Rome Historical True Crime Tour
Description
Unearth Rome's dark secrets on our Historical True Crime Tour. Led by expert storytellers, delve into murders, poisonings, and hauntings. An unforgettable journey into the city's forbidden history. Step back in time and uncover the hidden mysteries and dark secrets that lie beneath the cobblestone streets of Rome on our exclusive Historical True Crime Walking Tour. Starting in the bustling heart of Campo De' Fiori, this captivating journey will take you through the enchanting backstreets of the Eternal City, where each corner holds a tale of intrigue, betrayal, and scandal. Led by our expert storytellers and historians, this immersive tour is not just a stroll through history – it's a gripping adventure into the underworld of Rome's most notorious characters. From the fiery demise of the heretic philosopher Giordano Bruno in the Campo De' Fiori square to the clandestine activities of the enigmatic Cagliostro, you'll be transported to a time when the city's shadows whispered secrets.
Tour Options
Itinerary
One of Rome's most famous squares, our guide will meet you here and begin the tour with our first story
Learn the history of the Renaissance Palazzo Farnese, as well as some of the lesser-known darker history of this beautiful square
Among Rome's dark backstreets, hear the tale of one of history's most notorious swindlers - or was he a magician?
Discover the tale of the woman who ruled Rome, after the suspicious deaths of two rich husbands
Discover an order of monks with a macabre task, that possibly benefitted the criminal element of Roman society
Discover the history of one of the world's harshest prisons, as well as the tales of the Borgia family, who ruled Rome like a mafia family.
Find out how what is now a gelato shop was once a very different business, home to a woman who was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of men
See the house of Rome's most famous - and long lasting executioner, and hear the tales of his life.
From an Emperor's tomb, to a fortress and a prison, and one of Rome's main execution locations - Castel Sant'Angelo has seen a lot. Hear the tale of one of Rome's most tragic families, who were all executed at this very spot.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Interpreters can be provided for sight/hearing impaired guests
- No health restrictions
Reviews(14)
Very interesting stories, but area that they chose to stop was crowded and noisy. They should have moved to another quieter area or (for added cost )provide optional aids to hear. Consequently it was hard to follow the story at times. Tour guide was hard to keep track of in a crowd, and in the darkness of night. A flag would have been helpful. It felt like every man for himself and you better keep up because the guide did not concern herself with keeping track of us. Her iPad lost power 1/3 of the way into the tour and we had to glance quickly at pictures on her phone.
Dear Peggy, we are sorry you did not enjoy the tour as much as we hoped. Apart from just a few stops (at Campo De'Fiori, Ponte Sisto and Castel Sant'Angelo), the tour route is mainly in the quiet backstreets, and with our maximum group size of 15 people, we try to ensure everyone can hear well. That said, the guide should be aware of where to stop when areas are busier than expected, and should also be able to keep track of at all times, so we will ensure to bring this up with all our guides. Also, apologies for the iPad losing power - this is the first time I've heard of this happeneing, but sometimes our guides are working all day using them, and do not always have a chance to recharge. Apologies for any disappointment caused. All the best, The City Stories Tours team
Good opportunity to see some of the sights that are off the beaten path. Especially good for a first timer to Rome.
Ben was an incredible guide. He was very informative and kept it to mostly facts but still sprinkled in some more imaginative horror and snuck in a well timed joke every now and then too.
Thanks Ciaran, glad you enjoyed the tour! I hope you join us again if you return to Rome in the future!
Wear comfortable shoes. Be prepared to learn about little known ancient Rome history. Tour was comfortable for all walking levels.
Hi Taylor, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review! We’re glad you enjoyed exploring some of the lesser-known (and darker!) sides of ancient Rome with us. It’s great to hear the tour was comfortable and accessible for all walking levels - we aim to make the experience enjoyable for everyone. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back for another City Stories adventure in the future!
Welcoming guide. Discovery of little-known histories of Rome and some ideas of classic and unusual visits following the route.
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed discovering the lesser-known stories of Rome with us. It’s wonderful that the tour also inspired you with ideas for more classic and unusual visits afterward! We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to welcome you on another adventure in the future. Best wishes, The City Stories Team
This was a nice, quick night tour that gave a flavor of Rome at a lower price than other tours. The stories were all quite old, which was still interesting. However, it would have been even more interesting to have some dark crime from the last 50-75 years as well. Everything felt a bit TOO old; it wasn’t really as factual sounding and seemed more like lore than history. Our guide did seem knowledgeable and talked in a comfortable manner. She was a little humorous as well, which kept the tour from being too much of a drag.
Dear traveller, Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on our Rome Historical True Crime Tour! We're happy to hear that you enjoyed the guide’s knowledge, humor, and the unique atmosphere of the night tour. As the name suggests, this experience focuses on historical crimes, many of which have shaped Rome’s past and its legends. We completely understand that some guests might also be interested in more recent crime stories—however, our goal is to bring to life the chilling and dramatic events that have stood the test of time, offering a deeper understanding of Rome’s dark past. That said, we truly appreciate your feedback and will certainly consider ways to enhance the experience while staying true to its historical roots. We hope to welcome you on another tour in the future! Best regards, The City Stories Team
Tour guide was excellent and very well informed on the area's history! Would definitely recommend to friends!
Super fun and informative. Without giving away too much, it was something my kids and I really enjoyed doing together. Our guide had such a natural talent in telling the stories and making every character come alive.👍🏻👍🏻
I've attended the tour on June 9th 24 as a solo traveler first time in Rome. In the oversaturated market of toured guides the 'Rome Historical True Crime Tour' is a refreshing stand out. As a solo traveler I kept my eye on people and their attention during the tour, it was unusual to have everyone feel so engaged with the stories provided! Shoutout to Ariel who made the tour absolutely amazing! I share what I've learned with people interested in my experience in Rome!
Difficult to hear the guide because Rome is so loud. I would recommend giving the guide a microphone/lavalier. I would have liked to see some more landmarks on this tour.
Hi Sarah, I'm sorry you didn't have a great experience on the tour. As Rome is a busy city it can be loud, but we try and train our guides to speak louder/project their voice when it's not possible to use a microphone. However, we will take this suggestion to mind as I understand it's important. This tour also is mainly based around the darker backstreets of the city, as that is where these stories actually happened, rather than at the main landmarks. We do have another Dark Centre tour though that takes in some of the darker stories of the city's highlights if you'd like. You can find it with our Dark Side City Tours brand. Thank you for coming along, and also for your valuable feedback. All the best, Ben Messenger - Owner and Manager
