• Piazza del Popolo - The journey starts at Piazza del Popolo, stepping back into the 17th century to encounter Queen Christina of Sweden. She famously abdicated her throne to embrace a life of freedom in Rome. In 1655, she entered the city dressed in men’s riding attire, challenging societal norms. As a patron of the arts and intellectuals, Christina elevated Rome to a cultural hub. She was laid to rest in St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the few women to receive such an honor.
• Via di Ripetta - Strolling along Via di Ripetta, visitors pause at the birthplace of Artemisia Gentileschi, the first woman to join Rome’s Accademia di San Luca. A Baroque master, she challenged the male-dominated art scene by painting strong female figures at a time when women were often mere decorative subjects. After enduring a highly publicized rape trial, she reclaimed her narrative through her art, demonstrating that talent and resilience can triumph over adversity.
• Piazza Augusto Imperatore - At the Mausoleum of Augustus, the lives of two of Rome’s most influential women, Livia Drusilla and Agrippina the Younger, are explored. Livia, Augustus’s wife, excelled in ruling discreetly, while Agrippina, Nero’s mother, nearly ruled Rome herself. Both women significantly influenced the empire’s future, illustrating that behind every emperor, a woman often wielded considerable power.
• Piazza Fiammetta - In the narrow streets near Piazza Navona, Casa di Fiammetta is visited, once home to one of Rome’s most renowned courtesans. Fiammetta was more than a mistress; she was an educated, independent, and influential woman in a society where marriage defined most women’s lives. Like many Renaissance courtesans, she leveraged her wit, intelligence, and connections to gain influence over Rome’s most powerful men.
• Piazza Navona - At the magnificent Piazza Navona, Donna Olimpia Maidalchini is introduced, a woman who effectively governed the Vatican as Pope Innocent X’s most trusted advisor. Dubbed “La Papessa” (The She-Pope) by her adversaries, Olimpia managed church finances, shaped policies, and commanded respect from powerful cardinals. Though accused of corruption, history remembers her as a woman who outmaneuvered the Vatican’s men.
• Via del Pellegrino - On Via del Pellegrino, the truth about Lucrezia Borgia is uncovered. Her name is often linked with poison and scandal, but was she truly the femme fatale history suggests? Or was she a survivor, diplomat, and ruler? As Duchess of Ferrara, Lucrezia proved she was more than a pawn of her notorious family, becoming a patron of the arts and a competent leader, crafting a legacy beyond the Borgia name.
• Piazza Farnese - The tour concludes at Piazza Farnese, revealing the story of Giulia Farnese, a woman who transformed scandal into power. Known as Pope Alexander VI’s mistress, she was much more than a pretty face. She used her influence to secure wealth, titles, and power for her family, paving the way for her brother to become Pope Paul III and establishing the Farnese family as one of Italy’s most powerful dynasties.

• Small Group of Maximum 15 People
• Expert Storytelling Guides

• Snacks
• Gratuities

History often highlights Rome as a city of emperors, popes, and warriors, yet behind these figures were remarkable women who influenced its fate with equal boldness and brilliance. Queens who left their thrones for liberty, empresses who wielded power from behind the scenes, and artists who challenged a world that sought to silence them. Their narratives have been overshadowed, but now, they are being brought into the spotlight.

On this tour, participants will step into their world, revealing tales of ambition, betrayal, love, and resilience. Discover a woman so influential she was dubbed the “She-Pope,” and another who was so feared by emperors that she was killed by her own son. Learn about a courtesan who dominated the night with wit as sharp as any blade, and a duchess whose family name became legendary.

Join this journey to uncover the untold stories of the women who shaped Rome—not with crowns or swords, but with intelligence, ambition, and sheer determination.

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