Haunted Rome Ghost Tour: Dowse for Ghosts After Dark

Hunt for ghosts with dowsing rods through Rome's darkest streets

A 90-minute ghost tour of Rome led by an expert guide who teaches you to use dowsing rods to search for spirits haunting the city's most sinister sites. You'll walk Sant'Angelo Bridge (scene of bloody executions), Campo de' Fiori (where thousands of witches and heretics were burned), Via Giulia (built so popes could visit mistresses in secret), and Piazza Farnese, hearing true stories of murders, poisonings, and crimes by Rome's worst popes. Small groups of 15 or fewer create an intimate atmosphere; the tour operates in all weather and is suitable for all fitness levels, with wheelchair accessibility throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Haunted Rome ghost tour highlights

• Meet guide at Sant'Angelo Bridge
• Explore ancient narrow street
• Stop at haunted poisoners' square
• Walk down Via Giulia
• Visit brotherhood of Death church
• See John Paul Getty III kidnapping site
• Explore Piazza Farnese and palace
• Visit Campo de' Fiori witch burning site

The Experience

The tour starts at Sant'Angelo Bridge, the most beautiful and mysterious bridge in Rome—and the site of bloody executions. From there, the guide leads you through ancient, narrow streets into the dark heart of the city, stopping at a haunted square where professional poisoners helped hundreds of women murder their husbands. You'll walk down Via Giulia, an ancient street built so the Pope could visit his mistresses without being seen, and reach the head church of the Brotherhood of Death, where thousands of bodies collected from Rome's streets were buried.

Your guide hands you a pair of dowsing rods and teaches you how to use them to hunt for ghosts yourself. As you move through each site—Piazza Farnese (built by one of Rome's filthiest families), Campo de' Fiori (where witches and heretics were burned alive), and the spot where John Paul Getty III was kidnapped in the 1970s—you'll hold the rods and listen to spine-chilling stories about the souls still trapped in these places. The guide is a storyteller trained to bring these dark histories to life, and groups stay small enough that the atmosphere feels like a séance rather than a crowded tour.

The whole experience runs 90 minutes after dark, when Rome's streets take on their eerie character. You'll need comfortable shoes and should dress for the weather, as the tour operates rain or shine. Children from age 3 are welcome, and the entire route is wheelchair accessible. Your guide's name and number are provided before you start, so you know exactly who to meet and where.

What’s included

• Dowsing rods provided.
• live guide in English who teaches you how to use them.
• your guide's name and contact number before the tour.
• small group of 15 or fewer.
• 90-minute walk through Rome after dark covering Sant'Angelo Bridge, Campo de' Fiori, Via Giulia, Piazza Farnese and other haunted sites.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by E & D Guided Tours

Is this one for you?You hold the dowsing rods and hunt for ghosts yourself rather than just listening to stories—this suits anyone who wants to participate actively in the ghost hunting, not watch a guide perform it. The small group size and evening timing create an intimate, séance-like atmosphere instead of the feel of a standard tour, which works well if you want to linger at each dark site without being rushed through.

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Top questions

What exactly do I do with the dowsing rods on this ghost tour?

Your guide teaches you how to hold and use the dowsing rods to search for ghosts at each haunted site. You'll hold them as the guide tells the stories of the spirits said to linger in those places—it's a hands-on way to participate in the ghost hunting rather than just listening.

How many people go on the Haunted Rome Ghost Tour at once?

Groups stay at 15 people or fewer, which keeps the atmosphere intimate and séance-like instead of feeling like a crowded sightseeing tour.

What happened at Campo de' Fiori that makes it so haunted?

Thousands of witches and heretics were burned alive at Campo de' Fiori, making it one of Rome's most sinister sites. The guide shares the true stories of these executions and the spirits believed to still haunt the square.

Is the ghost tour accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes—all areas and surfaces on the route are wheelchair accessible, and the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller.

Why was Via Giulia built the way it was?

Via Giulia was built as a secret passage so the Pope could visit his mistresses in peace without being seen moving through the city streets.

Can children come on this ghost tour?

Children are welcome from age 3 and up. The stories are spine-chilling but told by an expert guide who knows how to hold an audience; parents should decide if their child is comfortable with ghost stories and dark history.