Ghost Tour in Rome #2 Donna Olimpia, a ghost called the Pimpaccia

Another roman phantom is called the Pimpaccia.
Her name is Olimpia Maidalchini, born in Viterbo from a modest family. She was ambitious, cunning and also beautiful. All this allowed her to become a social climber.

Olimpia Maidalchini Pamphili a.k.aPimpaccia - Photo by Passaggi Lenti 

She married a rich old man but he died early.

She married a second time, a man older than 30 years yet. Her husband was  Pamphilio Pamphilj, his brother became Pope Innocent X, after a few years. 

Donna Olimpia had become one of the most powerful women in Rome. Her dream  became reality.

Her palace in Piazza Navona was aroyal palace.

Pamphili's Palace in Piazza Navona. Today Brasil Embassade - Photo by Tesori di Roma

The pamphili's family  had many landed properties in the city, and not only, among which we remember the public park near the Vatican.

Her husband died but she became even more influential, The Pope trusted only her.

Noble and rich people gave her rich gifts to enter into the Pope's graces or even be presented with benevolence.

She was very hated but she did not care, until the moment when the Pope sat on the throne.

The Romans called her pimpaccia, the name derives from an ironic invective.

The ironic joke was written and hung on the statue of Pasquino, one of the "talking" statues of Rome

The inscription read "Olim pia, nunc impia" which translated from Latin means 'once religious, now impious'.

In 1655, just a few hours before Innocent's death, without him she could have lost everything, She filled two boxes of gold coins, loaded them on a carriage, and ran away at full speed. She never returned to Piazza Navona.

The new pope, Alexander VII, exiled her to San Martino al Cimino, ordered her to return the gold she had but Donna Olimpia refused. She died of a plague two years later.
The legend tells that the ghost, because of her avarice, appears in Ponte Sisto on the carriage, together with  loot of coins; in fact, this bridge connects the banks of the Tiber along the shortest route to go from Piazza Navona to Villa Pamphilj.

Ponte Sisto where Pimpaccia appears ....