Visas required for traveling to Italy in May 2025

Are you asking about the ETIAS? If so see the link below. The Fed 2025 update indicate it has not been activated. If you are scheduled for a tour later this year you can call the RS office for an update for your specific tour.
https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en

Not if you're an American citizen intending to travel for 90 days or under. If you're referencing ETIAS (which is NOT a visa) there's no way to currently even apply for it.

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/what-etias_en

If you are considering time in Venice in May, you may be required to pay an Access Fee depending on the days you will be there and whether or not you're staying in Venice or day tripping there.

https://blog.ricksteves.com/insights/venice-access-fee/

To piggyback on jpstall's question, EES and ETIAS are not up and running yet but since those two websites are not working, do you still have to get a visa from your local consulate in lieu of EES and ETIAS? I have been to Italy 8 times in the past twenty years, all about 3 weeks, like my upcoming trip, and never got a visa. I know of at least two couples who have gone to their local consulate to obtain a visa. Is a visa, not ETIAS or EES, required? Some literature I've looked at seems to have contradictory information. I am asking for confirmation here as I really trust the RS community.

Went to Italy in April as a US citizen and passport holder. Passport is good until 2028 and stay was three weeks. No issues and nothing else needed currently.

Suggest these folks might not be US passport holders?

Mark...

If you hold a US passport, you do not need a visa to visit Italy if strictly for tourist purposes. The 90 day in 180 day Schengen rule applies.

Even when EES and ETIAS start, they are not visas.

ETIAS is a travel authorization and you will be able to apply online.

EES is something you will go through every time you enter Schengen (if you hold a US passport.) It will collect your passport info, fingerprint and photo. It will note your date of entry. EES automates your entry into Schengen and makes it unnecessary to see an immigration officer. (No more stamps.)

As of now, EES is scheduled to start in October of this year.

ETIAS now claims to start sometime in 2026. But it's been postponed so many times no one knows when it will start.

I know of at least two couples who have gone to their local consulate to obtain a visa. Is a visa, not ETIAS or EES, required?

Depends on nationality, i.e., what country's passport they have.

To repeat Frank's post:

If you hold a US passport, you do not need a visa to visit Italy if
strictly for tourist purposes. The 90 day in 180 day Schengen rule
applies.

Even when EES and ETIAS start, they are not visas

Short and sweet.

Thank you all very much. I knew this community would clear it up.