Ghosts Legends and Mysteries of Rome Walking Tour





Description
Explore a different side of the Eternal City on this Rome ghost tour at night, blending dark history, macabre legends, and true crime stories. Led by an expert local guide, you’ll stroll through atmospheric streets while learning about haunted locations, ruthless popes, assassinations, and secret poison plots that shaped Rome’s past. Discover the sinister history of Castel Sant’Angelo, once a fortress and prison, and uncover the shocking truth about Giulia Tofana, whose poison empire changed the lives of countless Romans. Perfect for visitors seeking unique things to do in Rome, this evening walking tour combines history with suspense, dark humor, and dramatic storytelling — all in the refreshing night air of the historic city center. For adults & teens (12+ only) It's a tip-based tour. The guides work on the ‘Pay-What-You-Want’ tour model which means they work for your tips alone. At the end of the experience you can give your guide what you think the tour was worth.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome, originally built as Emperor Hadrian's mausoleum, later served as a fortress, papal residence, and prison. Its striking cylindrical structure and rooftop statue of the Archangel Michael make it one of Rome's most iconic landmarks along the Tiber River.
Ponte Sant'Angelo looms over the Tiber like a bridge between worlds, its ten angelic statues carved by Bernini and his students standing sentinel, each bearing symbols of Christ's suffering. By night, shadows shroud the angels’ faces, their expressions both solemn and haunting, as if guarding secrets of the souls that once crossed into the fortress beyond—Castel Sant'Angelo, a place of refuge, power, and whispered mysteries.
The house of the kindest executioner in Rome.
The Haunted Arch, and the place of prayer for the most controversial exorcist in Rome.
The house of the 16th-century artistic genius Benvenuto Cellini, who, unfortunately, was more notorious as a rapist and murderer.
The haunted house of the witch Giulia Tofana, and the stories of the holy inquisition.
Corte Savella, the only prison in Rome authorized to execute convicts inside its walls - the place where Beatrice Cenci was tortured before her execution.
Via Giulia is a picturesque, historic street in Rome, designed by Bramante in the early 16th century for Pope Julius II, and lined with Renaissance palaces, ivy-covered facades, and hidden courtyards. Known for its quiet elegance, it embodies the charm of old Rome and was once a central artery of the city’s aristocratic life.
Santa Maria dell'Orazione e Morte is a chilling Baroque church in Rome, built by a secretive confraternity dedicated to retrieving and burying abandoned corpses. Its shadowed interior brims with skulls, bones, and eerie symbols of death, evoking an atmosphere where the line between the living and the dead feels unsettlingly thin.
Fontana del Mascherone is an eerie Baroque fountain on Via Giulia in Rome, featuring a massive stone mask that mysteriously spouts water from its grimacing mouth. This is a crime scene where John Paul Getty III was kidnapped.
Campo de' Fiori is a lively, historic square in Rome, renowned for its bustling morning market filled with vibrant produce, flowers, and local goods. By night, the piazza transforms, surrounded by bars and restaurants, while the shadow of Giordano Bruno’s statue serves as a reminder of the square’s darker past as a site of executions during the Inquisition.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The tour includes CSA topics, graphic information. Not recommended for children under 12 years old.
Reviews(179)
Tamara was a wonderful and animated storyteller. Tour unlike most of the others.
This was a great evening activity to do. Tamara was a wonderful guide with a great personality and sense of humour. Her storytelling of past happenings added to the ambience of the tour experience. Add to your itinerary.
So the tour itself is super cheap and there’s no other fees. $23 Euro for 5 of us. Our tour guide Ivan(pronounced Eevaan) was awesome. Funny and engaging with a ton of information about everywhere we visited. He had the whole crowd laughing throughout. We liked him so much we needed a selfie with him and the whole family. It’s about 90 mins and well worth it. Ivan was so good out tip was way more than the tour itself. My family had a great time. My kids are older, not sure if it would be great for little kids. Pretty graphic and more cool fun informational than kid version of exciting
Our host was wonderful - she made the stories come alive and was very knowledgeable. Good pace
A unique but truly interesting tour. The guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. I recommend it without a doubt Thank you, Tamara
The tour was very entertaining and enjoyable; I recommend guide Andrea, she does very well and explained everything wonderfully.
I wasn’t engaged and the stories weren’t that great
Simone was an excellent guide who told the history and legends of Rome in an engaging way. The themes related to one another and were contextualised by the contrasting morals and values of historic and contemporary times. Brilliant and funny as well as shocking . Brought Rome to life for us.
Really interesting, fun tour, definitely recommended. Iris was a fabulous story teller in all things grim and gory! She was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic, the perfect tour guide.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the tour with Iris and her storytelling style. Her passion for Rome’s darker and more mysterious history truly makes the experience unforgettable. Thank you for the recommendation, and we hope to see you again soon on another tour!
The tour was great, fine anecdotes and grizzly details. Iris was a delight as a tour guide, animated and bubbly with a wealth of knowledge. Best recommendations from me.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the stories, grisly details, and the atmosphere of the tour with Iris. Her energy, enthusiasm, and knowledge truly make the experience unforgettable. Thank you for the recommendation, and we hope to see you again soon in Rome!



