Rome is just the beginning—Etruscan tombs, volcanic lakes, and hill towns await beyond the Eternal City.
Your on-the-ground insiders. The ones who know the enduring favourites, the quiet corners and what’s worth your time.
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Rome, Naples
My name is Francesca, and I’m an Art Historian and photographer based in Rome, specializing in Roman archaeology, as well as Renaissance and Baroque art. With Rome as my home and main source of inspiration, I design experiences that reveal the country through its art, history, culture, and everyday life, shaping each itinerary around my clients’ interests, pace, and travel style. My approach is rooted in thoughtful exploration: I craft journeys that immerse travelers in local traditions and hidden places, connecting them with experiences shaped by the people who live there. As a passionate lover of nature-focused travel, I also curate recommendations for natural parks, secluded beaches, and immersive hiking trails, offering a deeper connection to Italy’s landscapes beyond its cities. Italy offers an extraordinary cultural and culinary heritage, and stepping off the beaten path opens the door to rare and meaningful encounters—moments untouched by mass tourism and rich in character. I’m here to help you experience Italy in a more genuine, memorable, and personal way.
Amalfi, Sorrento +11
5.0(6)Born and raised in Italy's Marche region, I have explored the country from north to south during travels and study periods away from home. I have lived part of my life in amazing cities such as Venice and Bologna, and have visited Rome a lot since I have family and friends there. I am an experienced trip planner for destinations all over Italy, from the breezy Cinqueterre in Liguria down to the sun kissed Amalfi coast. If you want someone to help you with all-encompassing guidance and make the best out of your trip to Italy, I will be most happy to help you!
Rome
5.0(2)I am a highly educated, well traveled dual Italian-American citizen whom has spent the lion’s share of my adulthood in Roma. There is no place like Rome: the beauty, the history, the food and the weather. There is something to experience around every corner and under your feet. I also know (and travel to) Tuscany, Florence, Pompeii, Sorrento, Positano, The Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre, Bologna and Venice.
Naples, Sorrento +6
I was born and raised in Pompeii, between Naples and Sorrento, with the whole region as my playground. On my scooter I could spend a morning on hidden beaches along the Sorrento and Amalfi Coasts, an afternoon in Naples' museums and streets, and an evening out in the city. Being local isn't just about the famous landmarks. It's about the rhythm of everyday life, the traditions that shape these communities, and the small details that make this corner of Italy special. I've travelled widely, and I speak Italian, English, and Portuguese. For seven years I've worked as a Tour Manager with American and international travel companies, learning what travellers look for in Italy, and the unspoken needs different cultures bring. History is everywhere here, and you don't need a local to admire it. What a local truly offers is access to experiences you'd never find in a guidebook. Everyone knows Pompeii, Positano, and pizza, and rightly so. But the real magic lies beyond the postcards. I love showing travellers the hidden side of Southern Italy: family-run wine bars in Naples' backstreets, secret viewpoints, authentic trattorias where locals gather, quiet beaches only insiders can find, and traditions passed down for generations.
Everyone comes to Lazio for Rome, but the region surrounding the capital is a revelation. Ancient Etruscan necropolises at Cerveteri and Tarquinia predate Roman civilisation. The volcanic lakes of Bracciano and Bolsena offer peaceful retreats just an hour from the Colosseum. The hill towns of the Castelli Romani have been the Roman escape since antiquity, with their own wines and porchetta traditions. And then there's Tivoli, where Hadrian built his dream villa and the Renaissance cardinals created paradise gardens.
April to June or September to November. Rome is scorching in July and August. The Castelli Romani are perfect for autumn wine festivals, and spring brings wildflowers to the Etruscan sites.
Lake Bracciano is 45 minutes from Rome with a stunning Orsini-Odescalchi castle. A local will help you combine a lake swim, castle visit, and a lunch of lake fish in a single perfect day trip.
Cerveteri's Banditaccia necropolis has thousands of carved tombs older than Rome itself. A local knows the less-visited painted tombs at Tarquinia that bring the ancient world to vivid life.
The hill towns south of Rome (Frascati, Castel Gandolfo, Nemi) are where Romans go for porchetta, local wine, and strawberries. A local will plan the perfect circuit with the best family-run fraschette.
Eleonora has a short list of things she wishes every Rome visitor knew before they arrived. Galleria Borghese is at the top. The Trevi Fountain is not.
