The Most Haunted Places in Rome (2025)
- vitantoniosantoro
- Oct 17
- 14 min read
If you’re searching for haunted places in Rome, you’ve come to the right guide. From ghost stories of popes and poisoners to eerie catacombs, cursed bridges, and ancient prisons, the Eternal City is full of legends that refuse to die. In this article we reveal the most haunted spots in Rome, including Castel Sant’Angelo, Ponte Sant’Angelo, the Capuchin Crypt, and the Catacombs of Priscilla, with clear details on where they are, when to visit, entry fees, and what to expect. Want to explore them with an expert? You’ll also find trusted Rome ghost tours from Viator and GetYourGuide, plus a Google Maps walking itinerary for your own spooky night walk through the city.
🎯 Not sure where to start? Follow this ghost tour route through Rome and let the legends lead the way.
Top Haunted Places in Rome
We handpicked these places for strong legends, atmospheric settings, and easy logistics (mostly central location; minimal detours).
Ponte Sant’Angelo (Beatrice Cenci’s ghost)
At night the bridge glows under its lamps, the marble angels looking down in silence. But every year, on 11 September, the story changes. Locals say the ghost of Beatrice Cenci returns, carrying her severed head as she walks across the stones.
She was only twenty-two. Her father was cruel, and she joined a plot to kill him. For this she was condemned. On that day in 1599, in the Piazza di Ponte Sant’Angelo, right at the foot of the fortress, she was executed by the sword.
People say her death became a symbol of injustice, but her spirit never left. When the Tiber fog rolls in, some claim to see her shadow among the angels. Others feel just a sudden, icy shiver - too strong to be the wind. If you stand at the center of the bridge and wait, you might feel her pass by, still walking the place where her life ended.
Castel Sant’Angelo (prison, papal refuge… and whispers)
At first glance, Castel Sant’Angelo looks peaceful, the angel on top gleaming in the light, tourists drifting along the ramp. But after dark, the fortress remembers.
It began as Emperor Hadrian’s tomb. Then it became a papal refuge, a prison, a place where sentences were carried out behind thick walls. Many entered and never left. Some say their voices still cling to the stone.
The most famous is Mastro Titta, Rome’s executioner. He lived across the river but crossed the bridge in his red cloak each time the city demanded death. People claim his shadow still appears near the lower cells, lantern in hand, waiting for the condemned.
Guards on night duty talk of footsteps echoing where no one walks, doors that close without wind, a chill in the spiral ramp that leads to the terrace. When you reach the top and look over the river, the view is perfect, but if the air turns suddenly cold, it’s said the fortress is reminding you what it once was: not a museum, but a cage of souls.
Santa Maria del Popolo (Nero’s haunted tree)
By day, Santa Maria del Popolo is a quiet church filled with masterpieces - Caravaggio’s shadows, Bernini’s marble, golden light filtering through the nave. But the ground it stands on hides a darker story.
Before the church was built, this spot was said to hold Emperor Nero’s grave. Locals believed a black walnut tree grew from his buried ashes, haunted by demons and by Nero’s own restless spirit. At night, they swore the air filled with shrieks and fire.
In 1099, Pope Paschal II ordered the tree cut down and a church raised in its place to seal the evil beneath holy stone. For centuries, Romans passed the story down: the devil’s tree gone, but not forgotten.
Even now, when the church is empty and the light dims, visitors say they feel a strange pressure, as if the floor itself breathes. Some claim they’ve caught a whiff of smoke, faint but sharp, near the altar. Stand there long enough, and you’ll understand why Romans built a church here, to keep what sleeps below from waking again.
Museum & Crypt of the Capuchin Friars (Via Veneto “Bone Chapel”)
Beneath the elegant curve of Via Veneto, there’s a place that feels like another world. The Museum and Crypt of the Capuchin Friars looks plain from outside, but step inside and the air changes. It’s colder. Quieter. Heavy with the scent of earth and incense.
In the crypt below, the bones of about 4,000 friars are arranged into arches, chandeliers, and altars. Skulls line the walls like rosary beads. Vertebrae form flowers. A single inscription reads: “What you are now, we once were; what we are now, you shall be.”
No one knows who designed it. Some say it was a message about humility, others a warning. During the day, the light is dim but steady; at night, even thinking about it makes your skin tighten. Visitors say they sometimes hear soft rustling, as if robes are brushing against stone, or smell candle smoke when none is lit.
It’s not a place of horror, it’s a reminder. Death isn’t far. The friars used their bones to preach it. Rome just keeps listening.
Museum of the Souls of Purgatory (tiny, very weird)
In a small corner of Prati, inside the Church of the Sacred Heart of Suffrage, hides one of Rome’s strangest little rooms, the Museum of the Souls of Purgatory. Blink and you’ll miss it.
It began in 1897, when a fire broke out inside the church. Afterward, the priest claimed he saw a face burned into the wall, a soul asking for prayers. He started collecting proof - books, clothes, and wooden boards scorched with what look like handprints and finger marks from beyond.
Today, those relics fill a single glass case. No lights, no dramatics - just quiet evidence of people who swore the dead can reach back to the living. Some visitors leave shaken. Others leave skeptical. Everyone leaves silent.
If you step inside when the church is empty, the echo of your footsteps feels louder than it should. The air smells faintly of ash. You start to wonder what’s real and what wants to be remembered.
Ponte Sisto (Donna Olimpia’s midnight carriage)
At night, Ponte Sisto looks peaceful: street musicians gone, the river whispering below, the domes glowing in the distance. But when midnight comes, the bridge tells its own story.
They say the ghost of Donna Olimpia Maidalchini, the cunning sister-in-law of Pope Innocent X, still crosses here. In life she ruled the Vatican’s finances and was hated for it. When the Pope died, she fled the city in a black carriage loaded with gold, vanishing into the dark.
Now, on some nights, people swear they hear the rumble of wheels and the clatter of hooves on the stones, but the bridge is empty. A gust of cold air sweeps past, and the smell of burning wax lingers. Some claim to see the shadow of a coach racing toward the Tiber, then sinking silently into the fog.
If you stand on the bridge after midnight and feel the air change - sharp, heavy, colder than it should be, it might just be her, racing forever through the night, trying to escape the weight of her own greed.
The Colosseum (after-hours aura)
By day, the Colosseum is alive with crowds and cameras. By night, it turns into something else entirely. The arches glow gold, the corridors fall silent, and the air feels older - like the building remembers every scream it ever heard.
For centuries, this was the stage of blood and death. Gladiators fought for their lives while tens of thousands watched. Criminals were torn apart by beasts. The sand drank it all. When the crowds were gone, the arena stayed - haunted by the echo of iron and prayer.
Locals say that on windless nights, you can still hear chains rattling in the lower tunnels, or faint cheers rolling through the stands. Some guards claim to have seen a figure in armor pacing the corridors, sword in hand, vanishing when approached. Others talk of a roar deep under the floor, like a lion remembering its cage.
Stand outside the gates after midnight and listen. The traffic fades, the city sleeps, and the stones seem to hum. It’s not imagination, it’s memory. Rome never forgets what it built on blood.
Catacombs of Priscilla (Regina Catacumbarum)
Deep under Via Salaria, the city noise fades and stone takes over. The Catacombs of Priscilla stretch for miles in darkness, narrow tunnels carved by early Christians almost two thousand years ago.
They buried their dead here, hiding names and prayers on the walls. Some call this place the “Regina Catacumbarum” - the Queen of the Catacombs - for its ancient frescoes and countless tombs. But guides say not all who entered left in peace.
In the stillness, visitors have reported soft footsteps behind them, or a whisper that sounds like a breath too close to the ear. One story tells of a lantern that kept blowing out, even when no wind stirred. Another of a child’s laughter echoing faintly in the dark.
No one knows if it’s imagination or memory. The air stays cool, damp, and thick, as if the tunnels themselves are alive. If you stop and listen long enough, you might feel it too - the weight of centuries, and the quiet presence of those who still keep watch in the dark.
Rome Haunted Sites Entry Fees (2025 Update):
*Here’s a quick guide to ticket prices and entry details for the most haunted places in Rome: from the ghostly bridges of Ponte Sant’Angelo and Ponte Sisto to eerie landmarks like Castel Sant’Angelo, the Capuchin Crypt, and the Catacombs of Priscilla. This table helps travelers plan visits with up-to-date ticket costs, free entry spots, and official booking links for each location.
Best Guided Experiences & Tickets
Guides help stitch the stories together (and avoid closed doors/odd hours). Pick one of these depending on your style:
Rome Ghosts, Legends & Haunted History Night Tour
The Rome Ghosts, Legends & Haunted History Night Tour is an 80-minute evening walking tour in English that explores the city’s eerie past for just €16 per person. You’ll visit Castel Sant’Angelo, Via Giulia, Campo de’ Fiori, and the statue of Giordano Bruno, hear true stories of Beatrice Cenci’s execution, Vatican intrigue, and Rome’s haunted palaces. One reviewer said, “Mike was an amazing guide… we got to know obscure history normal tours wouldn’t cover.” Another added, “He kept our teenagers engaged and showed us a darker side of Rome we would have missed.” It’s one of the best-rated ghost tours in Rome, mixing real history with the city’s most chilling legends.
Haunted Rome Ghost Night Walking Tour
The Haunted Rome Ghost Tour is a 90-minute evening walking tour in English that uncovers the spooky legends and hidden corners of the Eternal City for €29 per person. You’ll explore Rome’s haunted streets, cursed bridges, and sites of executions, guided by storytellers who blend history with mystery. One guest wrote, “We’ve done many ghost tours, but this was by far our favorite, our guide was amazing!” Another added, “The stories were great, and it was such an easy way to explore Rome at night.” The experience even includes the chance to try dowsing rods to detect ghostly energy, part chilling tale, part hands-on adventure through haunted Rome.
Capuchin Crypts & Roman Catacombs (Coach, Skip-the-Line)
The Crypts & Catacombs Underground Tour with Transfers in Rome is a 2.5-to-3.5 hour guided tour with skip-the-line coach transfers to three underground sites: the Capuchin Crypt, Roman Catacombs, and the Basilica of San Martino ai Monti. You’ll descend into the macabre “Bone Chapel” with its thousands of friar bones, then travel by air-conditioned bus to visit ancient Christian burial tunnels and sacred chambers. One reviewer praised the experience: “the guide was extremely knowledgeable … fascinated by the Catacombs and crypts.” Another traveler wrote, “skip-the-line access…excellent organisation all the way.”
Rome Castel Sant'Angelo Entry Ticket with Audioguide
The Rome Castel Sant’Angelo Entry Ticket with Audioguide gives you skip-the-line access to the fortress. As you explore, the audio guide (available in multiple languages) tells the story of how Hadrian’s mausoleum became a papal stronghold and prison. Tickets are nominative and timed, so arrive at least 15 minutes early.
Hidden Gems of Haunted Rome: Ghost Stories Locals Still Tell
Vicolo dei Mazzamurelli (Trastevere). Blink and you’ll miss the lane tied to Rome’s mischievous goblins (“mazzamurelli”).
💡 Local tip: Walk it after dinner (22:00–23:00) when Trastevere calms down; look for the small plaque mentioning the legend.
Porta Alchemica (Magic Door), Piazza Vittorio. A fenced 17th‑century “alchemy portal” with coded inscriptions - occult Rome in broad daylight.
💡 Local tip: Bring a zoom lens; inscriptions are best read from the garden path. Free.
Palazzo de Cupis window (Piazza Navona). On full‑moon nights, Romans swear you can glimpse Costanza de Cupis’ disembodied hand in the window - a compact, eerie stop steps from Sant’Agnese.
💡 Local tip: Stand on Via dell’Anima facing the palace windows; pair with a late gelato on the piazza.
Corte Savella (Via di Monserrato) - Beatrice Cenci’s prison site. Little remains but plaques: if the Ponte lore hooked you, this fills in the backstory.
💡 Local tip: Combine with Via Giulia’s night vibe for classic “haunted” Rome scenery.
Extra Haunted Places in Rome to Visit on a Night Walk
Statua di Giordano Bruno (Campo de’ Fiori)
At night, Campo de’ Fiori empties, but one figure stays - the hooded statue of Giordano Bruno, burned here in 1600 for ideas too bold for his time.
He said the stars were suns, that the universe had no end. The Church called it heresy. He refused to kneel, so they lit the fire.
Now his statue faces the Vatican, defiant. Locals say on quiet nights you can smell smoke or feel a sudden warmth underfoot. Stand there long enough, and you’ll understand - some flames never go out.
Piazza Farnese
By day, Piazza Farnese is calm: two great fountains, a palace, a few benches in the sun. But when night falls, the air feels different.
The fountains were carved from ancient Roman baths, dragged here by the powerful Farnese family. Locals say the stone still remembers the heat of the old empire. Some nights, people claim to see faces ripple in the water - soldiers, slaves, strangers from another time.
“Madonna della Pietà” - madonnella street shrine
On a quiet corner stands the Madonna della Pietà, one of Rome’s many madonnelle - small street shrines watching over the city. By day she’s easy to miss; by night, her little lamp burns against the dark.
Long ago, people believed these shrines kept danger away. Thieves turned back when the light flickered, and quarrels stopped under her gaze. Some say the Virgin’s painted eyes have moved, following those who pass without respect.
If you walk by late, the street will be silent except for the faint buzz of her lamp. Look up, meet her calm stare, and you’ll feel it - that quiet sense you are not alone.
Fontana del Mascherone (Via Giulia)
Along Via Giulia, a stone face stares from the wall - the Fontana del Mascherone, the “big mask.” Water spills from its mouth into a marble basin, the Farnese lily carved above like a crown.
In the past, the fountain once poured wine during festivals. Crowds drank, sang, and swore they saw the mask grin. Others whispered it could tell lies from truth - if you spoke false words, the water would splash back at you.
Chiesa di Santa Maria dell’Orazione e Morte (Via Giulia)
On Via Giulia, the Church of Santa Maria dell’Orazione e Morte - “Our Lady of Prayer and Death” - stands with skulls and hourglasses carved into its façade. It was built by a brotherhood that collected and buried the unclaimed dead from Rome’s streets and the Tiber.
Inside, bones still rest in a small crypt, arranged in silence. Locals say that on some nights, you can hear faint scraping sounds, like shovels in gravel, or a sigh that drifts through the doorway.
Santa Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnoli (Via di Monserrato)
On Via di Monserrato, the church of Santa Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnoli looks calm, but its walls keep uneasy company. Two Borgia popes, Callixtus III and Alexander VI, rest inside - names tied to poison, power, and scandal.
By day, few visitors step in; by night, the place seems to hum. Some say they’ve heard murmurs near the tombs, as if the popes are still debating their sins. Others feel a sudden chill even when the doors are closed.
Clivo di Rocca Savella (Aventine)
The Clivo di Rocca Savella winds down the Aventine Hill, narrow and half-hidden by old stone walls. By day it’s peaceful, lined with ivy and orange trees. By night, it feels different - older, watchful.
Guards once patrolled here when the Savelli fortress stood above. Locals say their footsteps still echo after midnight, or a gate chain clinks when no one’s near. Some claim to see a shadow move along the wall, keeping pace, then vanishing at the curve.
Stop halfway down and look toward the Circus Maximus. The city glows below, quiet and endless. The wind carries a faint rhythm, like drums from ancient games. It’s beautiful - and just eerie enough to make you wonder who’s walking beside you.
Map & Mini Itinerary (90–120 minutes on foot)
Route (north → west):
Santa Maria del Popolo (Piazza del Popolo) → 15 min walk → Capuchin Crypt (Via Veneto) → 20 min walk → Piazza Navona (Palazzo de Cupis window) → 10 min walk → Ponte Sant’Angelo / Castel Sant’Angelo → 12 min walk along the river → Ponte Sisto.
👉 Open it on Google Maps: Haunted Rome Walking Route – from Santa Maria del Popolo to Ponte Sisto
Why this order: compact loop, best light after sunset, plenty of cafes for stops.
FAQs about the Most Haunted Places in Rome in 2025
1) What’s the most haunted place in Rome?
Ask ten Romans, get ten answers. For famous legends, Ponte Sant’Angelo (Beatrice Cenci), Ponte Sisto (Donna Olimpia), and the Capuchin Crypt (not “haunted,” but deeply eerie) top most lists.
2) Are Rome’s “ghost tours” actually scary?
They’re more “dark history + legends” than jump‑scare. Guides focus on executions, scandals, curses, and a few apparitions; it’s engaging, usually family‑friendly.
3) Best time of day for haunted Rome?
Evening to night (post‑sunset) maximizes atmosphere and cooler temps. Night access to sites like Castel Sant’Angelo varies by event schedule.
4) Can I take photos in the Capuchin Crypt?
Yes - for private, non‑commercial use only (dress code applies; shoulders/knees covered). For publication, special permits are required.
5) Are the catacombs wheelchair accessible? Generally no - narrow tunnels and stairs block wheelchairs/strollers. Consider above‑ground options (Capuchin Museum) instead.
6) How much are Colosseum tickets and do I need to prebook?
From €18 (official), with timed entries that sell out; book on the official ticketing site, or take guided tour on GetYourGuide, not resellers.
7) Where is the Museum of Souls of Purgatory and is it worth it?
Inside the Sacro Cuore del Suffragio church in Prati; it’s a tiny, quirky stop showcasing alleged “marks” from purgatory - perfect add‑on if you’re nearby.
8) Is Castel Sant’Angelo accessible for reduced mobility? Partially. There’s elevator access to some levels, but the historic layout means uneven ramps/stairs and limitations; plan a slower visit.
9) Where/when would I “see” Beatrice Cenci’s ghost? Legend places her on Ponte Sant’Angelo on the night of 11 September, the anniversary of her execution. It’s folklore, but powerful.
10) Any dress code for “haunted” sites in Rome? For churches/crypts, yes: modest attire (shoulders/knees covered). Outdoor sites/bridges have none - just comfortable shoes for cobblestones.
11) Are photos allowed in the catacombs? No - photos/videos are generally forbidden in Rome’s catacombs; plan to soak it in with your eyes.
12) Is Rome safe at night for these walks? Stick to lit routes, keep bags zipped, avoid isolated riverbanks late. Central routes (Navona–Sant’Angelo–Sisto) stay lively into the night.
🎯 Ready to explore? Start your haunted walk through Rome and let its ghosts, legends, and forgotten stories guide your steps.
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