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From London to Rome, follow in the footsteps of Michelangelo, Leonardo and Raphael with Rocco Forte Hotels' 1504 Tour

On 25 January 1504, a committee of Florentine artists convened to debate an appropriate site for Michelangelo’s colossal David. The gathering included Michelangelo’s fellow artist Leonardo da Vinci who, at the time, was in direct competition with the younger painter. Another rival was about to emerge on the Renaissance art scene - Raphael, whose intricate style, influenced by both Michelangelo and Da Vinci, earned him a commission to paint a fresco in Pope Julius II’s private library in the Vatican Palace, ahead of his two contenders.


This November, London’s Royal Academy of Arts explores the intense rivalries that were key drivers of innovation and excellence in Renaissance Italy with Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael: Florence, c. 1504. As a supporter of the groundbreaking exhibition, Rocco Forte Hotels offers guests the opportunity to embark on a 1504 Tour, including three Renaissance-themed experiences in Rome, Milan and Florence. Each tour showcases rare, important works by Raphael, Da Vinci, and Michelangelo; a trinity of Renaissance titans.

Follow the Footsteps of Raphael in Rome

Raphael famously spent the final decade of his short life in Rome, feverishly creating graceful works that would see him crowned the ‘prince of painters’. One of the young artist’s lesser-known sites of artistic output was Villa Farnesina, in the colourful neighbourhood of Trastevere. Once the private residence of Renaissance patron Agostino Chigi, a wealthy banker with an imposing personality, this historic villa near the River Tiber is today an intimate space for Renaissance art lovers and children fascinated by tales of Roman gods.

Whether you stay at Hotel de Russie, Hotel de la Ville, or Rocco Forte House, each of our Eternal City properties is well placed for exploring Trastevere. Our local guide will offer expert insights into Villa Farnesina’s elaborate wall and ceiling frescoes, painstakingly executed by the greatest painters of the age at the height of their careers. Explore Raphael’s mythology masterpieces, from The Triumph of Galatea to the visual narrative of Cupid and Psyche, delving deeper into his artistic motivations at the time. Afterwards, your guide will show you around Trastevere’s charming piazzas and labyrinthine streets filled with artisan boutiques.

€1,900 for up to 8 guests, subject to availability

To book, please contact the Concierge at:

Hotel de Russie & Hotel de la Ville

Uncover a Da Vinci Treasure Trove in Milan

Famed for its fashion and finance credentials, Milan’s artistic heritage is equally remarkable. Leonardo da Vinci spent much of his prolific life in the Lombardy capital and created his most enigmatic works here, including The Last Supper and The Lady with an Ermine. A scientist, writer, painter, engineer, philosopher, and inventor; the original Renaissance Man left enough preliminary sketches and notes to fill a library after his death.

Rocco Forte House Milan guests can enjoy exclusive access to the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, one of the world’s oldest libraries, which houses the Codex Atlanticus, the largest and most important collection of Da Vinci’s work. Peruse twelve volumes, written between 1478 and 1519, charting the genius’s career through Italy, with subjects as diverse as flight weaponry, mathematics, mechanics, music, astronomy and botany, as well as many early-stage inventions. After your tour, join the General Secretary and the Director of the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, Milan’s oldest museum, for a private dinner in the library.

Pricing and availability provided upon request

To book, please contact the Rocco Forte House Manager:

Rocco Forte House Milan

A Meeting of Minds in Michelangelo’s Florence

The Birthplace of the Renaissance ignited an artistic revolution and nurtured some of history's greatest minds. Michelangelo’s imprint can be felt throughout the Tuscan capital, not least with his iconic David, displayed in the Galleria dell Accademia, and the subtly titled Bacchus, his first foray into large-scale sculpture, at the Museo Nazionale del Bargello. But it is often lesser-known works that offer a fascinating glimpse into an artist’s creative evolution.

Guests of Hotel Savoy can witness artistic majesty up close with a private viewing of Michelangelo’s River God sculpture at Florence’s Accademia delle Arti del Disegno. First created as a model for the abandoned larger-scale River Gods, intended to be placed at the base of a Medici tomb, the piece was eventually donated to the Florentine institution in 1583. Crafted from clay, wool, tow and horse hair, the imposing male torso has recently been restored to its original ‘biacca’ hue, intended to imitate marble. View this exceptionally rare piece at your leisure.

Exclusive private visits invite a minimum donation of €1,200 per person

Please contact the Hotel Savoy reservations team:

Hotel Savoy

"Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael: Florence c. 1504"

In this exhibition, organised by the Royal Academy of Arts, Renaissance titans Michelangelo, Leonardo, and a young Raphael cross paths for the first, and only time in Florence, circa 1504. Some of their finest drawings will be on show, along with selected paintings and sculptures. Key works include Leonardo’s Burlington House Cartoon, Michelangelo’s Taddei Tondo, and Raphael’s Bridgewater Madonna. Discover the stories behind their art, including their rivalries and lasting influence on each other.

Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael: Florence c. 1504 will be on display from 9 November 2024 - 16 February 2025 at the Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington Gardens, London.

To book an Artistic Escape in Mayfair, please contact the Concierge at Brown’s Hotel:

Brown's Hotel

Register as a Rocco Forte Friend to enjoy complimentary access to the Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael: Florence, c. 1504 exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts.

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Rocco Forte Hotels

A Curated Eye: ‘Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael: Florence, c. 1504’ at the Royal Academy of Arts

At the dawn of the 16th century, Florence was a crucible of artistic brilliance. It was here that  Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael – three titans of the Italian Renaissance – briefly crossed paths.  On 25 January 1504, the city’s most prominent artists met to discuss the location for Michelangelo’s David. Amongst them was da Vinci, Michelangelo’s greatest rival. 

Now, as a major exhibition Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael: Florence, c. 1504 at London’s Royal Academy of Arts explores their fiery relationship and influence on the young Raphael, we discover the secrets behind the art with Julien Domercq, Curator of the exhibition. 

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