# Rome's Streets Are Soaked in Two Thousand Years of Real Crime
In Rome, Italy, guided true crime walking tours have been drawing curious travellers for years, turning the city's most storied piazzas and alleyways into open-air crime scenes — and the history on offer stretches from ancient Rome's most spectacular betrayals all the way to Renaissance-era poisonings and public executions.
Where Ancient History Meets Real Homicide
Rome is, arguably, the world's greatest true crime city. The sheer density of confirmed historical crimes — conspiracy, assassination, state-sanctioned execution, corruption and political murder — packed into a walkable urban centre is unmatched anywhere on earth. Fortunately, several operators have turned that dark legacy into structured, expert-led experiences.
Three verified tours currently operate in Rome, each with a distinct focus and duration.
Rome Historical True Crime Tour
This two-hour walking tour, bookable from $30 per person, is among the most accessible entry points into Rome's criminal past. The tour begins at Campo de' Fiori, a market square with a deceptively cheerful daytime atmosphere that conceals a history of murders, poisonings and hauntings. From there, guides lead visitors to Piazza Farnese, where the darker currents of Renaissance power and ambition surface in genuine historical accounts. A stop at Vicolo delle Grotte introduces the story of a notorious swindler and self-styled magician whose exploits made him one of the city's most colourful criminals.
The tour is listed and bookable via Viator. You can browse this tour and the full range of Rome crime experiences at the official Viator Rome Crime Tours page.
Ghosts and Crimes of Rome Night Walk
For those who prefer their history after dark, this 90-minute night walk has earned a Badge of Excellence on Viator with a 96% recommendation rate from verified reviewers — a strong signal of quality in a crowded market. The tour visits locations connected to the Julius Caesar conspiracy, the crimes and excesses of Emperor Nero, witch trials, public executions and a series of haunted murder sites. Pricing is not listed publicly; contact the operator directly for current rates.
This is particularly well-suited to travellers who want the atmosphere of Rome's nocturnal streets woven into the storytelling — the city looks and feels entirely different at night, and guides on this tour use that to full effect.
Rome Crime History Walking Tour
At three hours, this is the longest of the verified options and the most thorough in its historical scope. The itinerary includes the site of Julius Caesar's assassination — one of the most consequential murders in Western history, carried out on the Ides of March, 44 BC, by a group of senators who stabbed him at least 23 times according to ancient sources — as well as the locations of public executions that once drew crowds across the city. Pricing is not listed publicly; contact the operator for details.
What Makes Rome Different From Other Crime Tour Cities
Most true crime tour cities are working with material from the 19th or 20th century. Rome operates on an entirely different timescale. The crimes documented here — conspiracy, political assassination, corruption at the highest levels of imperial and papal power — took place across two millennia, and the physical locations where they occurred are often still standing, still visited, still embedded in daily Roman life.
Campo de' Fiori, for instance, is a functioning market square every morning. By evening it fills with students and tourists drinking at outdoor bars. The history of what happened there — the executions, the murders, the disappearances — runs directly beneath that ordinary surface, invisible unless someone points it out.
That is precisely what these tours do.
Practical Information
Rome Historical True Crime Tour
- Duration: 2 hours
- Price: From $30
- Booking: Viator
Ghosts and Crimes of Rome Night Walk
- Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Price: Contact operator
- Booking: Viator
- Rating: Badge of Excellence, 96% recommended
Rome Crime History Walking Tour
- Duration: 3 hours
- Price: Contact operator
- Booking: Viator
All three tours are listed and bookable through the Viator Rome Crime Tours page. Availability and scheduling vary by season — check directly with operators for current tour times and group size restrictions.
Rome has always known how to keep its secrets. These tours exist to make sure you find them.
