“If you spent one minute viewing each object in the Vatican Museums, it would take you 12 years to see everything,” Jeannette Pena, a tour guide with Enjoy Rome, told me the last time I was in the Eternal City.
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Smithosonian Journeys’ Italian portfolio includes the Popular Hidden Venice tour. // © 2010 DNY59 |
That’s just one example of the abundance of beauties Italy holds. So how does a traveler navigate such rich territory without becoming overwhelmed?
Many who aren’t prepared end up suffering some version of Stendhal’s Syndrome — a condition first written about in the 1817 by the French writer Stendhal, describing how he fell into a debilitating state of dizziness after a visit to the Uffizi galleries in Florence. Though most travelers aren’t stricken as melodramatically as the Frenchman, comments I’ve heard from return visitors often range from, “… then all those churches started blurring together,” to “By day three, our 13-year-old refused to set foot in another museum.”
Clearly, travelers need assistance to focus their explorations of bell’Italia. Here are a few experts can customized itineraries according to your clients’ tastes, ages and budgets.
TourCrafters
“No other country has as much to offer as Italy,” said Mauro Galli, of TourCrafters. The 28-year old company is based in Libertyville, Ill., and also has an office in Rome, where agents can send clients to book day trips or guided art tours.
Though the TourCrafters Italy brochure is 80 information-packed pages (the largest on the marketplace), Mauro Galli and his cousin Piero run the operation on a very personal scale.
“We cut out the middle man,” said Galli.
The result is that everyone, from hotel owners to tour guides and travel agents who have worked with TourCrafters feel closely connected to the Galli family. They are excellent providers of value FIT and escorted options for every region of Italy. Their low prices and flexible itineraries make their programs especially attractive in these budget-crunching times. And their Web site for travel agents is especially user-friendly.
What’s really unique about TourCrafters is that it provides support in areas off the typical tourist itinerary — such as Le Marche region, known for its year-round music festivals in the area’s enchanting mountain and seaside villages.
“I always encourage travelers to explore new places, such as the town of Ferrara, between Milan and Bologna,” says Galli. “It’s a medieval walled city, with a Renaissance palace, Palazzo Schifanoia, which is beautifully frescoed. They also make extraordinary bread there — once you taste it, you’ll crave it forever!”
Smithsonian Journeys
Smithsonian Journeys (a branch of the Institution) has been offering educational tours to travelers for 40 years.
“The Smithsonian brand is highly respected around the world,” said Smithsonian Journeys director, Amy Kotkin. “Because of this, our tour groups are always treated very well, and we can get access to private collections, restoration labs and certain museums that aren’t open to the general public.”
Currently, there are 14 Italian itineraries in their brochure, including the popular Hidden Venice and Insider’s Florence tours, which treat participants to exclusive visits to the cities’ masterpieces. They are wisely scheduled in off-season November, when these cities are less crowded with tourists. Like all Smithsonian tours, they are designed for small groups, with study leaders providing scheduled lectures and insightful commentaries along the way.
A new offering this year is an Opera Lover’s Tour of Italy with Smithsonian veteran study leader Fred Plotkin. Plotkin is an expert in not only opera and classical music, but also Italian food and wine. He has written many books on these topics, including “Opera 101” and “The Gourmet Lover’s Guide to Italy.”
The July 2010 itinerary Plotkin designed includes places travelers may not typically get to on their own — such as the town of Martina Franca in Puglia, as well as Matera and Ravello. Plotkin is very hands-on in planning the tour, even selecting wines, menus and restaurants, and great music, giving travelers a comprehensive, authentic experience of each locale’s cuisine.
Visit Italy Tours
This company’s slogan is: “A wise man once said if you have a heart and a shirt, sell your shirt and go to Italy.” The Visit Italy (VIT) staff of native Italians and Americans who have lived in Italy bring heartfelt passion and great dedication to their work, which is primarily designing customized trips for groups of all sizes.
Besides standard art tours, they have set up itineraries for groups of painters or photographers.
“We’ve done wonderful trips for painters in Tuscany,” says VIT’s Barbara Crawford. “We’ll set them up in an agriturismo with a van and driver, making sure they’re close to locales that offer varying inspiring landscapes.”
Recently, VIT has had an increase in requests from religious groups and create guided tours through selected churches in a city or region.
“We’re very particular about choosing just the right guide,” said Crawford. “For some travelers an art historian is best, others need an archaeologist or a children’s tour guide.”
The company, which has been in business since 1991, also has an office in Rome. “We have lots of repeat business,” said Crawford. “And this year, bookings are really picking up, particularly among our high-end clients.”
Featured Tours
Several tour companies feature Italy's art and culture.
TourCrafters
Sample Itinerary: Clients can tour Le Marche Region with four night’s accommodations and a five-day rental car.
Prices start at $225 per person for departures through Oct. 31. Commission: 10 to 15 percent.
800-621-2259
www.tourcrafters.com
Smithsonian Journeys
Upcoming 2010 Tours: Opera Lover’s Italy (July 15-24)
Hidden Venice (Nov. 7-14), Insider’s Florence (Nov. 13-20)
Prices start at $4,995; check website for discounts
Commission: 13 percent to American Express; others 10 percent
877-338-8687
www.smithsonianjourneys.org
Visit Italy Tours
Sample Itinerary: Christian Rome offers three nights hotel and tours of the Vatican Museums and Catacombs.
Prices start at $674 per person. Commission: 10 percent
800-255-3537
www.visititalytours.com
Other Resources
Italian Travel Promotional Council
This is a group of 22 major tour operators, working in association with the Italian Government Tourist Board, who offer services throughout Italy. The above profiled TourCrafters and Visit Italy Tours are members.
www.goitpc.com
Italian Government Tourist Board
www.italiantourism.com
Only Online
Scroll down for a variety of tour options that focus on Italy's arts and crafts
