Renaissance Scarlet Ladies Tour: Caravaggio's and Borgia's Women

Uncover the captivating lives of powerful courtesans and mistresses in Renaissance Rome. Explore the history of women in Europe, their struggles, and triumphs in a tour that reveals the politics, religion, and society of 16th and 17th century Italy.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Basilica San Marco Evangelista - The tour begins with a massive statue that in 1477 was named after a famous Courtesan. The statue nowadays is indeed known as “Lady Lucrezia”. This XV century woman who lived an incredibly colorful life, is the first story of this storytelling tour
What's Included
  • A knowledgeable local guide
  • Complimentary hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Entry to all mentioned landmarks
  • Traditional lunch included
  • Comfortable air-conditioned transportation
  • Small group experience
  • Free bottled water throughout the tour
  • Exclusive access to certain areas
  • Souvenir shop visit (optional)
What's Not Included
  • Snacks
Additional Information

This storytelling walking tour revolves around 7 historical women who lived in Renaissance Rome. In a day and age where women didn’t have access to education, the Renaissance Scarlet Ladies managed to become the Best Educated Women in Europe. They were dancers, great singers, or poets, and this gave them the chance to emerge from poverty. Nowadays we…

Location
Trajan Column
Foro Traiano
The meeting point for this tour is by "Trajan Column" (90 feet tall) adjacent to Piazza Venezia. The tour guide will be holding a "Scarlet Ladies" sign in his hand
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(47 Ratings)
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Mikemarcie
Jun 30, 2024
Intimate Stories of Renaissance Women, Coming Alive through Interactive Storytelling - Your trip to Rome will be enhanced and memorable if you take at least 2 tours with Massimo and Storytelling Rome Tours. The Renaissance Scarlet Ladies Tour takes the in-depth research of Massimo and translates women into a major influence of History, not a footnote. These women and the ordinary lives of Romans are interwoven with the power brokers of the Renaissance, providing a unique perspective and a very theatrical storytelling experience. Thank you forever Massimo for your theatrical, very detailed stories and your cheerful, kindness to an old lady! Thank you Staff for all the before communication in helping us be able to engage in these wonderful tours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Heathc257
Jun 24, 2024
good for kids also from my personal experience - It was truly amazing! As a 15 year old myself I usually dont like this sort of thing but it was fantastic! He was highly engaging and had conversations with us about what he was talking about instead of just lecturing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Q6387dijohnc
Jun 19, 2024
The most complete and engaging guide in Rome! - Our Guide Massimmo is a gifted and knowledgeable storytelling guide. We have been on 5 of his tours now and have returned summer after summer. We cannot recommend him and his company enough.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
P_l
Jun 5, 2024
FABOULOUS tour - absolute must for all women - Probably the BEST tour I have ever been on! Very detailed descriptions about the history of several women, which must have taken a lot of research. I finally understood the meaning behind some of the famous paintings. We also visited some of the houses where they lived.
Review provided by Viator
Georgiapownall
May 23, 2024
Fantastic and Engaging Tour of Rome! - Hugely engaging and unique tour. I wanted something different, edifying and entertaining which this experience delivered. Massimo is a brilliant story teller with all the academic historical knowledge to back it up! Thank you, Georgia
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Happiness677114
May 21, 2024
Feisty and fun tour by a wonderful guide! - A wonderful way to see and learn about Rome- Massimo is a gem! We loved our tour- packed with great history and we visited places we would have never found on our own. Highly recommend !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Slicht1224
May 6, 2024
If you like Roman history do not miss this! - Set up a private tour for my wife and I after reading the reviews. Massimo spent more than a year curating this unique presentation about the lives of 7 women from 1450 to 1600 and their imact on Roman history. His storytelling style draws you in as he uses research to explain the relationship between prostitutes and courtesans all the way up to the papacy. He brings this time period alive with visits to churches, homes and the current French Embassy with a fact based way to see the lives of women during this period. Especially impressed with his explanation of the women in many Caravaggio paintings. He should have consulted on the TV series "The Borgias" and should write a book! If you like history or are a woman (I have three daughters) don't miss this.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Davidcd8444vw
Apr 10, 2024
Scarlet ladies Rome, amazing experience! - This was simply a phenomenal tour, one of the best we have ever done! The stories were incredibly well researched and very interesting indeed! It gave a superb insight into the social history of Rome in the centuries around the Renaissance. Massimo is a gifted and engaging storyteller and also incredibly knowledgeable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paolapask
Mar 3, 2024
Third tour!!! - I'm on my third tour with Massimo! And this time I chose it to give a gift to my friends! They all got out Enthusiastic and enchanted. Because Massimo not only tells you about ancient Rome... he drags you into it with irony and culture. Highly recommended!!!
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Angelicap433
Jan 31, 2024
Intrigue...what a passion! - Massimo has the beautiful gift of making you completely immerse yourself in the stories he tells, you are completely catapulted into another time and start to see everything with different eyes. The Tour of the Courtesans was very fascinating and apart from the irony, which is necessary to understand the experience of the political power of the Renaissance, Massimo spoke about each woman with great care and passion, giving us moments of emotion. If you want to understand Rome from another point of view I highly recommend this tour and get ready to have fun.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 10 guests
1 Adult
November 2024
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