Brenda Lee Bohen has been tour guiding in Rome and the Vatican Museums since 2001, before the required tour guide license became  mandatory in Italy.

Brenda is of Mexican American heritage and has completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees at De Paul University, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning & Leadership.

She is also a proud Veteran of the United States Army and  holds  both American and Italian citizenship.

She collaborates with the Jewish Museum of Rome and works as a free-lance tour guide in Rome and the Vatican Museums during high season.

Drawing on on her bi-cultural  upbringing, and academic training in ancient Greek and Jewish studies, allows her to narrate the lesser known history about the Roman attitude toward Judaism and the Jews in the ancient Greco-Roman empire.

Brenda is also passionate about telling stories populated by the most prominent gods and goddesses in Roman culture , naturally juxtaposing how Chicago’s architecture and identity has been shaped by its connection to classical antiquity.

Furthermore, if you are on one of Brenda’s Vatican Museum tours, she  will share with you how her father-in-law and his colleagues did the restoration of the stained  glass windows in the Sistine Chapel.

Finally,  entering into Saint Peter’s Basilica, you will learn not only about its history and architecture , but also about the mosaics decorating  the entire interior.  Such as those referencing the prophetesses and prophets  decorating  the lunettes and pendentives throughout the interior of Saint Peter’s Basilica. The presence there of these prophets gives evidence that Christianity developed from Judaism. More importantly they demonstrate these artists’ deep respect and knowledge for Jewish tradition.

Brenda’s husband is one of the master mosaic artists from the Vatican Mosaic Studio.