About this tour
The Grande Galerie at the Louvre is one of the most extraordinary rooms in the world — a long corridor lined with Italian masterpieces that stretches almost four hundred metres from end to end. Most visitors walk through it quickly, glancing left and right without quite understanding what they are seeing.
This tour changes that. We move slowly and deliberately through the Italian collection, from the early Renaissance painters of the 13th and 14th centuries all the way through to the dramatic chiaroscuro of Caravaggio and his followers. Along the way, the story of how painting was reinvented, again and again, over three centuries of Italian genius.
The Wedding at Cana by Veronese — the largest painting in the Louvre, hanging opposite the Mona Lisa
What you will see
The tour moves through the Italian galleries from the primitives to the Baroque, with particular attention to the works that mark turning points in the history of art. The Mona Lisa, the Wedding at Cana, the Virgin of the Rocks, and the extraordinary Caravaggio paintings in the lower galleries all feature, woven into a narrative that makes the whole collection feel coherent and alive.
If there is a particular artist or period you are most curious about, mention it in your request. While nothing can be promised, every effort will be made.
Who is this tour for?
This tour suits anyone with an interest in painting, from complete beginners who want to understand why the Renaissance mattered to knowledgeable art lovers who want a guide who can reveal what lies beneath the surface of these familiar works. It is also an excellent choice for visitors who have seen the Mona Lisa before and want, finally, to truly understand it.
Availability
The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. All other days are available, subject to your preferred time slot.
Important notice
The Louvre is a living museum. Rooms may occasionally close without notice for operational reasons, and works are regularly moved for restoration, loans, or temporary exhibitions. The three great icons of the collection — the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace — are on permanent display and accessible whenever the museum is open. For any other specific work, if it is unavailable on the day, an equally fascinating alternative will always be proposed.