The Women Who Shaped Rome Small Group Walking Tour
History remembers Rome as a city of emperors, popes, and warriors, but behind them were extraordinary women who shaped its destiny in ways just as bold and brilliant. Queens who abandoned their thrones for freedom, empresses who pulled the strings of power, and artists who defied a world that tried to silence them. Their stories have been overshadowed, but now, we’re bringing them into the light.
On this tour, we’ll step into their world, uncovering stories of ambition, betrayal, love, and resilience. You’ll hear of a woman so powerful that she was called the “She-Pope,” and another who was feared by emperors and killed by her own son. You’ll learn about a courtesan who ruled the night with wit as sharp as any blade, and a duchess whose family name became legend.
Join us on this journey as we uncover the untold stories of the women who made Rome—not with crowns or swords, but with intelligence, ambition, and sheer force of will.
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The Women Who Shaped Rome Small Group Walking Tour
What's included in The Women Who Shaped Rome Small Group Walking Tour
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Piazza del Popolo
Our journey begins at Piazza del Popolo, where we step into the 17th century and meet Queen Christina of Sweden—a monarch who gave up her throne for the freedom to live as she pleased in Rome. Dressed in men’s riding clothes, she rode into the city in 1655, shocking the world with her rejection of traditional roles. A patron of the arts and intellectuals, Christina transformed Rome into a cultural capital. She was buried in St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the few women to receive this honor.
Via di Ripetta
Walking along Via di Ripetta, we stop at the birthplace of Artemisia Gentileschi, the first woman admitted to Rome’s Accademia di San Luca. A Baroque master, she defied the male-dominated art world, painting powerful female heroines in an era when women were rarely more than decorative figures on canvas. After surviving a highly publicized rape trial, she used her art to reclaim her story, proving that talent—and resilience—could overcome even the harshest of circumstances.
Piazza Augusto Imperatore
At the Mausoleum of Augustus, we explore the lives of two of Rome’s most formidable women: Livia Drusilla and Agrippina the Younger. Livia, wife of Augustus, mastered the art of ruling from the shadows, while Agrippina, mother of Emperor Nero, came closer than any woman before her to ruling Rome outright. Both women shaped the empire’s future, proving that behind every emperor, there was often a woman pulling the strings.
Inclusions
- Small Group of Maximum 15 People
- Expert Storytelling Guides
- Snacks
- Gratuities
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting Points
- The meeting point is in Piazza Del Popolo. Your guide will be waiting in front of the church of Santa Maria Del Popolo, next to the gate (Porta del Popolo), holding a sign saying “Women of Rome Tour”. Google Maps - https://maps.app.goo.gl/2XDQmKsZkdVe9Yd5A
End Points
- The tour will end in Piazza Farnese, in the centre of Rome
