---
title: "Rome's Dark Side: Ghosts, Scandals and Crypts - Small Group Tour"
lang: en
type: tour
city: Rome
country: Italy
price: 45
currency: EUR
price_unit: per_person
availability: bookable
rating: 5
reviews: 44
duration_minutes: 120
languages: [en]
free_cancellation: "true"
rank_in_category: 21 of 56 (Night Tours)
schedule_checked: 2026-10-03
data_updated: 2026-10-03
canonical: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/tours/rome-s-dark-side-ghosts-scandals-and-crypts-small-group-tour/
---

# Rome's Dark Side: Ghosts, Scandals and Crypts - Small Group Tour

**Guidekin's take:** Picked for the door it opens: a crypt of the confraternity of Death, closed for decades, unlocked by the nuns for a group capped at twelve, alongside real dark history rather than ghost stories, rated 5 across 44 reviews. Guide and the crypt entry on that tier are included at €45 per person. Suitable for children.

In our comparison: #21 of 56 in Night Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below).

## Overview

Discover the dark events and secrets that made the history of Rome. Get exclusive access to a secret underground crypt of the confraternity of Death, which has been closed for decades!

You'll learn about the REAL dark events that shaped the city of Rome the way we see it today.
Public executions, legendary deaths, corrupted popes.. and a mysterious fraternity taking care of the dead bodies found in the streets. Not just a bunch of silly ghost stories, but real history!

All this while walking through the backstreets and little alleys of the historical center of Rome, after the busy tourist hours.

We'll find ourselves in front of a church with skulls on its facade. We'll knock at the door and the door will open. The nun of the fraternity will let us underground the church, in the crypt. 

Chandeliers made of real bones, the skulls of the brothers and sisters, with their names carved on their foreheads. After this tour you'll see things from a different perspective.

## Before you book

- Meeting point: We'll meet on the side of the square,
- 4 start times: between 17:30 and 19:00
- Food not included: bring or buy your own
- Strollers OK: infants accepted
- Children from €40: ages 4 to 14

**Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point

## Key facts

- Price: from €45 per person for the Dark side of Rome - no Crypt option; other options up to €59
- Duration: 2h
- Rating: 5.0/5 from 44 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor)
- Free cancellation (see policy below)
- Likely to sell out
- Operator: Live Virtual Guide
- Group: Shared tour
- Guide languages: English
- Start times: 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00
- Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket
- Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-03

## Reviews

5.0 from 44 ratings on Guidekin & Tripadvisor.
100% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 44 of 44.

- 5 stars: 44 (100%)
- 4 stars: 0 (0%)
- 3 stars: 0 (0%)
- 2 stars: 0 (0%)
- 1 star: 0 (0%)

### What reviewers say

Reviewers praise the storytelling, small groups and crypt visit; the supplied reviews offer no critical feedback.

**Praised:**
- Friendly, knowledgeable guides who tell stories with humour
- Ghost stories and darker history behind overlooked places
- Small groups that encourage questions and interaction
- Visits to the church and underground crypt
- A gentle walking pace that reviewers find comfortable

**Complaints:**
- No specific complaints are stated in the supplied reviews

Written by Guidekin from the 41 most recent English reviews on Tripadvisor (2025-04-21 to 2026-09-17); last checked 2026-10-03.

## Tour options

Prices are the operator's current list price for two travellers (whole euros); options sold only to bigger parties say so; pick the option on the booking page.

| Option | Price | Guide languages | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark side of Rome - no Crypt | €45 / person | English | - |
| Dark Side with Crypt Entry | €59 / person | English | Exclusive Crypt Entry: special access to Underground Bones Crypt - the nuns will open the door just for you! |

## What's included

- Genuinely Small Group of max 12 people, Guaranteed (personal, relaxed, and never rushed)
- Direct Contact via Phone or Whatsapp for any questions you may have about the tour
- Exclusive Access to the Underground Bones Crypt - the nuns will open the door just for you!
- If you aren't happy with this tour, just text us and we'll refund you your full purchase price
- Knowledgeable and friendly local guide
- Also Suitable for Families and Kids

## Not included

- Pick-up from hotel
- Food and drink

## Itinerary

1. **Piazza Trilussa** (pass by, no stop) - This is where your guide will meet you.
2. **Ponte Sisto** (20m) - This bridge is where you'll meet the first ghost of the tour. She was a very ambitious woman in life. Locals have seen her appearing on this bridge multiple times, while she ran away with her money..
3. **Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Orazione e Morte** (30m; admission included) - Have you noticed the skulls on the facade? This is the church of the Confraternity of Death, a fraternity that still exists today. This church has been closed for over a decade, but we'll make appointment with the nun of the fraternity. She'll open the door of the church and...
4. **Piazza Farnese** (20m) - We'll see (from outside) a haunted palace. Here we'll also learn the ghost story of a pope and his scandals. His ghost has appeared multiple times in this very square
5. **Campo De' Fiori** (20m) - This lively and cheerful place used to be the location of public executions. Here the heretics were burnt alive in front of everyone. That is why there is a statue in the center of the square frowning at a specific direction..
6. **Piazza Navona** (20m) - This beautiful piazza is home to many terrible stories. Including the innkeeper that talked too much. Can you spot his head?

## Schedule

- Runs: daily
- Departures: 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00
- Schedule last checked: 2026-10-03
- These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout.

## Cancellation

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

## Meeting point

We'll meet on the side of the square, by the monument to Trilussa.

Your guide will be holding a sign with the company name, ready to greet you.

You don’t need to worry about a thing, let us take care of the rest.

Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:Eh9QaWF6emEgVHJpbHVzc2EsIFJvbWEgUk0sIEl0YWx5Ii4qLAoUChIJmxblr0dgLxMRUzw7YKP6m-USFAoSCbuOkvmWYS8TEThuZZMGdw-5

## Good to know

- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Conveniently located in central Rome, this tour is easy to reach from landmarks like the Colosseum and the Vatican, and leaves you perfectly placed to continue exploring the city afterwards
- This tour is also suitable for children
- If you reserve the Crypt Entry option: please remember that during this experience you will also visit holy areas and clothing must be appropriate for the visit. Please wear clothing that covers at least the shoulders and knees

## Compared with other Night Tours

| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **This tour · #21 of 56** | €45 | 2h | 5.0 (44) | shared |
| [Private Evening Golf Cart Tour of Rome with Aperitivo](/italy/rome/tours/private-evening-golf-cart-tour-of-rome-with-aperitivo/?format=md) | €270 | 3h | 4.99 (502) | private |
| [Walk the magic of Rome at night](/italy/rome/tours/walk-the-magic-of-rome-at-night/?format=md) | €35 | 2h 30m | 5.0 (294) | shared |
| [Rome After Dark: Explore the Eternal City Under the Moonlight](/italy/rome/tours/rome-after-dark-explore-the-eternal-city-under-the-moonlight/?format=md) | €250 per group | 2h | 4.96 (750) | private |

Ranked #21 of 56 in Night Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €4 to €289, median €89; typical length 2h 30m. 19 of 56 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market.

Full list: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/night-tours-rome/?format=md

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