Caravaggio is a TV mini-series based on the life of the Italian painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. It opens in 1577 when the painter was 5 years old. The plague had just hit and people who were still alive were burning their household possessions.

Some years have passed, and Michele's widowed mother has had some difficult decisions to make regarding her children. One of these is to send 12-year-old Michele to Milan to be an apprentice at the workshop of the well-known artist, Simone Peterzano. Michele has no desire to leave home and family.

Michele has a rough time of it in Master Simone's workshop. It's clear, however, that he has talent. A Knight of Malta comes into the workshop to have a look.

Michele manages to find a home for his painting, and receives something in exchange. Still at Maestro Simone's workshop, he grows up into a man and ends up trying to defend a young apprentice from being abused as he had been.

Michele goes back home after his mother dies and there, he spends some time with his childhood friend, Costanza Colonna. He tells her about his plans to go to Rome, the artistic center of the universe.

Once in Rome, Caravaggio looks for work in the studios of 2 Italian painters who were well-known at the time. Nobody seems very interested in his work.

Caravaggio falls ill and makes the acquaintance of Mario Minniti who becomes a friend to him. He takes him to the hospital of the church of Santa Maria della Consolazione in Rome.

Caravaggio meets Onorio Longhi, Italian architect and poet, and a bit of a bohemian. Longhi takes him to meet his friend Cesare D'Arpino, who is looking for assistants in his workshop.

After a night of drinking and brawling, Michele is finishing a painting outside the workshop. Baron Cenci shows up and likes what he sees on the easel. The Baron's daughter is in the carriage and exchanges a few words with Michele.

Michele gives one of his works to the girl in the carriage. She is Beatrice Cenci and is chained to her seat. Later, Michele is seriously wounded while loading a piece of art onto a horse-drawn cart.

Caravaggio manages to sell one of his paintings and decides to leave d'Arpino's workshop. His friend finds him a room, and he starts working on a painting, now known as"Boy bitten by a lizard".

Prosperino tries to sell Michele's painting of the "boy bitten by a lizard," and attempts to be professional. The three friends get their hopes up, but soon have to face reality. Michele and Mario quickly lose their patience and become belligerent.

Michele and Mario are having a hard time. But Michele can't bring himself to paint things he doesn't believe in, even at the risk of going hungry.

Word seems to be getting around that Merisi is a very talented painter. In bed with malaria, Michele himself is the last one to hear about it.

Young Michele thus enters into the service of Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte, man of culture and art connoisseur. All he has to do is what he does best: paint.

We learn of the death of Francesco Cenci from a conversation between the Cardinal and one of his guests. Michele arrives too, at a reception, where his latest painting is on display. He makes an impression as someone who speaks his mind.

Michele goes back to the tavern Ranuccio and Fillide frequent. He challenges Ranuccio.

Caravaggio (as he begins calling himself) and Ranuccio play real tennis. Who's going to win?

Michele finishes his painting of Fillide and they have a moment to get to know each other better.

Michele is at dinner at Fillide's home. The conversation turns to a grim story of patricide involving someone he knows and he can't let it go. Things get out of hand.

Michele returns to the palace but the Cardinal is not happy. Beatrice is on trial at the papal court and is trying to defend herself.

Michele is distraught about Beatrice Cenci but at this point, there is nothing he can do. He confides in Costanza Colonna, who warns him to keep his ideas to himself.

The Inquisition had a repressive function and its task was to defend the integrity of the faith. One of its many victims was Giordano Bruno, an Italian philosopher, writer, and Dominican friar who lived in the 16th century. For his theories, judged heretical by the tribunal of the Inquisition of the Papal State, Bruno was condemned and burned at the stake in Rome on February 17, 1600.

Michele has been working on a painting with Fillide as one of the models, but she is getting tired of the long hours. He tells her the story of the painting.

The Cardinal gives Michele a stern talking-to, but then gives him some surprising news.

Finally, Caravaggio's paintings are finished and on display in public, amazing all those who see them. Michele is on his best behavior.

Some colleagues of Caravaggio's try to belittle his work and tell him how he should have finished the painting. Outside, young artists want to study with him but he says he has nothing to teach them.

Michele hears that one of his paintings is in the home of the notary, who is not a friend. He wants to understand how that could have happened.

Those of the old guard are saying negative things about Michele and so his friend, Cardinal Del Monte is advising him to frequent wealthy art connoisseurs instead. He meets up with Costanza and they talk about love.

A new ordinance from the counter-reformists decrees that publically displayed works of art must be approved by Cardinal Borghese. Michele is very upset, to say the least.

Filide has some news for Michele that he is not going to like. After he receives the bad news, Michele goes out and gets into trouble, as he is wont to do.

Michele and his friends get involved in some street fighting. One of the Tomassonis gets wounded and Michele and company flee the scene.

Michele's arrest has put Cardinal Del Monte in an awkward position, especially since the cardinal isn't as powerful as he had been. Michele realizes it might be time for a change and wants to get to work on some newly commissioned paintings.

Michele isn't satisfied with how he has painted his new model. But finally, he seems to have found someone who appreciates him for who he is.

Michele is working on a new painting for the Church, hoping it will allow him to return to the good graces of his protectors. He still has the propensity to use common people as models and this might get him into trouble again.

Once again, Caravaggio is criticized for using a woman considered to be a prostitute in a painting of the Virgin Mary. This time, there are consequences for Lena, too.

Ranuccio and Michele have a real duel. It's bloody and violent.

Tomassoni is dead and there is a death warrant out for Michele. Costanza and her son have to make some new plans, as not even Naples is safe for Michele.

Michele makes the trip to the island of Malta, where he meets the Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, hoping for protection. In Rome, his paintings are being removed from churches, since he is now considered to be a murderer.

On the island of Malta, Michele recognizes someone from his distant past to whom he expresses the wish to become one of the Knights of Malta.

Michele has almost finished his painting for the Knights of Malta and his protectors seem very pleased when they see it. They also have some important news for him.

Michele is learning how to use his sword like a true knight when he is challenged by a fellow knight. Things don't end well and Michele is once again facing arrest.

Michele has been abandoned at the bottom of the shaft, along with lots of rats. Will anyone save him?

De Ponte is still intent on finding Caravaggio to arrest him. Fortunately, the artist has people who want to protect him and is taken by boat to Siracusa, where a friend takes him in.

Michele is painting and doesn't want to stop, even to eat, until he has finished. He is also having nightmares. The Marquise pays an unusual visit.

Michele arrives in Messina. Filide pays a visit to a Cardinal she knows, to try to negotiate a pardon for Michele.

Michele is still in Sicily and is feeling justifiably paranoid. A painting he had done in secret is on display in a small church. But there are some criticisms and he doesn't react passively.

The ship arrives at the mainland and Cardinal Gonzaga instructs his men to escort Michele to land in a dinghy. The Cardinal will follow with the travel documents and paintings. Michele is a bit suspicious, but has no choice.

Michele receives some apologies and some help to search for the boat with his canvases. The Marquise is trying to reach him.

Caravaggio is in a bad way, and the fishermen agree on how to handle him. The Marquise is desperately trying to reach Porto Ercole to meet him.