Ghosts Legends and Mysteries of Rome Walking Tour

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.

1. 1

   Castel Sant'Angelo

   15 min

   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.

2. 2

   St. Angelo Bridge

   Pass by

   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.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   10 min

   The house of the kindest executioner in Rome.

4. 4

   Arco Dei Banchi

   5 min

   The Haunted Arch, and the place of prayer for the most controversial exorcist in Rome.

5. 5

   Stop 5

   5 min

   The house of the 16th-century artistic genius Benvenuto Cellini, who, unfortunately, was more notorious as a rapist and murderer.

6. 6

   Stop 6

   10 min

   The haunted house of the witch Giulia Tofana, and the stories of the holy inquisition.

7. 7

   Stop 7

   5 min

   Corte Savella, the only prison in Rome authorized to execute convicts inside its walls - the place where Beatrice Cenci was tortured before her execution.

8. 8

   Via Giulia

   5 min

   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.

9. 9

   Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Orazione e Morte

   10 min

   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.

10. 10

    Fontana del Mascherone

    5 min

    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.

11. 11

    Campo De' Fiori

    10 min

    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.

• 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.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.