The 15 Best Dark History Tours in Italy

1.Mysterious Tales of Ghosts and Murders

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 636 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $57Our pick

Walk from Campo San Bartolomio to St. Mark’s Square with an English-speaking Venetian guide such as Annalisa, Claudia, or Anna. Expect ghost legends, true crimes, local history, quiet lanes, and unusual details such as Marco Polo’s actual house. The tour is family-friendly, but includes walking on uneven streets.

“Claudia was our guide, she was very knowledgeable and interesting and my 3 daughters and I really enjoyed it. We learnt some of the history of Venice alongside some of the haunted tales. Your very lucky if you have Claudia as your guide she is such a lovely person we are so glad we booked this tour x”

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2.Guided Bar Crawl with Drinks & Dark History

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 444 reviews · 3 hours · from $77

Join an English-speaking guide in Piazza della Madonna dei Monti for three hours of Roman history, local drinks, and social fun. Walk through Monti, once Rome’s red-light district, then visit atmospheric bars for spritz, wine, Carpano Classico, sambuca, and limoncello. Alcohol-free drinks are available, and guides may include Autumn, Ana, Michelle, Michal, Marley, or Irene.

“Michal and Ana were wonderful guides! The tour starts out and as one can guess, a large group of adults is pretty hesitant to come out of their shells, but through some very confident engagement and funny jokes these two guides get everyone interacting and having a wonderful time. This is not a tour for the timid, come ready to have fun and meet people! I'll never forget my catwalk moment pretending to be a Roman prostitute, not changing as we drank lemoncello from the bottle. tonnes of fun:)”

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3.Small Group Rome’s Dark Side – Ghosts & Legends Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 343 reviews · 2 hours · from $23

Walk Rome’s darker streets with guides such as Ben, Arielle, Ivanna, and Ariel, hearing stories of murder, betrayal, poison, executions, and restless spirits. This two-hour, small-group tour visits Campo de’ Fiori, Ponte Sisto, Via Giulia, and Castel Sant’Angelo. Expect history and humor rather than costumes, jump scares, or ghost-hunting gadgets.

“Fun tour, interesting facts that I would have never known. Guide was energetic and kept it talkative amount the group.”

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4.Tipsy Tour: Guided Bar Crawl In Florence with Dark History

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 271 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $78Top rated

This three-hour Florence bar crawl begins by the Arno at 8 pm and mixes wine, two cocktails, and a shot with Medici scandals, brothel history, and wine-window lore. Guides such as Juliette, Didar, Anna, and Zofia lead the walk, which ends near Santa Croce. Expect games, conversation, and a group of up to 25.

“My brother and I had a blast making new friends, learning some of the scandalous history of Florence, playing drinking games, and sightseeing! Zofia was an excellent guide - she is very knowledgeable, kind, and fun! You will not regret booking this tour. :)”

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5.Rome’s Dark Side Ghosts and Legends Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 93 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $24

Meet your English-speaking guide at 8 pm in Campo de’ Fiori for a two-hour walk through Rome’s darker stories. Hear about magicians, poisoners, executioners, a notorious pope, and a woman who ruled Rome. Guides such as Ben, Ivana, Ariel, and Alethea bring these tales to life for groups of up to 15, ending near Castel Sant’Angelo.

“Our guide, Ben, was very knowledgeable, informative, entertaining, and made us feel safe walking around the city at night. The stories he told were fascinating and he held our attention the entire time. We learned a lot about the city's history as well as the creepy stories that go along with it! Would definitely recommend this tour!”

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6.Ghosts & Murders – Mysterious Tales of San Marco Area

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 80 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $57

Follow a licensed Venetian guide through the San Marco area for 90 minutes of ghost stories, murders, legends, and local history. The walk begins at Campo San Bartolomeo and ends in St. Mark’s Square, with guides such as Claudia, Annalisa, Anna, and Serena bringing the city’s darker tales to life. Expect narrow lanes, outdoor stops, and a group capped at 10.

“Fun walking tour. The guide was great. She also took the time to share lots of information about the area with us after the tour.”

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7.Rome Secrets: Dark History & Tasty Bites Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 37 reviews · 2 hours · from $40

Follow an English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese-speaking guide through Rome’s Jewish Ghetto and Campo de’ Fiori. Hear stories of the Golem, Giordano Bruno, Giulia Tofana, and Mastro Titta while tasting Roman pizza, local sweets, beer, and wine. Guides such as Simona and Daniele bring unusual corners and darker tales to life.

“Great walking tour if you want to hear about some of the lesser known historical events and people of Rome and even if you don't it's worth going on just to meet Daniele (with one 'L') as he is brilliant!”

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8.Rome’s Dark Side: Ghosts, Scandals and Crypts – Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 28 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $71

Walk from Piazza Trilussa to Piazza Navona with a guide such as Federica, hearing ghost stories, papal scandals, and execution tales. The highlight is private access to Santa Maria dell’Orazione e Morte and its crypt, where human-bone chandeliers reveal Rome’s grimmest side. Groups are capped at 12, and the tour runs in English.

“My tour on the 7th was amazing! It was a lovely small group and the guide (and my other tour members!) were perfect - we had a great walk round listening to stories and seeing places we wouldn't ordinarily notice! Some places you have probably walked past but never realised the stories and bits of history linked to them. The Crypt was so interesting and it's church was just beautiful. Thank you to Sister Molly for being so kind as to let us visit - she's doing an amazing job looking after the church. If you are looking for something a little different this is definitely for you - I…”

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9.Haunted Rome & True Crime: The Cenci Curse Game

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 27 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours (approx.) · from $7Best value

Use the Questo app to follow a 90-minute to two-hour haunted quest through central Rome. Solve clues at 10 eerie landmarks, including Piazza del Popolo and Campo de’ Fiori, while learning about ghosts, curses, and brutal crimes. It is private, self-guided, available in English, and best suited to people who enjoy walking and puzzles.

“I purchased the experience because the reviews and the information says you can listen to it without having to walk through Rome. I got it so I could listen to it while my husband who has difficulty walking was resting. I was never able to listen to the experience. I downloaded the app, went to the ghost experience but it wouldn’t play! Ugh, I was looking forward to hearing the stories.”

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10.Florence Crimes, Murders & Ghosts Walking Tour with Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 24 reviews · 90 minutes - 2 hours · from $34

Walk Florence’s darker streets with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide such as Gabriel, Ilaria, or Ezgi. Hear about Savonarola, the Monster of Florence, Beatrice Cenci, old prisons, and the River of Corpses, with stops for Tuscan wine, cold cuts, vegetarian bites, cantucci, and Vin Santo.

“The tour was great, our tour guide was wonderful and she was very knowledgeable. Ezgi was a delight to be with. I would definitely do another tour with her”

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11.COMBO: Rome’s Capuchin Crypts Tour & Rome’s Dark Side Ghost Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $66

Begin at the Capuchin Crypts with a guide such as Ben, Ivana, or Alethea, then walk through Rome’s center to hear tales of murder, executions, wartime tragedy, poison, and ghosts. The English-language tour ends at Castel Sant’Angelo after roughly four hours, with groups capped at 15.

“Such a fun and creative way to see the city. And the Capuchin Monks-wow! We loved both our guides… they shared such unique details that most people would likely never know. And they did it with a personal touch. Thank you!”

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12.Palermo’s Dark Shades: Ghost, Crime and Tasting Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 19 reviews · 1h 30m · from $45

Walk Palermo’s old center with an English-speaking local guide, tracing Mafia legends, Spanish Inquisition stories, poison, revenge, and folklore. Stop for an arancina, Sicilian wine, and a traditional sweet. The 90-minute route includes narrow, uneven streets and suits curious adults who enjoy history with a darker edge.

“There were no ghost stories, which disappointed us, since that was our primary reason for taking the tour. The tastings were the best parts. The guide struggled with some of our followup questions, showing a lack of depth in knowledge about the tour.”

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13.Ancient Rome’s Dark Side: Ghosts, Murders & Imperial Blood

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $30

Walk through Rome from Largo Argentina to the Colosseum with an English-speaking guide such as Ivana. Over two hours, hear about Caesar, Caligula, Messalina, Domitian, executions, curses, and haunted ruins. This outdoor night tour costs $30.10, takes up to 15 people, and includes no archaeological site admissions.

“The tour guide was great she knew so much about everything Rome. I would highly suggest doing this tour.”

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14.Colosseum and Ancient Dark History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $23

Meet your English-speaking guide at Largo Gaetana Agnesi for a 1.5-hour evening walk past the Colosseum, imperial forums, Trajan’s Column, Piazza Venezia, and the Arch of Septimius Severus. Guides such as Victoria explain the darker side of Roman history, while Capitoline Hill provides a fine closing view. Exterior viewing only.

“Victoria was an excellent tour guide who provided clear and insightful information about the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Her explanations made the history easy to understand, and the walk in the pleasant evening weather made the experience even more enjoyable. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates in-depth knowledge and a relaxed, informative tour.”

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15.Myths, Legends, and Witches Dark Side Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 7 reviews · 2 hours · from $49

Spend two hours exploring Milan’s darker side with an English-speaking guide and a group of no more than eight people. Visit San Bernardino alle Ossa, hear stories of witches, ghosts, demons, tragic lovers, and Carlina of the Duomo, then finish in Piazza del Duomo. Expect atmospheric storytelling more than jump scares.

“This was so much fun! Tiasha (sorry if I got that wrong) did an excellent job and was so nice and accommdating! The tour wasn't particularly spooky but was filled with lots of the darker history of Milan. We learned a lot and saw many parts of Milan we likely wouldn't have seen otherwise. Highly recommended!”

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