron saints of Europe. We will learn about his life, his spiritual legacy, and the deep connection that still exists between the saint and his hometown.
Our journey will lead us to Piazza San Benedetto, the heart of Norcia and the setting for some of its most important monuments. Here, we will discover the Basilica of Saint Benedict, the Town Hall, and the imposing Castellina, a fortress-like building that has stood in the square for centuries.
Norcia has experienced several devastating earthquakes, but its community has always found the courage to rebuild. During the tour, we will hear about the town’s reconstruction and the determination of its people to protect their history, identity, and traditions.
Of course, no visit to Norcia would be complete without discovering its celebrated food and culinary traditions. The town is famous for its traditional norcinerie, as well as its black truffles, Castelluccio lentils, local cheeses, honey, and many other flavours of the Umbrian mountains. These specialities tell the story of the surrounding countryside and of skills passed down through generations.
Join us for this new virtual walking tour of Norcia and discover a town where every street, stone, flavour, and tradition has a story to tell—an unforgettable journey through faith, nature, history, and the resilient spirit of Umbria.

HOW TO JOIN:
The tour will be hosted on Zoom. To register, you are required to enter your full name (first and last name).After the registration, you will receive via email a personal link to access the virtual event. To protect your privacy, your camera will be disabled during the event.
The tour will last approximately 1 hour. At the end of the tour you will be given the chance to interact and make questions just like a live tour. The tour takes place in English!
PRICE: How much does the virtual tour cost?
Our virtual tours are tip-based and not free, they rely entirely on contributions from participants. This means we do not impose a fixed ticket price to join. Every participant is welcome to take part in the tour and decide how much to contribute based on their satisfaction and personal budget. You can leave a tip here: https://nextstop-italy.com/donation/
❗Please note❗: To ensure the sustainability of the project, we regularly monitor the donations received, based on participation in previous tours, and, if necessary, we may apply participation limits or suspend accounts.This is essential to maintain the quality of our tours, ensure fairness, and continue rewarding the valuable work of our guides. If you register for a tour but cannot attend live or watch the recording, we kindly ask you to unsubscribe before the tour begins. Otherwise, your registration will still be counted as participation.
Can’t watch our virtual tour live due to the time zone or are you unable to join us live? Register at the virtual tour and we will send you the recording hence you can watch it in your own time! Recordings are also tip-based, as they support our cultural project and the work of our guides.
Check out all our Italy Virtual Tours

REGISTRATION REQUIRED! Click here to register

Join us for a fascinating virtual tour with slides dedicated to Filippino Lippi, one of the most imaginative and original artists of the Italian Renaissance.
Born in Prato around 1457, Filippino had a rather unusual family history. He was the son of the celebrated painter and Carmelite friar Filippo Lippi and the nun Lucrezia Buti—a relationship that caused a considerable scandal at the time. After losing his father at a young age, Filippino joined the workshop of Sandro Botticelli, whose elegant figures and flowing lines influenced his early paintings.
But was Filippino simply a follower of Botticelli, or did he create an artistic world entirely of his own? Why did his later paintings become increasingly dramatic, mysterious, and filled with fantastical details? And how did the son of a rebellious friar become one of the most admired artists in Renaissance Florence?
During our virtual journey, we will follow Filippino from his early years to the most important moments of his career. We will discover how he was chosen to complete the magnificent Brancacci Chapel in Florence, where he had to continue the unfinished stories of Saint Peter while respecting the revolutionary work of Masaccio and Masolino.
We will then enter the extraordinary world of the Strozzi Chapel in Santa Maria Novella, filled with imaginary buildings, exotic clothing, ancient statues, strange creatures, and mysterious pagan rituals.
Our journey will also take us to Rome and the Carafa Chapel in the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, where Filippino combined Christian stories with references to classical culture and the splendour of the ancient city.
Join us for this special virtual tour with slides and discover the remarkable life, fascinating secrets, and extraordinary imagination of Filippino Lippi—an artist whose works transport us into a captivating world where faith, reality, classical mythology, and fantasy come together.

HOW TO JOIN:
The tour will be hosted on Zoom. To register, you are required to enter your full name (first and last name).After the registration, you will receive via email a personal link to access the virtual event. To protect your privacy, your camera will be disabled during the event.
The tour will last approximately 1 hour. At the end of the tour you will be given the chance to interact and make questions just like a live tour. The tour takes place in English!
PRICE: How much does the virtual tour cost?
Our virtual tours are tip-based and not free, they rely entirely on contributions from participants. This means we do not impose a fixed ticket price to join. Every participant is welcome to take part in the tour and decide how much to contribute based on their satisfaction and personal budget. You can leave a tip here: https://nextstop-italy.com/donation/
❗Please note❗: To ensure the sustainability of the project, we regularly monitor the donations received, based on participation in previous tours, and, if necessary, we may apply participation limits or suspend accounts.This is essential to maintain the quality of our tours, ensure fairness, and continue rewarding the valuable work of our guides. If you register for a tour but cannot attend live or watch the recording, we kindly ask you to unsubscribe before the tour begins. Otherwise, your registration will still be counted as participation.
Can’t watch our virtual tour live due to the time zone or are you unable to join us live? Register at the virtual tour and we will send you the recording hence you can watch it in your own time! Recordings are also tip-based, as they support our cultural project and the work of our guides.
Check out all our Italy Virtual Tours