Rome Renaissance Courtesans Walking Tour

Welcome, to the most scandalous, jaw-dropping, and utterly fascinating walking tour you never knew you needed! Forget the dry history lectures—this is a tour about the women who made Renaissance Italy sizzle.
We will dive deep into the world of Renaissance courtesans, scarlet ladies who played a significant role in the politics of Renaissance Europe. Think of them as muses who inspired some of the greatest artists in history. These women weren’t just beautiful; they were resourceful.

You will meet seven unforgettable women, each immortalized in paintings by Caravaggio and Raphael. These weren’t just pretty faces—they were trendsetters, intellectuals, poets, and, in some cases, royal game-changers. Their lives were filled with passion, intrigue, and, of course, a little scandal (okay, a lot of scandal).
Expect stories of dangerous ambition and a society that couldn’t decide whether to adore or condemn these women—so naturally, it did both.
Trust me, history has never been this juicy.

Meeting Point

Basilica of St Mark Evangelist at Campidoglio

Palazzo Venezia, Piazza di S. Marco, 48, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

The meeting point for this tour is adjacent to Piazza Venezia.
In this piazza, you will see Rome's biggest monument. The locals call it the "Wedding Cake Monument," although its proper name is the "Victorian."
Facing it, you will find our meeting point, Basilica San Marco, on your right.

What's included:

• Guided tour

What to expect:

Duration: 3 hours

Basilica San Marco Evangelista

Piazza di S. Marco, 48, Palazzo Venezia, Rome, 00186

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

20 minutes

Villa Doria Pamphilj

Via del Corso 305, Rome, 00186

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

20 minutes

Chiesa Di Santa Maria Sopra Minerva

Piazza Della Minerva 42, , Rome, 00186

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

25 minutes

Basilica S. Agostino

Piazza di S. Agostino, Rome, 00186

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

20 minutes

Via dei Coronari

Rome, 00186

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

10 minutes

Campo De' Fiori

Plaza de Roma, Rome, 00186

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.

20 minutes

Piazza Farnese

Rome, 00186

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...

20 minutes