Barbara – United States

I am so fortunate to have found you while planning our family trip to your beautiful country! 

Dear Marcello,

I cannot thank you enough for making our trip of 6 family members so amazing.  You asked that each person choose what they most wanted to do and put together the perfect itinerary.  My goal was to incorporate as much as possible, without feeling exhausted and overwhelmed at the end of each day.  Traveling with 6 people also proposed a challenge in transportation. You helped ease my fears by arranging for all transportation, including private vans, high speed trains, and water taxis.

While our entire experience was amazing, I’d like to touch a bit on each stop, and apologize in advance for the lengthy praise 😊

I appreciated your suggestion to start in the South and work our way up.  You knew that I wanted to experience the Blue Grotto at Capri, and mentioned that end of October might be “iffy” for getting in.  Starting in Amalfi was the best!  What we didn’t know was that Capri would become the perfect backdrop for my son’s wedding proposal to his (now) soon to be bride.  What a way to start!

All of our drivers and guides were amazing, but I’d specially like to call out a few.  Gino was our first driver and spent 3 days with us in the Amalfi area.  He was so kind and knowledgeable about the area.  Our accommodations at Villa Felice Relais with Kristiana were perfect. The intimate setting for the breakfast buffet and cappuccinos will live on in our memories for a long time. After Amalfi/Positano/Ravello, Gino drove us to Pompei, where we were met with a guide who brought the past to life.   Gino then did a quick trip with us around Napoli, his home base, to show us the sights, and grab a bite at the ”famous” Antica Pizza Fritta before delivering us to the high-speed train from Napoli to Roma. The train was a GREAT way to travel to Roma!

We were greeted by another driver who delivered us to our flat in Roma, which was within walking distance to everything we wished to do and see. (St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museum, Roman Forum, and Coliseum – all with top-notch guides) Even with all of that, we still, somehow, had free time to explore on our own.

Kriss, our next driver, transported us safely from Roma to Val D’ Orchia Tuscany. He was so personal and had the best sense of humor.  He fit right in with our family. The 2 days we spent in this area were magical, and we plan to return here one day for an extended stay.  Kriss and our guide, Frangelica, treated us to tours of Montepulciano and Pienza.  In addition to wine tours and tastings, we also experienced delicious cheese, meat and truffle tastings, and enjoyed some of the best views of the Tuscany Valley.  Our accommodation at Podere Spedalone Country House exceeded our expectations.  The farm to table dining experience was not only delicious, but also quite a fun experience. Kriss delivered us the next day to Florence.

As expected, we loved Florence and had one of the best meals of the trip here.  Our room at Hotel Rosso 23 opened to the plaza.  At night, when live music was performed, it was as if we were experiencing a private concert.  Having a guide for a few hours in the city proved to be the best idea, as we were able to enter immediately to the Galleria and experience Michealangelo’s David among other famous paintings and sculptures.  We will certainly be returning to Florence.

Our next adventure brought us to Parma (again via a personal van).  If you would not have recommended this city, we would have missed out on so much: the Parma cheese and ham tours were fascinating (and delicious) but the highlight of this area was the personal cooking class.  To note, my son has made pasta 3 times in the 2 weeks we are back to Oregon.

Then, on to Venice!  The driver maneuvered directly to the private water taxi, which was no small task.  We had some free time to explore before meeting our guide. She made the palace, prison, and Basilica come to life with her stories of days of old. There is so much to say about the beauty of this City, but one must experience it to truly appreciate the stories.  After Venice, we were off to Milan.  What a special treat to meet up with you for a quick bit!  I’m attaching the photo we took to commemorate that day.

In Milan, we only scratched the surface of what that city has to offer. Having a guide to escort us to the top and around the inside of the duomo was so important.  We would have missed much of the rich history and stories behind sculptures, tapestries, paintings, windows, etc.  She also provided us with the stories surrounding the mall and the

I am so fortunate to have found you while planning our family trip to your beautiful country!

Barbara – United States (October 2025)