Renaissance Women Of Caravaggio & The Borgias Tour

On the basis of how much I enjoyed Massimo's Cleopatra, Livia & the Women Behind the Roman Empire tour, I booked myself onto the Renaissance Scarlet Ladies tour. I was completely captivated from the start - the combination of art and social history was really clevely woven together, making you consider some famous paintings in a different way. Massimo told the stories of 7 Renaissance women and I loved how more well-known names (such as Caravaggio and the Borgias) circled around these women - a twist on the traditional way history is recounted. We walked a lot on this tour and took empty back streets which added to the atmosphere. The last story brought a couple of the tour members to tears (myself included!). Don't miss this tour!

Massimo is a guarantee. It's not the first time we've taken a tour with him, but he always manages to entertain and amuse us. This tour on the Courtesans in particular is definitely the most exciting, and you experience Rome through the most beautiful alleys in an atmosphere that takes us back to that era. I highly recommend it; you'll learn a lot and have a blast.

Massimo is a great tour guide. Very entertaining and knowledgeable of the history of Rome and the city. Recommended 100%!

Yesterday I did the Scarles Ladies tour with Massimo! It exceeded all of my expectations! I absolutely loved it. It’s such a refreshing way to experience Rom,e and that says something coming from a local for 10 years now! It focuses on the women behind the art, power, and scandals of the Renaissance rather than the usual historical narrative of the still fabulous sites in Rome. Massimo's storytelling is so engaging and easy to follow that it really brought the women connected to Caravaggio and the Borgias to life in a way that felt human and memorable. Even though I know Rome well, I learned so many new details and saw familiar places from a completely different perspective. The pace was relaxed, the route was beautiful, and time flew by. If you’re looking for something a bit different from the standard Rome tours, but at the same time thoughtful, well-researched, and genuinely interesting, I highly recommend this one. Bravo Massimo, this will certainly not be my last tour with you :)

I live in Rome, but I spent many years in the United States, so I often have friends coming to visit. After exploring the usual tourist attractions like the Colosseum and the Vatican, I used to wonder what else I could show them. Even though I was born and raised in Rome, I thought my city had little more to offer beyond those highlights. Oh, how wrong I was. Through friends, I heard about Massimo’s storytelling walking tours and decided to give one a try. What a mesmerizing experience! Massimo’s tours are thoughtfully crafted, unique, fun, and deeply engaging. He truly brings history to life. The Renaissance Women tour is pure genius. It explores the lives of seven women who lived between the 1400s and the 1600s—many of whom modeled for great artists such as Raphael and Caravaggio. The tour leads you through churches, historic buildings, and both iconic and lesser-known corners of Rome. It felt like being transported back in time. It was a truly wonderful experience, and I highly recommend this tour to anyone. It’s perfect for both first-time visitors and seasoned Rome lovers. Let Massimo take you on a journey and prepare to be amazed by the city of Rome and its extraordinary historical figures—especially the women.

Massimo uses knowledge and humor to share what life was like for women. This was an enjoyable way to learn about aspects of economic reality of the time while seeing sights often overlooked by tourists,

This experience is one of my core memory tours. It was equally in depth, but not too overbearing. Massimo is really good about laying out the dates and history in a way that really stuck in my mind. I found myself shocked i hadnt known about it sooner. Do it solo, do it with your companions that love art/history. Do it because the background of so much history you witness in Rome, depends on the women that were never acknowledged.

The tour offers a captivating exploration of Rome's rich history through the lives of influential women. This engaging walking tour delves into the stories of courtesans, mistresses, and noblewomen who played pivotal roles in shaping the Renaissance era. The guide, Massimo, is renowned for his dynamic storytelling, bringing historical figures to life with enthusiasm and depth. His narratives transform historical facts into vivid tales that resonate with visitors. Tripadvisor The tour includes visits to significant locations, and these sites provide a tangible connection to the past and offer insights into the lives of the women featured in the tour. This is a unique perspective: Focusing on the women who influenced art, politics, and society during the Renaissance, the tour provides a refreshing perspective often overlooked in traditional historical narratives. This tour is a must for history enthusiasts and anyone interested in uncovering the untold stories of Rome's past. With its engaging storytelling and insightful exploration of lesser-known histories, it offers a unique and enriching experience.

We had an awesam art and history tour with Massimo. His deep knowledge of the subject is combined with passion and humour, so the lifestories of The Renaissance Scarlet Ladies came near to us, too. We have allready booked a new tour with Massimo (and Julius Caesar:) when returning to Rome.

We had a great time with Massimo. The tour was great, if you want to do something different. See the city with another eyes and understand the life of real people of the past. Highly recommended!

What an amazing tour! Massimo is one of the best guide we ever had -and we've been to Rome a few times before! He is really knowledgeable, talented and entertaining ! I was with my 18 years old daughter on this tour, and a little afraid that she won't like it -the truth is, she loved it and she enjoyed it so much-it turned out to be, one of her best memories on this trip! His stories were fascinating, and exceeded our expectations! I highly recommend this tour! Thank you Massimo

Massimo vividly brought to life the successes and hardships of these significant women through his story telling. Buildings, emblems, back streets, churches, bakeries, books and paintings and walks off the beaten track were explored and explained. Highly recommend! ☘️

Massimon is possibly the best private guide I have ever had . His vast knowledge of Roman history especially // colloseum / Roman forum makes the history so much more interesting.

Guide books have pictures and some gathered and easily accessible facts, but on the tour with Massimo we learned so much more, relating to the people and the times and society they lived in. Amongst the restrictions of the times for women, we learned about some amazingly innovative and adaptive, entrepreneurial and successful, as well as sad lives of these people; the tour was comprehensive and beautifully presented. Massimo was very generous with his time and knowledge and I will definitely be doing more tours with him in future visits to Rome.

Massimo was a historian and a storyteller- weaving together the stories of courtesans and street women to explore the grim realities for women living in the 14th-16th centuries. We loved how he went beyond the basic facts to share the experiences of these women who were disrespected in their lives but had a massive influence on the Catholic Church and art world. Women who are so often looked at in famous art, but not remembered for the stories of their lives. Thank you Massimo for an engaging, enjoyable and thought provoking tour!

You will walk a fair bit but it's not too much. The tour guide, Massimo, is enthusiastic and a great storyteller and the subject matter fascinating. Highly recommended.

If you are visiting Rome in the future, booking Massimo's Review of: Renaissance Scarlet Ladies Tour: Caravaggio's and Borgia's Women should be on your "must do" list! It's a different tour in that it's storytelling at it's best. Massimo shared the stories behind the women in the iconic paintings of Caravaggio and during the time the Borgias were in charge of the church and the government. You won't be disappointed if you take this tour! I took the tour with four other friends and we were all enthralled.

A great tour. We were in Rome 9 days and took a dozen tours and this was our favorite (along with Massimo's other tour). Massimo did a lot of homework and is a great storyteller. The tour was highly informative and entertaining. It may sonud a little seedy (and it is) but it was handled tactfully such that my very conservative wife loved the tour. You will not regret taking this tour.

This was a wonderful delve into the "steamier" side of the renaissance Rome. Seven women were highlighted along with some of their homes. Massimo is a wonderfully sassy, knowledgeable and talented storyteller. I don't know when I have enjoyed and laughed so much.

This was such an amazing tour. Be sure to wear your good walking shoes because Massimo takes you to many sites. Massimo has a wealth of knowledge with the stories of the women you will learn about. The twists & turns of the stories & the range of emotions you feel for these women is all worth it. You end up getting very invested in these women & wonder how many more were like them. Massimo is not only a phenomenal story teller, he is giving a voice to women that normally are not heard. This is a side of Rome that they don't teach you in schools. I highly recommend this tour.

Massimo was absolutely delightful. His knowledge of the subject and his research was incredibly detailed. His stories were fascinating and gave us a whole new perspective on the impact of church in the lives of 14th, 15th and 16th century Romans. I highly recommend this tour.

Your trip to Rome will be enhanced and memorable if you take at least 2 tours with Massimo and Storytelling Rome Tours. The Renaissance Scarlet Ladies Tour takes the in-depth research of Massimo and translates women into a major influence of History, not a footnote. These women and the ordinary lives of Romans are interwoven with the power brokers of the Renaissance, providing a unique perspective and a very theatrical storytelling experience. Thank you forever Massimo for your theatrical, very detailed stories and your cheerful, kindness to an old lady! Thank you Staff for all the before communication in helping us be able to engage in these wonderful tours.

It was truly amazing! As a 15 year old myself I usually dont like this sort of thing but it was fantastic! He was highly engaging and had conversations with us about what he was talking about instead of just lecturing.

Our Guide Massimmo is a gifted and knowledgeable storytelling guide. We have been on 5 of his tours now and have returned summer after summer. We cannot recommend him and his company enough.

Probably the BEST tour I have ever been on! Very detailed descriptions about the history of several women, which must have taken a lot of research. I finally understood the meaning behind some of the famous paintings. We also visited some of the houses where they lived.

Hugely engaging and unique tour. I wanted something different, edifying and entertaining which this experience delivered. Massimo is a brilliant story teller with all the academic historical knowledge to back it up! Thank you, Georgia

A wonderful way to see and learn about Rome- Massimo is a gem! We loved our tour- packed with great history and we visited places we would have never found on our own. Highly recommend !

Set up a private tour for my wife and I after reading the reviews. Massimo spent more than a year curating this unique presentation about the lives of 7 women from 1450 to 1600 and their imact on Roman history. His storytelling style draws you in as he uses research to explain the relationship between prostitutes and courtesans all the way up to the papacy. He brings this time period alive with visits to churches, homes and the current French Embassy with a fact based way to see the lives of women during this period. Especially impressed with his explanation of the women in many Caravaggio paintings. He should have consulted on the TV series "The Borgias" and should write a book! If you like history or are a woman (I have three daughters) don't miss this.

This was simply a phenomenal tour, one of the best we have ever done! The stories were incredibly well researched and very interesting indeed! It gave a superb insight into the social history of Rome in the centuries around the Renaissance. Massimo is a gifted and engaging storyteller and also incredibly knowledgeable.

We have visited Rome for many years and we have participated in many guided tours. This tour rates as one of the best ever, if not the best. It was quite easy to arrange a private tour for the three of us with Massimo for Saturday afternoon. He was prompt, friendly, informative, and an engaging storyteller. He provided stories of Romans I have never heard and certainly stimulated my curiosity to learn more. The leisurely stroll took us on streets that were new to me and the identification of various buildings,along with their histories, made the stroll captivating in a new way. I can’t recommend this tour highly enough.

I took my mother to Italy for her 70th birthday in November/December 2023. This tour was the absolute highlight of our time in Rome. We did the Scarlet Ladies Tour and had an absolutely amazing time. Massimo was SO knowledgeable and funny - it was one of the better walking tours I have ever been on (and I travel and do walking tours in different cities a couple times a year). But on top of that, the subject matter was so unique and so intriguing -- we knew it would be interesting based on the general description, but the tour was so much more fascinating than I even could have hoped! My mom and I were talking about it for days afterwards. Massimo was so imaginative in coming up with this unusual theme for a tour. It was really creative how he linked the stories of the various women together in a way that painted a bigger picture of female lives throughout Italian history, but also linked them to geographical places, so you could really feel how the history tied back into the city during different eras. It made you feel like you were walking in these women's shoes. And the fact that the tour also brought in the art, and culture/religion of the city was so cool. It was, in a word, extraordinary. It was very clear that Massimo loves the city and loves sharing it with people. I will DEFINITELY do another tour with Massimo when I return to Rome. Eyeing up the empresses tour next... On the logistical side, my mom has some mobility issues and Massimo was able to accommodate her and adjust things a bit so she could be more comfortable, finding places for her to sit, etc. He was SO kind and understanding, and really made sure that she was comfortable, but also that we were still able to enjoy the full breadth and experience of the tour. He was wonderful. He offered to stop for drink and bathroom breaks when we needed them and overall was an attentive and friendly host. I cannot recommend Massimo and his company highly enough. A+++++++. Sign up now!!!! It will make your entire trip.

Massimo’s tours were absolutely amazing! We took 4 tours with Massimo as our guide, and they were all beyond my greatest expectations. I learned so much about Ancient Rome and loved Massimo’s delivery which was very thorough and entertaining. He has a gift to connect with people and made our time in Rome fabulous!

Massimo, the guide extraordinaire, will whisk you away to hidden corners of the city, revealing the juicy tales of amazing women, the houses they ruled and the churches they attended. I was lucky and ended up having a private tour and it was simply sensational! It kicked off with a fellow traveler approaching us and raving about Massimo from last year's adventure. Talk about a promising start If you're a history-loving, art-adoring soul who craves a sprinkle of gossip and a whole lot of excitement, this tour is for you. Trust me, you'll leave feeling enlightened, entertained, and totally inspired. Massimo and his tales of Rome's scarlet women will leave you begging for more. Trust me, this tour is the was one that I will be recommending to many people!

I learned a lot from this unusual unorthodox tour taken on March 28, 2023. Grazie Massimo for sharing your knowledge with us. This tour is strongly recommended.

Mossimo was amazing and perfect. He knew everything about the tour we were on and even let us veer off in to other areas that weren’t on the official tour. We had a genuinely perfect experience and I think everyone visiting and living here in Rome should go on this tour. Fascinating look at history and the women that affected it.

Massimo was fantastic he told the stories with passion and flare, he was really knowledgeable, and spoke of how he did his research. The stories were very interesting, and this tour is definitely one to go on if you like history. If I could have given 10/10, I would have. I'll be looking at doing more tours with him next time I'm in Rome.

Loved this tour!! Our tour guide, Massimo ,was a wealth of historical information presented in an engaging and entertaining manor. It exceeded our expectations and left us wanting more! We highly recommend this tour for those interested in a different spin on history involving Popes, Cardinals and artists of the Renaissance period. Bravissimo!!

We spent an enjoyable afternoon walking through one of Rome's most historic quarters with Massimo. He was the perfect guide, knowledgeable and fun. I had heard if one or two if the women but not most. This ranks right up there as one of the better walking tours I've taken. Be sure to do this if you get the chance!

Very interesting and informative. Great thing to do if you are already familiar with the typical sights. Knowledgeable tour guide who went above and beyond for his guests

Amazing historical stories about influencers of Rome. Massimo was so engaging and brought history to life. Brilliant tour

We did two tours with Anna: Ancient Rome tour and Vatican Museum tour. Both exceeded our expectations!! Anna shared extensive historical and art knowledge and perspective, so we both learned a lot and took the time to appreciate the beauty. Anna focused on areas where we has interest and introduced us to specifics we wouldn’t have found on our own. She organized the tours to accommodate our schedules, made it easy (with pre tickets) to enter sites, and provided local tips for our non tour time. Highly recommend Anna and Storytelling Rome for Rome tours!!

Awesome. If my teachers got me this interested in art and history like this tours, i would have probably chosen a different path in life. We got so many cool stories, ancient gossip and on top of that a lot of hints and advices to spots, restaurants and culinarian highlights. Don't miss this on your trip to Rome. We did 3 tours with storytelling Rome and we will book a whole lot more as soon as we return! Thanks a lot!

Massimo, of Storytelling Tours gives an entertaining, sometimes very sad description of life for women in Rome during the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. Women became Courtesans or highly paid prostitutes to gain financial security. Kept by men of wealth and influence, often in the Vatican, they were able to own property and have wealth of their own. But also risked STDs and abuse by their patrons. This tour was outstanding, Massimo is a very talented story teller, we were absolutely entranced the entire 3 hours.

I visit Rome nearly every year and have done my share of walking tours. This tour was one of the best--a deep dive into social history, terrific dramatic stories and a passionate guide with a great sense of humor who told us the tales of Rome's geisha-like courtesans and the details of their lives--and often sordid deaths. I love how Massimo mixed art history with social history (many of the courtesans posed for artists like Raphael and Caravaggio) and how he truly revealed a part of life in Rome that few people ever hear about. I highly recommend this tour--as well as any tour given by Massimo, who is hugely knowledgable and has a great personality.

Massimo is FANTASTIC! He’s so entertaining while also giving you so many interesting details and stories. This isn’t your normal tour—you get to know the personal side of the people he talks about instead of just facts and figures. It’s still historical, but so much more personal. You feel like you really get to know these people. On most tours, you usually get a guide who is knowledgeable but kinda boring, OR one who is fun but delivers no real substance. Massimo does BOTH! He’ll keep you laughing, but he can also answer any question you ask. He really knows the history of Rome. I can’t recommend his tours enough! You absolutely should book him!

Would you believe I have done this tour three times?! I love it. Massimo is incredible. Well-researched and informative but also the best story teller in town. This is a special experience!

Massimo's tour was one of the highlights of the week my wife and I spent in Rome. His professional approach to his work, coupled with the endless information at his fingertips and his refreshing sense of humour simply make you enjoy every minute. He even had a folder of photographs to illustrate perfectly certain points that would be difficult to explain in words.

Massimo was incredible! We booked 4 of his tours because we enjoyed them so much. This was my personal favourite. I am often nervous about engaging in these topics, as all too often people play into stereotypes and stigma, but he addressed this subject matter in an empowering, fun and respectful way. He did it justice and I loved it. It felt like the people were brought to life; he made them relatable, memorable and real. Massimo and his tours were a definite highlight of our time in Rome!

Higly recommend Massimo as a tour guide. He made our day unforgettable with his passion and of course his knowledge about the courtesan of Renaissance. Massimo was simply fantastic, we couldn't ask for more.