There are many ways to visit Italy. Tour groups are quite popular and, while they may seem appealing from a convenience perspective, they’re not always the best option. They certainly will allow you to check boxes off a list of standard monuments and museums, but you will often end the day at souvenir shops and restaurants designed to offer the traveler all the clichés of Italy, but little in the way of authentic local culture. With this option it is possible to tour Italy without really experiencing the wondrous localized nuances of Italian life.

Another, more intriguing option, would be to enlist the help of someone like me, someone who knows the local culture and can help you explore both the well-known as well as the hidden gems. You will revel in the colors, the smells and the sounds that surround you. You will sit down to three-hour meals and savor the local food and wines. You will immerse yourself in the art, the history, the culture and everything else that makes this country one of the most amazing places to visit in the world. You will engage all of your senses to help create the vacation of a lifetime.