In 'The Borgias' a character is depicting visiting an opium den. Did these institutions exist in 15th Century Rome and Italy?

by Athena_Laleak
chandu-gourmand

No. Opium smoking started sometime in the 16th century in China, and wasn't popular enough for there to be 'opium dens' until the 18th century or so. Most accounts of opium dens in Europe are 19th or early 20th century.