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Background and aim: Court doctors have long been a neglected topic for medical historians as theyoften represent minor figures with a little editorial production at a scientific level, more relevant for the politicaland diplomatic role played at court rather than for their medical one. Only recently, medical historianshave understood their importance, starting to investigate the relationship between court medicine and themedical context of the society of the time. Among these still little-known figures, to whom historiography ispaying attention, there is Cesare Macchiati (1629-1675), a doctor at the Roman court of Queen Christina ofSweden from 1659 to 1675. Materials and Methods: As a court doctor, Macchiati joined the Queen on twojourneys to Northern Europe, towards Sweden, respectively between 1660 and 1668, leaving about fifty letters,addressed to Cardinal Decio Azzolino Jr, as a documentation of these journeys. Results: From the studyof these letters, it is possible to deduce some biographical information on court medical practice, the queen’stemperament and illnesses and the circulation of a new medical knowledge at the court, which was favouredby the journey. Conclusions: The biography highlights how the role of a court doctor, which was consolidatedby the experience of the journey to Europe in Macchiati’s case, becomes a prerequisite for a professional riseon his return to Rome in the most important city medical institutions, such as the university, the Romanmedical college at the pontifical curia, characterized by a cosmopolitan context thanks to the internationalprofessional background, developed at the Queen’s court.