The Best New Tours of Italy to Take in 2025

Updated 21 March 2025

Where are your travel plans taking you in 2025? We know that for many of you Italy is firmly on the radar, and we’re here for it! This Spring, Through Eternity are delighted to announce the launch of a series of new private and small-group tours in Rome, Florence and Venice that showcase the best of what our wonderful country has to offer.

From in-depth tours of St. Peter’s Basilica and eerie underground adventures in Rome to relaxing strolls in Florence and Venice, exclusive showings at the most exciting Caravaggio exhibition in a generation and more, we’ve got your Italy travel plans covered in 2025. Take a look at our latest offerings - we’re sure you’ll find a tour to suit you!

Florence at Twilight: Secrets of the Renaissance

There are plenty of unmissable museums and galleries that are certain to be on your schedules when in the City of the Medici, but in Florence the city itself is the real star of the show. Brand new for 2024, we’ve crafted this introductory walking tour of the city as a companion piece to our ever-popular Rome at Twilight itinerary.

Join one of our resident Florence-experts as day slowly gives way to evening for a relaxing stroll through the jaw-droppingly beautiful streets of Florence, and let yourself be introduced to extraordinary places like Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria before heading across the river to Oltrarno for a complimentary aperitivo drink on us. The highlights of the Uffizi and Accademia can wait for another day - when you’ve just arrived and need to take things easy, this relaxing evening stroll is the perfect way to get your visit to Florence started!

Who It’s Perfect For: Visitors looking for a fun and accessible introduction to the magnificent piazzas, bridges and monuments of Florence.

Duration: 2.5 hours

Group Size: Maximum of 10. Also available as a private tour.

Venice at Twilight: Secrets of the Serenissima

Perhaps no other city in Italy benefits from the expertise of a local guided tour (especially for the first-time visitor) as much as Venice. The first time you get lost in its enchanting tangle of alleyways and canals, you’ll know what we mean! Our newly launched Venice at Twilight itinerary will allow you to immerse yourself in the charms of the Floating City without having to worry about whether you’re missing the best of what Venice has to offer.

Our local guide will lead you through the labyrinth, charting a course that will us across the Rialto Bridge and through magnificent St. Mark’s Square, making sure you get the best view of the Bridge of Sighs along the way. You’ll also get to explore fascinating off-the-beaten-path parts of the city that only the locals know, where stunning palaces and ancient churches seem immune to the passage of time. To finish your evening in the city, enjoy a spritz on us at a traditional bacaro (bar).

Who It’s Perfect For: Visitors looking to get their bearings in Venice with the help of a local expert.

Duration: 2.5 hours

Group Size: Maximum of 10. Also available as a private tour.

St. Peter’s Basilica with Dome Climb and Crypts

No visit to Rome is complete without a trip to St. Peter’s Basilica, the world’s largest, and arguably most impressive, church. With thousands of years of history, art and faith crammed into the basilica, you could easily spend hours exploring St. Peter’s. Most visitors to Rome combine their visit to the church with a tour of the adjacent Vatican Museums, and whilst this is a great option, time constraints mean that you won’t see all there is to see inside the basilica itself if you take this route. That’s why we’ve come up with a more in-depth, stand-alone St. Peter’s Basilica tour this year!

On this itinerary you’ll have the chance to climb up to the top of Michelangelo’s dome, admiring the church’s glittering mosaics on the way, and drink in stunning views across Rome. You’ll also get to descend into the crypts beneath the church, where generations of Popes have been laid to rest in elaborate tombs. We’ll also have plenty of time in the basilica itself to discuss highlights like Michelangelo’s Pieta sculpture and Bernini’s incredible bronze baldacchino guarding St. Peter’s grave.

Who It’s Perfect For: Lovers of amazing views and visitors to the Vatican City who want the complete St. Peter’s experience.

Duration: 2.5 hours

Group Size: Maximum of 10. Also available as a private tour.

Secrets Beneath Rome: Capuchin Crypt and Catacombs Tour

When you think of Rome, what comes to mind? The Colosseum? The Vatican City? The Trevi Fountain? All of these, sure. But did you know that hidden beneath Rome there is another side of the city, buried in the mists of time? Bringing this mysterious world back to life, our new subterranean tour sees us journeying down into this haunting underground city as we visit two amazing sites: the Capuchin bone crypt and the Roman catacombs.

Join us as we explore the macabre Capuchin crypt beneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione where the bones of deceased monks have been arranged into bizarre, elaborate patterns as a meditation on human mortality, and discover the fascinating story of early Christianity in the labyrinthine tunnels of the Roman catacombs, decorated with the signs and symbols of Christ’s first followers in Rome. Air-conditioned transport will make sure that we’ll be moving between the sites in total comfort!

Who It’s Perfect For: Anyone who wants to go beyond the highlights to see a hidden side of Rome.

Duration: 3 hours.

Group Size: Maximum of 10. Also available as a private tour.

Jubilee 2025 Tour: An Exploration of Early Christianity

New for 2025, this special Jubilee itinerary takes you on a journey through faith, history, and art at two of Rome’s most sacred sites. Step inside San Giovanni in Laterano, the city’s first Christian basilica, and walk through its towering bronze doors, admire Borromini’s grand redesign, and stand before the Holy Steps, said to have been climbed by Christ.

Follow the ancient pilgrimage route along Via Merulana, stopping for a classic Roman treat, before arriving at Santa Maria Maggiore, the city’s grandest Marian church. Marvel at its gold-covered ceiling, intricate Cosmatesque floors, and breathtaking mosaics—beloved by popes for centuries. From ancient relics to sacred art, this exclusive experience is available only for the 2025 Jubilee. Limited spots—book now!

Who It’s Perfect For: Perfect for pilgrims coming to Rome for the Jubilee, or anyone interested in the fascinating history of Chrstianity in the Eternal City.

Duration: 2.5 hours

Group Size: Maximum of 10. Also available as a private tour.

Santa Maria Maggiore Scavi and Rooftop

Brand new for 2025, we are super excited about this itinerary designed to lay bare the marvels of one of Rome’s most fabulous churches. Step into the timeless grandeur of Santa Maria Maggiore, where art, history, and faith intertwine in spectacular harmony. Marvel at shimmering medieval mosaics and hidden Renaissance frescoes, uncover a little-known Bernini masterpiece, and venture beneath the basilica to explore ancient ruins steeped in mystery.

Then, ascend to the rarely accessible Loggia of Blessings for breathtaking views over Rome. We offer this tour either in the early morning or the evening, so whether you prefer the stillness of dawn or the magic of twilight, we’ve got you covered. Depending on which you choose, you’ll get to greet the day with a classic Italian breakfast or toast the evening with a sunset aperitivo as part of the experience.

Who It’s Perfect For: Art enthusiasts and return visitors to Rome looking to discover city gems beyond the obvious highlights.

Duration: 3 hours

Group Size: This is a private tour.

Caravaggio at Palazzo Barberini: Dramas of Darkness and Light

Caravaggio was a rebel, a genius, and a troublemaker—and his art changed the course of history. Now, for a limited time in 2025, an extraordinary exhibition at Palazzo Barberini brings together 24 of his most powerful masterpieces, including rare loans and never-before-seen works. Join our expert art historian for an exclusive small-group tour that delves into his dramatic use of light and shadow, his bold storytelling, and his deep connection to Rome’s streets and society. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and tickets are already in high demand—secure yours now before they’re gone.

Who It’s Perfect For: Everybody, from connoisseurs to art novices. This is the biggest ticket in town. Be part of it!

Duration: 2.5 hours

Group Size: Maximum of 6. Also available as a private tour.

The Key Masters Vatican Tour: Alone in the Sistine Chapel

New for 2025, this exclusive Vatican experience lets you step behind the museum’s locked doors before the city stirs. Walk alongside the Vatican Key Master as he unlocks the museums in the hush of early morning, a privilege usually reserved for dignitaries and the most august of visitors - yes, that means you!Wander through silent galleries where the Laocoön, Apollo Belvedere, and Raphael’s School of Athens stand undisturbed in the soft morning light. Then, descend into darkness for the most awe-inspiring moment of all—the unlocking of the Sistine Chapel. As the Key Master turns the sacred key and the lights flicker on, Michelangelo’s masterpieces come to life in absolute solitude.

Cap off this once-in-a-lifetime tour with a luxurious breakfast in the Vatican courtyard, reflecting on the rarest of experiences—witnessing the Vatican in pure, undisturbed stillness.

Who It’s Perfect For: This is a truly unique experience perfect for those looking for something special. Your next dinner party story starts here!