Churches, Museums and a Gallery in Rome to Honor Caravaggio with Rare Night Visits

ROME - Experts are examining whether a painting belonging to the Catholic priestly order of the Jesuits in Rome is the work of Italian master Caravaggio, the Vatican newspaper said Saturday. The L'Osservatore Romano article appeared as several Rome churches and museums housing works by Caravaggio planned to extend opening hours in an "all-nighter" to mark the 400th anniversary of his death. From dusk on Saturday until Sunday morning, visitors can enter for free Rome's Borghese Gallery, which houses such masterpieces as David with the head of Goliath and Boy with a basket of fruit. Also open will be three central Rome churches - Santa Maria del Popolo, Sant'Agostino and San Luigi dei Francesi - which house some half-dozen Caravaggio paintings, including the Crucifixion of St. Peter in Santa Maria del Popolo.