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Scarlet Ladies Tour: powerful mistresses & courtesans of Renaissance Rome

5 (37)
Rome, IT
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Scarlet Ladies Tour: powerful mistresses & courtesans of Renaissance Rome

5 (37)
Rome, IT
Share
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Discover the captivating stories of powerful mistresses and courtesans in Renaissance Rome on the Scarlet Ladies Tour. Dive deep into the history of women and uncover the lives of those who defied societal expectations in the XVI and XV centuries. From the famous Lady Lucrezia statue to the grand Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, each stop on this 180-minute tour is infused with intriguing tales. Explore Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, a magnificent church that housed the most successful courtesan in all of Europe. Walk along Via dei Coronari, where original XVI and XV century buildings once belonged to courtesans. Be enthralled by the story of Vannozza Cattanei, mother of Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia, in Campo de' Fiori. The tour concludes in Piazza Farnese, leaving visitors with a moving finale. Join this unique tour and immerse yourself in the vibrant history of Renaissance women.

About this experience

  • Free Cancellation For a full refund cancel at least before the start of your booking
  • 3 hours
  • Suitable for 1-10 Participants
  • Private Tour, Small Group Tour
  • Guided Experience
  • Learn about the powerful mistresses & courtesans of Renaissance Rome
  • Visit the statue of Lady Lucrezia, a famous courtesan from the 15th century
  • Explore the courtyard of Palazzo Doria Pamphilij, where Caravaggio's first model, Anna Bianchini, posed
  • Discover the story of the most successful courtesan in Europe at Santa Maria Sopra Minerva church
  • Walk through Via dei Coronari and witness the daily life of Renaissance courtesans
  • Guided tour
  • Snacks

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More about this experience

Introduction

Embark on a fascinating journey into the history of women during the Renaissance era with the Scarlet Ladies Tour: Powerful Mistresses & Courtesans of Renaissance Rome. This exclusive tour delves deep into the lives of women who defied societal norms and sought education, power, and independence during a time of great political, religious, and social changes in Italy. Led by knowledgeable guides, this tour offers a unique perspective on Renaissance Rome and uncovers the untold stories of influential women who shaped the course of history.

What to Expect?

During this 180-minute tour, brace yourself for an immersive experience through the streets of Rome, where you will visit iconic sites and hidden gems, all intertwined with captivating stories of these remarkable women. Along the way, you will discover the secrets of famous landmarks such as the Basilica S. Agostino and Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, both essential settings for the stories that unfold. Prepare to be enthralled by tales of the most successful courtesan in Europe and the fascinating lives of Anna Bianchini, Vannozza Cattanei, and Giulia Farnese.

Who is this for?

The Scarlet Ladies Tour is a must for history enthusiasts, art lovers, and anyone with a curious mind eager to uncover hidden stories and perspectives. This tour is perfect for solo travelers, couples, and groups who want to dive deep into Renaissance history, particularly the role of women during this transformative period. Whether you are an experienced traveler or a first-time visitor to Rome, this tour offers a unique perspective and an opportunity to explore a side of history often overshadowed by the achievements of men.

Why Book This?

Indulge in an extraordinary experience that goes beyond the typical tourist path. The Scarlet Ladies Tour elevates your visit to Rome by offering a fresh and captivating narrative that celebrates the often overlooked stories of powerful women. Delve into the politics, religion, and society of the 16th and 17th centuries through the lens of these remarkable individuals. Be transported back in time as you wander through the historic streets, visualizing the lives of courtesans and mistresses who defied societal norms to pursue their dreams. This tour offers a unique combination of history, storytelling, and art, providing a truly immersive and memorable experience.

Good to Know

During the tour, you'll have the chance to discover an impressive collection of artworks and landmarks linked to the women who shaped Renaissance Rome. Marvel at the original canvas "Virgin Mary and the Pilgrims" painted by Caravaggio at the Sant'Agostino church. Explore the enchanting Via dei Coronari, where courtesans once resided, bringing the stories to life as you walk in their footsteps. The tour concludes in Piazza Farnese, near Campo de' Fiori square and Piazza Navona, allowing for easy access to transportation options and further exploration of Rome's vibrant streets.

Reviews

Travelers who have embarked on the Scarlet Ladies Tour have been captivated by the immersive experience and the deep insights into the lives of women during the Renaissance. They have praised the knowledgeable guides who bring the stories to life and appreciated the unique perspective this tour offers. Visitors have also praised the tour's itinerary, which strikes the perfect balance between well-known landmarks and hidden gems, allowing them to uncover lesser-known stories of influential women. Reviews consistently highlight the tour's ability to transport participants into the past and shed light on the exceptional achievements of these women, ultimately leaving them with a newfound appreciation for the role of women in history.

How long before the event do I need to book?

  • You can book at any time before the event

Vouchers accepted in the following formats

  • Mobile

Is an adult required for the booking?

  • At least one adult or senior required per booking

Your Itinerary

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

Palazzo Doria Pamphilj

We make a stop in the courtyard of the Doria Pamphilj, to talk about our second woman named Anna Bianchini, who modeled many times for a famous italian painter known as Caravaggio. Anna was indeed Caravaggio's first model and also the one who modeled for him most of the times

Santa Maria Sopra Minerva

We enter a this magnificent church which is full of important and beautiful artworks and tell we tell the story of the most successful courtesan in all of Europe, back in the early XVI Century

Basilica S. Agostino

Sant'Agostino church is another fantastic site included in this storytelling walking tour. This church is historically related to women, there's so many stories about the women in here and plus, there is the original "Virgin Mary and the Pilgrims" canvas painted by Caravaggio

Via dei Coronari

On this storytelling walking tour, we walk amongst original XVI and XV century building that back in the day, were owned by Courtesans. This is the Best Way to bing the stories to Life, since we are really able to eye-witness what their daily life was really like

Campo de' Fiori

Are you a Borgia Family fan? oh well, you will love the story of Vannozza Cattanei, mother of Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia. Her story is incredible and usually is people's favorite story in all of the tour.

Piazza Farnese

Here in Piazza Farnese, right by the beautiful Palazzo designed by Michelangelo which is the French Embassy today, the tour ends with the sad story of Giulia Farnese. We don't spoil anything but the finale of the tour is really moving...

Reviews

(37)

5 (37)

davidcD8444VW

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.

G3436OXannw

We have visited Rome for many years and we have participated in many guided tours. This tour rates as one of the best ever, if not the best. It was quite easy to arrange a private tour for the three of us with Massimo for Saturday afternoon. He was prompt, friendly, informative, and an engaging storyteller. He provided stories of Romans I have never heard and certainly stimulated my curiosity to learn more. The leisurely stroll took us on streets that were new to me and the identification of various buildings,along with their histories, made the stroll captivating in a new way. I can’t recommend this tour highly enough.

Ri818

I took my mother to Italy for her 70th birthday in November/December 2023. This tour was the absolute highlight of our time in Rome. We did the Scarlet Ladies Tour and had an absolutely amazing time. Massimo was SO knowledgeable and funny - it was one of the better walking tours I have ever been on (and I travel and do walking tours in different cities a couple times a year). But on top of that, the subject matter was so unique and so intriguing -- we knew it would be interesting based on the general description, but the tour was so much more fascinating than I even could have hoped! My mom and I were talking about it for days afterwards. Massimo was so imaginative in coming up with this unusual theme for a tour. It was really creative how he linked the stories of the various women together in a way that painted a bigger picture of female lives throughout Italian history, but also linked them to geographical places, so you could really feel how the history tied back into the city during different eras. It made you feel like you were walking in these women's shoes. And the fact that the tour also brought in the art, and culture/religion of the city was so cool. It was, in a word, extraordinary. It was very clear that Massimo loves the city and loves sharing it with people. I will DEFINITELY do another tour with Massimo when I return to Rome. Eyeing up the empresses tour next... On the logistical side, my mom has some mobility issues and Massimo was able to accommodate her and adjust things a bit so she could be more comfortable, finding places for her to sit, etc. He was SO kind and understanding, and really made sure that she was comfortable, but also that we were still able to enjoy the full breadth and experience of the tour. He was wonderful. He offered to stop for drink and bathroom breaks when we needed them and overall was an attentive and friendly host. I cannot recommend Massimo and his company highly enough. A+++++++. Sign up now!!!! It will make your entire trip.

lorifG497RV

Massimo’s tours were absolutely amazing! We took 4 tours with Massimo as our guide, and they were all beyond my greatest expectations. I learned so much about Ancient Rome and loved Massimo’s delivery which was very thorough and entertaining. He has a gift to connect with people and made our time in Rome fabulous!

indigo c

Massimo, the guide extraordinaire, will whisk you away to hidden corners of the city, revealing the juicy tales of amazing women, the houses they ruled and the churches they attended. I was lucky and ended up having a private tour and it was simply sensational! It kicked off with a fellow traveler approaching us and raving about Massimo from last year's adventure. Talk about a promising start If you're a history-loving, art-adoring soul who craves a sprinkle of gossip and a whole lot of excitement, this tour is for you. Trust me, you'll leave feeling enlightened, entertained, and totally inspired. Massimo and his tales of Rome's scarlet women will leave you begging for more. Trust me, this tour is the was one that I will be recommending to many people!

Victor_S

I learned a lot from this unusual unorthodox tour taken on March 28, 2023. Grazie Massimo for sharing your knowledge with us. This tour is strongly recommended.

Colleen D

Mossimo was amazing and perfect. He knew everything about the tour we were on and even let us veer off in to other areas that weren’t on the official tour. We had a genuinely perfect experience and I think everyone visiting and living here in Rome should go on this tour. Fascinating look at history and the women that affected it.

Anna_Teti95

Massimo was fantastic he told the stories with passion and flare, he was really knowledgeable, and spoke of how he did his research. The stories were very interesting, and this tour is definitely one to go on if you like history. If I could have given 10/10, I would have. I'll be looking at doing more tours with him next time I'm in Rome.

N5332TQlindas

Loved this tour!! Our tour guide, Massimo ,was a wealth of historical information presented in an engaging and entertaining manor. It exceeded our expectations and left us wanting more! We highly recommend this tour for those interested in a different spin on history involving Popes, Cardinals and artists of the Renaissance period. Bravissimo!!

Maria_P

We spent an enjoyable afternoon walking through one of Rome's most historic quarters with Massimo. He was the perfect guide, knowledgeable and fun. I had heard if one or two if the women but not most. This ranks right up there as one of the better walking tours I've taken. Be sure to do this if you get the chance!
Collected by Evendo, Tripadvisor & Viator
2024-04-26 18:25