The public are being allowed rare access to a 16th Century convent full of Renaissance frescoes at the top of Rome's Spanish Steps.

The exhibition - which opened on Wednesday - at Trinita dei Monti also features hundreds of paintings, drawings and ancient manuscripts.

Some of the recently restored frescoes are the work of pupils of Michelangelo and Raphael.

Frescoes honoured of French kings

The public can tour the church, the cloister and the refectory, which contain many beautifully decorated murals.

The complex was started in 1502 by King Louis XII of France, and the cloister features 32 frescoes illustrating the life and deeds of French kings.

Also contained in the cloister are frescoes by various artists based on the life of Saint Francis of Paola.

Solar clock

The church itself is already famous for its frescoes including Stories of St John the Baptist by Naldini, Perin del Vaga's Assumption and Isaiah and Daniel, Taddeo Zuccari's Death of Maria and Federico Zuccari's The Coronation of the Virgin.

Those touring the convent will see a solar clock painted on the walls in one of the rooms.

The refectory, where restoration work has been completed recently, has been painted by Baroque painter Andrea Pozzo.

And among the most famous of the frescoes in the complex is that by Daniele da Volterra, showing Jesus' descent from the cross.

The exhibition runs until 8 September, and is expected to draw thousands of the visitors who come to the Spanish Steps.