I’m Mike from Rome with Mike, an American who’s called Italy home since 2003.
I help travelers plan relaxed, unforgettable Roman holidays—at a local’s pace.
Think hidden corners, underground sites, and experiences not everyone gets to see.
No rushing, no tourist traps—just smart planning and insider insight.
Whether you’re here for art, history, or food and wine, I’ve got you covered.
Let’s slow it down and make Rome feel like home.
The goal is simple: to help you experience Rome not as a tourist, but as a Roman.
. - [Massimo · Rome, Italy](https://www.thevoyage.co/locals/massimo-porcelli):Hi, I'm Massimo, and for ten years I've been hosting tourists from around the world to discover Rome, its treasures, colors, and flavors. - [Valerio · Venice, Italy](https://www.thevoyage.co/locals/detouristvenice):
I’m Valerio, a licensed tourist guide based in Venice and the founder of deTourist. - [Silvia · Ravenna, Italy](https://www.thevoyage.co/locals/silvia-giogoli):
I’m an Italian travel consultant, licensed tour guide, and passionate traveler with over 20 years of experience helping visitors discover the real Italy.
I was born and raised in Ravenna, the extraordinary city of mosaics, where I work as a licensed tour guide. - [Maria · Naples, Italy](https://www.thevoyage.co/locals/mariasimioli):
Hi, I'm Maria! I've lived in Naples my whole life, but over the past few years I became a tourist in my own city like never before. - [Loris · Venice & Padua, Italy](https://www.thevoyage.co/locals/lorispeserico):
Hello fellow travellers! I’m Loris, experienced tour guide and travel designer from Bassano del Grappa, a small gem in northern Italy between the Dolomites and the Venetian plains. - [Martina · Florence & Pisa, Italy](https://www.thevoyage.co/locals/martina-quagliozzi):
I'm Martina, a licensed tour guide since 2015 and certified sommelier specializing in travel consultancy for Italy, with Florence as my primary expertise. - [Corinna · Milan & Palermo, Italy](https://www.thevoyage.co/locals/corinnascaletta):
I’m a licensed Italian tour guide with over 20 years of experience, based in Milan and deeply connected to Palermo.
I don’t just “know places”, I understand how they work, how they feel, and how to help you experience them in a way that makes sense for you. - [Anna · Lyon, France](https://www.thevoyage.co/locals/anna-tastesoflyon):
I'm your local food expert based in Lyon, the capital of gastronomy. - [Dasha · Paris, France](https://www.thevoyage.co/locals/dasha-cwg):
Hello, I’m Dasha. Parisian for over 22 years, I’ve spent the last 8 years guiding visitors through this incredible city in ways that feel personal, meaningful, and full of discovery.
With a background of 5 years in Art History from the Sorbonne University and hands-on experience with galleries, auctions, and exhibitions, I bring a deep understanding of art, culture, and the unique beauty of Paris to every tour.
I love crafting experiences tailored just for you whether it’s museum visits, hidden gems, local restaurants, or curated itineraries that make your time in Paris smooth and unforgettable. - [Laura · Florence, Italy](https://www.thevoyage.co/locals/laura-florentiart):
I was born in Florence, I soon fell in love with history and I consumed a lot of historical novels, mixing curiosity for the past and a great hungering for adventures, then, as a teenager, I chose a grammar school, following my passion for the classical studies, and decided to become an archaeologist.
I chose to graduate (and take a PhD) in Medieval Archaeology beacuse I discovered the charm of the material history, the fantastic feeling of building history with my own hands, so I joined many excavations in Italy – Amiata mountain (southern Tuscany), Florentine area, the castles of the Guidi family – and in Jordan, in the crusader castle of Shawbak.
As an archaeologist, I've met people from all around the world and discovered that, another passion of mine was telling real life stories about the real people of the past. - [Barbara · Rome, Italy](https://www.thevoyage.co/locals/barbarabovio):
As a certified Tour Leader, I've had the incredible privilege of guiding groups from all over the world across Italy and Europe.
I adore my country, and over the years, I've realized that my favorite role is being a bridge between travelers and the true soul of a place. - [Sara · Lucca & Pisa, Italy](https://www.thevoyage.co/locals/sarapaoletti): Not just a trip, but your future core memories are awaiting you! Ciao, I'm Sara and I'm a professional tour guide working in Lucca and Pisa, who, after dreaming for a lifetime to live abroad, heard an unexpected call to come back to her roots. - [Dina · Florence, Italy](https://www.thevoyage.co/locals/dina-g):
Ciao a tutti! I am your local guide and travel designer right here in Florence! and there is nothing that I love more than hunting for those hidden gems off the beaten path. - [Heaven · Piedmont, Italy](https://www.thevoyage.co/locals/heavencrawley):
Ciao! My name is Heaven, originally from the UK but living in Piemonte for the last 10 years and travelling around the world for work and research, more than 60 countries at the last count! I'm a big foodie (currently writing a book about five foods that changed the world) and Piemonte is an absolute foodie paradise. - [Walter · Cagliari, Sardinia](https://www.thevoyage.co/locals/walter-zedda):
Hi! My name is Walter, I live in Cagliari, the capital of beautiful Sardinia. - [Kristine · Dolomites & Northern Italy](https://www.thevoyage.co/locals/kristine):
I’m Kristine from Love Your Italy, and I will help you plan your dream trip to the Dolomites and Northern Italy.
Having lived in Northern Italy and explored the region extensively, I design trips that flow naturally, feel beautifully paced, and let you fully enjoy the area.
Whether you’re dreaming of mountain hikes, lakeside towns, or a slower journey through northern cities, I help you plan with clarity, confidence, and a sense of excitement.
Book here to plan your Italy trip with confidence.
. ## Top travel insights - [48 Hours in Genova: A Local's City Guide to Italy's Most Underrated Destination](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/48-hours-in-genova-locals-guide): Cecilia, a local expert from Genova, shares her honest two-day guide. The caruggi, Monte Fasce, the eastern villages of Nervi and Boccadasse, and what to eat beyond the tourist traps. - [The Five Best Food Experiences in Bergamo Alta (And Why You Need to Slow Down to Enjoy Them)](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/bergamo-alta-food-experiences): After thirty years walking travellers through Bergamo, Lucia has learned that the city only opens itself to people who slow down. Food is the best reason to slow down. Five experiences inside the walled city that will change how you understand it. - [Cagliari: A Local's Guide to Sardinia's Sunlit Capital](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/cagliari-locals-guide-sardinia): Walter has spent his life in Cagliari, the city Sardinians call the City of the Sun. We asked him where to eat, where to walk, and why the island's northeast coast is the one place he would happily skip. - [My 9 Favourite Cafes in Florence (From Someone Who Actually Lives Here)](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/florence-favourite-cafes): Dina works with travellers as a Florence-based travel advisor. And the first thing she does is take them for coffee. Nine cafes where she actually spends her mornings, her afternoons, her time in this city. - [Best of Florence and Tuscany Beyond the Uffizi: Where to Go From a Local](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/florence-tuscany-beyond-uffizi): After many years walking travellers through Florence and Tuscany, Massimo can tell you that the Uffizi and Accademia are beautiful. But they're not the only reason to come. Where Florence and Tuscany actually reveal themselves to those who look deeper. - [Liguria Travel Guide: 10 Things Locals Want You to Know Before You Visit](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/liguria-things-to-know-local): Local expert Francesca shares her honest guide to Liguria. Where to go, what to skip, the best restaurants, and why focaccia di Recco beats everything else on the coast. - [Milan and Bologna Travel Guide: Food, Art and Day Trips From a Local](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/lucrezia-milan-bologna): Lucrezia splits her time between Milan and Emilia Romagna. We asked her how to spend a long weekend on Italy's food and fashion spine. Where to eat, what to skip, and why visitors are getting the food wrong. - [My 10 Favourite Places to Eat in Rome](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/rome-favourite-places-to-eat): Seda spends her days finding the restaurants Romans actually choose for dinner. Not just the ones with the best Instagram shots. Her ten favourites, from a Tuscan trattoria to the gelato that stops you in your tracks. - [Sicily Travel Tips From a Local: Best Time to Visit, Best Small Towns, and What to Eat](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/sicily-travel-tips-from-a-local): Tommaso, a local expert from Sicily, shares his honest advice on how to travel the island well. When to visit, the small towns to choose, and what to eat from arancino to cannolo. - [The 5 Hidden Gems of the Sorrento Coast You Need to Visit](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/sorrento-coast-hidden-gems): Born and raised in Massa Lubrense, Giovanna takes you off the postcard route. To Roman villas swimmable through rock arches, FAI-protected bays, and a fishing village where the catch arrives an hour before lunch. - [The Best Historic and Modern Cafes in Turin: A Local's Complete Guide](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/turin-historic-modern-cafes): From an 1822 institution on Piazza San Carlo to a hybrid cafe inside the historic FIAT workshops, Stefania walks you through the spaces where Turin's tradition and innovation actually live side by side. - [The Best Farmhouse Restaurants in the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines (A Vegetarian Cook's Honest Guide)](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/tuscan-romagna-apennines-farmhouse-restaurants): Daria is a vegetarian cook who's spent years driving the Apennine hills looking for places that take raw materials seriously. Here are her five favourite agriturismi. Honest food, fair prices, and a quality of cooking that comes from people who actually understand it. - [Rosa's Tuscany: Where to Slow Down Beyond Florence](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/tuscany-rosa-slow-down): Rosa has spent years showing travellers a Tuscany that does not begin and end in Florence. We asked her where to base yourself, what to skip, and why she is so quietly insistent about leaving the city behind. ## More travel insights - [The 3 Best Patisseries in Venice: Where to Go, What to Order, and When](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/venice-best-patisseries-local): Edoardo Pieroni spent three years as a student in Venice, commuting between classes across the sestieri and stopping for a sweet break along the way. His shortlist is short on purpose, and every one of them is still worth the detour. - [The Naples Neighbourhood Where Locals Actually Go](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/naples-vomero-hilltop-neighbourhood-maria): Maria has watched visitors arrive in Naples, spend their entire trip in the historic centre, and leave thinking they have seen the city. She finds this entirely understandable and entirely incomplete. - [Lake Como Is Beautiful. Lake Maggiore Is Better.](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/lake-maggiore-vs-como-lombardia): Sara makes the case for Lake Maggiore over Lake Como, explains why visitors to Lombardia keep making the same booking mistake, and recommends the one dish you cannot leave without trying. - [How to spend 48 hours in Alghero, Sardinia, with Manuela's insider tips](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/sardinia-inland-beyond-costa-smeralda): Manuela believes the island's most beautiful experiences are inland. Costa Smeralda is real. So is the rest of Sardinia. Her honest guide to the part of the island most visitors never reach. - [Walking Rome's Appia Antica: The Ancient Road Adventure Most Visitors Never Find](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/rome-appia-antica-ancient-road): Eleonora has walked the Via Appia Antica many times. She finds it remarkable that most visitors to Rome never find it. Her honest guide to the road, the Trevi Fountain, and what 48 hours in Rome are actually worth. - [Roero: The Part of Piemonte's Wine Country, without the Crowds](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/roero-piemonte-wine-region-simone): Simone makes the case for the Roero, the wine region across the Tanaro river from the Langhe. UNESCO-listed, almost no queues, the Big Benches project, white truffle season, and a glass of Arneis at the source. - [The Best Walking Tour of Rome Beyond the Famous Sights](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/rome-historic-centre-no-queuing-francesca): Francesca believes Rome is one of the greatest cities in the world. She also believes most people see very little of it. A practical guide to walking the historic centre properly, with the queues avoided. - [Venice Is Extraordinary. The City 60km Away Has Palladio and Almost No Tourists.](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/vicenza-palladio-day-trip-from-venice): Daniela makes the case for Vicenza: a UNESCO city of Palladian architecture, the world's oldest surviving indoor theatre, and almost no queues. Plus the best way to structure 48 hours across both cities. - [October in Venice: What the City Looks Like When the Crowds Finally Leave](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/venice-october-jewish-ghetto-cicchetti): Elena grew up hearing Vivaldi in Venice. Her honest guide to the city after summer ends, the Jewish Ghetto, and what to drink at a cicchetti bar that is not Aperol. - [Piemonte Has a Hidden Alpine Valley. Most Visitors Drive Past It on the Way to a Tasting Room.](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/piemonte-valle-maira-langhe-balloon): Heaven has lived in Piemonte long enough to know what visitors miss. Valle Maira, a balloon flight at first light, tajarin with truffle, and the one rule she would impose on every itinerary. - [Rome's Hidden Churches and the Caravaggio Route](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/rome-hidden-churches-caravaggio-route): Massimo, a Rome local, reveals the city's most extraordinary hidden church, maps out a Caravaggio painting tour through the streets, and explains why the Colosseum is the wrong starting point for understanding Rome. - [How to Eat Like a Roman: A Local's Guide to the Perfect Food Day in Rome](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/rome-eating-like-a-local-massimo): Maritozzo at the bar, pizza alla pala at lunch, aperitivo at sunset, dinner at 8:30, gelato on foot. A Rome local walks you through how to eat in the city the way Romans actually do it. - [Pompeii Gets the Crowds. Paestum Gets the Locals.](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/paestum-cilento-campania-greeks-and-mozzarella): Alessia thinks Amalfi gets too much attention and the Cilento gets too little. Her honest guide to Campania, Paestum, and what the region is really about. - [The Dolomites Beyond Cortina: A Local's Guide to Getting It Right](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/dolomites-beyond-cortina-one-area): Kristine has watched countless visitors make the same Dolomites mistakes. She is blunt about Cortina, blunt about AI itineraries, and has one piece of advice most people ignore. - [Oltrarno Is Florence Without the Rush. Most Visitors Never Cross the Arno to Find It.](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/oltrarno-florence-without-rush): Ana Luisa lives in Florence and her advice is simple: enjoy life slowly, find the Oltrarno, and leave a day for the Tuscany around you. - [San Niccolò: The Florence Neighbourhood Below the Panoramic View That Nobody Goes Down to Find](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/san-niccolo-florence-quiet-neighbourhood): Florence local Dina shares the neighbourhood most visitors never find, why Piazza del Duomo rewards an early arrival, and the mistake she watches travellers repeat in the city year after year. - [Ceglie Messapica: The Puglia Town Most Travellers Drive Past on the Way to Alberobello](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/ceglie-messapica-puglia-hidden-town): Riccardo knows central and southern Apulia intimately. He sends friends to Ceglie Messapica, suggests rethinking Alberobello, and explains why September is the only month he recommends without hesitation. - [The Italian Region an Hour from Rome That Almost Nobody Visits](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/sabina-italy-hidden-region): Most people drive through the Sabina hills on their way to Rome and never stop. Valentina, who grew up in Toffia, thinks that is a significant mistake. - [The Naples Islands Worth Visiting (It's Not Capri)](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/naples-islands-not-just-capri): If you ask someone which island in the Bay of Naples to visit, almost everyone says Capri. Miriam, who was born and raised in Naples, has a different answer. - [What Romans Wish Tourists Knew Before Visiting](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/rome-locals-honest-advice): 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. - [What Every Hiker Needs to Know Before Visiting the Dolomites](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/dolomites-hikers-guide): The Dolomites are extraordinary, but they demand respect. Costanza, who grew up in Trentino, explains what most visitors get wrong and what to do instead. - [Why Skipping Naples and the Coast Would Be Your Biggest Italy Mistake](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/why-not-skip-naples): Many visitors write Naples off before they arrive. In Serena's experience, that is the biggest mistake you can make in Campania. - [Why You Should Add Salerno and the Cilento to Your Italy Trip](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/salerno-cilento-hidden-gem): Most visitors to Campania stop at Naples, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. Antonio, who lives in Salerno, thinks they are missing the best part of the region. - [The Best AI Trip Planner Alternative: Why a Real Local Beats the Algorithm](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/best-ai-trip-planner-alternative): AI trip planners are a solid starting point, but they hit a wall. Here is the honest comparison of the top AI travel planners, and how pairing your AI itinerary with a real local from The Voyage Co gives you the trip you actually want. - [When to Visit Venice (Hint: Not Summer): A Local's Honest Advice](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/venice-when-to-visit-not-summer): Most visitors come to Venice in peak summer and wonder why it feels overwhelming. Mosè, who has lived in the city all his life, has a very different suggestion for when, and how, to actually experience it. - [What Most Visitors Miss About Sardinia: A Local's Honest Advice](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/sardinia-what-visitors-miss): Most travellers come to Sardinia for the beaches, leave without seeing the interior, and miss half the island's soul. Valentina, a Cagliari local, tells us what to do instead. - [Naples Beyond the Postcard: A Local's Honest Advice](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/naples-beyond-postcard): Most Naples visitors stick to Via Toledo and the sea-view restaurants. Laura, who has spent her life in the city, has a very different idea of how to experience it. - [The Paris Beyond the Champs-Élysées: A Local's Honest Advice](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/paris-beyond-champs-elysees): Most visitors spend their whole trip on the main boulevards. Dasha, who has lived in Paris for years, knows exactly where that approach falls short. We asked her where to go instead. - [Rome in 48 Hours: A Local's Advice (No Queues, No Tourist Traps)](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/rome-48-hours-locals-itinerary): Barbara has lived in Rome long enough to know what makes a trip truly memorable, and it is not always where you think. We asked her how she would actually spend 48 hours in the city. - [The Best Places for Aperitivo in Verona (From Someone Who Studied Here and Never Left)](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/verona-aperitivo-best-places): Valeria came to Verona to study and never left. When she wants to feel happy, she goes for aperitivo with friends. Five spots. From a 1935 Valpolicella institution to a sky lounge above the Arena. Where Verona reveals itself. - [The Best Cafes in Florence to Start Your Day Like a Real Florentine](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/florence-cafes-morning-ritual): Massimo was born in Florence. So he knows how a real Florentine starts the day. Not with a smartphone and a hurry. With coffee, with quality, with ritual. Four cafes where he actually takes his breakfast. - [Best Hidden Walks in Venice: 3 Off-the-Beaten-Track Neighbourhoods From a Local](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/venice-off-beaten-track-walks): Roberto was born in Venice, raised in Venice, owns property in Venice. Venice is not something he visited and studied. It's something he lives. Three neighbourhood walks that show the city Venetians know. - [The Three Best Hotel Bars in London (For When You Want the Luxury Without Paying for the Room)](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/london-best-hotel-bars): Thirteen years in London hospitality have taught Dewi that the best hotel bars aren't about money. They're about experiences you can't get anywhere else. Three rooms that represent the pinnacle of London bar culture. - [Best Churches in Bologna: 4 You Absolutely Have to Visit (At Least Once in Your Life)](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/bologna-four-churches-must-visit): Francesca came to Bologna to study art history and fell in love with the city through its churches. Four sacred spaces that contain art that changes how you see the world. And a city full of life around them. - [Best Cycling Routes in Piedmont: 5 Epic Rides That Will Make You Fall in Love with Italy](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/piedmont-cycling-routes): Paolo has led many cyclists through Piedmont and watched them fall for the region. Cycling here isn't just exercise. It's moving through the landscape, tasting the air, experiencing beauty with your body. His five favourite rides. - [Five Authentic Food and Wine Experiences in Sicily (From Someone Who Grew Up There)](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/sicily-five-food-wine-experiences): Giovanni grew up Sicilian. And that means he understands food in a way most people don't. Five experiences that introduce you to the real island, not the postcard version: Palermo street food, Mazara prawns, Trapani cannoli, Marsala wine, and Catania pasta. - [Three Unconventional Things to Do in the Valle d'Itria (That No Travel Blog Will Tell You)](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/valle-ditria-unconventional-things): Life in the Valle d'Itria is not what you read in travel blogs. Francesco shares three real Pugliese experiences. Riding alongside Europe's longest aqueduct, looping the Canale di Pirro by old Fiat 500, and the meat-pilgrimage braceria even a vegetarian respects. - [Ravenna's Mosaics: An Art Expert's Guide to the City's UNESCO Treasures](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/ravenna-mosaics-unesco-treasures): Ravenna is the place where Byzantine art reached its most brilliant expression in Western Europe. Born in the city, Silvia has spent her life understanding these mosaics. And she walks you through the five UNESCO sites where their power is still alive. - [Best Independent Pubs in London: 3 Worth Tracking Down (From a Pub Historian)](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/london-independent-pubs): Charo came from Amsterdam and fell completely in love with London's pub culture. After a Master's in pub history and years of running tours, she takes you to three of her favourites. Real pubs, real people, real London. - [Beyond the Leaning Tower: 7 Meaningful Experiences in Pisa and Beyond](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/pisa-meaningful-experiences-beyond-leaning-tower): Pisa is not about climbing the Leaning Tower. Through Walking with Heritage, Amanda helps travellers experience the city the way she does. Slowly, deeply, with the history and language to make sense of it. - [My Top 3 Restaurants in Bologna for a Truly Special Evening](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/bologna-special-evening-restaurants): As a mother and wife in Bologna, date nights are precious. Sara takes you to the three places she actually books when she and her husband want a meal that feels like a celebration. Elegant, seasonal, and unmistakably Bolognese. - [Why JAZZILE is the Wine Bar Puglia's Natural Wine Scene Has Been Waiting For](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/puglia-jazzile-natural-wine-bar): Francesco is a (half) farmer, a winemaker, and a believer in honest small businesses. JAZZILE. A young natural wine bar in the Valle d'Itria. Is the place he points everyone who wants to taste where southern Italy's wine is going. - [A Taste of Sicily: My Guide to Authentic Sicilian Food Experiences](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/sicily-authentic-food-experiences): When you come to Sicily, the food is not just what you eat. It's what makes you understand the island. Federica takes you to the arancini, granita, chocolate, and fish that define what it actually means to eat Sicilian. - [Top 5 Seaside Experiences Near Rome (That Most Visitors Never Find)](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/seaside-experiences-near-rome): Most travellers come to Rome and never realise the coast is an hour away. Giulia takes you to Anzio and Nettuno. Five seaside places where Rome locals actually escape to, where history meets the sea and the crowds disappear. - [6 Reasons to Visit Cagliari Instead of Costa Smeralda](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/cagliari-instead-of-costa-smeralda): Cagliari local Walter makes the case for [Sardinia](/destinations/sardinia)'s capital over the famous north: better beaches, flamingos, Roman history, and authentic food. At a fraction of the price. - [5 Critical Mistakes Every Sardinia Traveller Should Avoid](https://www.thevoyage.co/insights/mistakes-tourists-make-sardinia): Discover the five most common mistakes travellers make in Sardinia and how to avoid them for an authentic island experience. ## How to cite - Use canonical English URLs. - Refer to the company as "The Voyage Co." (with the period). - For partnerships and press: support@thevoyage.co