About us

Marilena (one of us)
I am a history major and have a true passion for art and nature. That's why I started working as an editor for an art book publisher. Thanks to my experience, one day I was asked to lead a group of guests on a tour through Florence and I enjoyed it so much that I thought I might make a living out of it. For 13 years now I've been working as a fully licenced guide of Florence still thoroughly enjoying my job. What I really love of it is that I have the chance of meeting different people from everywhere in the world and like a beecharmer every time I have to make the magic in order to turn their trip to Florence into an unforgettable experience.

I am an enthusiastic gardener too: as I don't have a garden of my own, I volonteer in the Boboli Gardens of Florence, helping to prune, sweep and water the huge green area located at the back of Pitti Palace. Other hobbies? Sure: I adore being in a theater, either as part of the audience or as an actress on the stage. And music: I just regret I've never learnt to play an instrument.
And the sea: if I could bring the sea to Florence, wouldn't it be perfect?

Caterina (one of us)
 

I live in Pistoia and work in Florence as official tour guide. After classical studies I graduated at the Univeristy of Florence in foreign languages (English, Spanish and German) and worked as a teacher in private and state schools from 1996 to 1999. I got the Proficiency Certificate in English language at the University of Glasgow, where I lived a year teaching Italian.

I followed a post-graduates course in intercultural exchanges at the University of Florence and, thanks to that, I obtained a scholarship to live in Munich and study the development of interchanges between Italy and German.I'm particularly interested in art and history of the local territory since I worked at the archeological park of Baratti and Populonia on the Etruscan coast, where I organized customized tours for foreign travellers till 2001. In 1998 I specialized as a tour guide in Florence and with the time this became my main job. Every day I step around art treasures hidden in the medioeval streets of Florence ... and I love it ! Every day I have the chance to show them to new people who end up enthusiastic about my city ... and I love it !
As you guessed, I really like travelling and meeting people, but when I'm back home I relax cooking tuscan recipes for my family and my friends, and I enjoy spending my time with children.

Patrizia (one of us)

I'm another one of us - very lucky to have met the others - Who am I?

For 22 years now I've been a licenced guide of Florence and the surrounding area and a tour leader. I'm very fond of the Mediterranean flora and fauna and historical gardens, and specialized in the Pilgrim's Road crossing the Arno Valley between Florence and Pisa. Several years ago, when I got my professional diploma at Florence Institute for Tourism I spent my youth abroad, mainly in Germany, in order to learn languages and build up a good experience in the tourism field. I finally got a job for a tour operator in Florence where I organized tours in Tuscany for foreign customers. I was so charmed by the beauty of Tuscany, and of Florence, my birthplace, that I devoted myself to the study of Tuscan art history, literature and archeology. Since then my office has been my region, its cities, its piazza closed up in a maze of picturesque lanes, monuments and ancient buildings. I also improve my skills by working part time at the Tourist Board of Florence, that is the "heart" of welcome activities and promotion in the city.

I like so much to get people closer to our  culture and let them experience Florentine art and history, but also colours, flavours, food... Travellers must be given the chance to create their own journey and establish their rythm: we can just help.
During my free time I like to play and listen to music, to go hiking and now that my dream of living in a country house has come true, I can also manage my own biogarden and make my own organic olive oil and honey.

Marta (one of us)

I'm from Prato, where I got my high school diploma in foreign languages (English, French and German). I worked at the Tourist Board of Prato organizing international exhibitions and an historical event dedicated to the German Emperor Frederik II. I was often abroad for language courses and after my university degree  in Political Science (in Florence) I moved to Bruxelles as interpreter at the European Commission. Coming back home I found one of my youthful interest: tourism in Tuscany. Then I trained to acquaint travellers with its beauties leading groups almost everywhere in Tuscany. So I became a fully licenced guide of Florence at first and of Lucca and Pistoia years later. I still love my job and I cannot imagine anything else than working as a tourist guide. It's a pleasure to welcome everybody to the beautiful land of Tuscany.

Even after the birth of my two children, I still have time for theater, I often sing as alto in a chorus: I love music indeed (my boys play piano and flute). I like trekking so much: you get in touch with nature and relax, too. I'm fond of our local tuscan cookery: I can assure, it's unique as our wine. My family and I produce wine on our own  in the Leonardo da Vinci's land!

ANTONELLA (ONE OF US)

I live and work in Florence as an official guide. Art has always been my passion along with travelling and experiencing different cultures.

After graduating in law, I lived between Tuscany, London and Barcelona and worked for several years at a legal firm in Rome as a lawyer. In 2004 I decided to pursue my true interests by coming here to Florence, the birth place of renaissance, to study the technique of oil painting. At the time I was also working as the assistant of an antique dealer specialized in medieval furniture and artefacts.

Both of these experiences were of great help while I was studying to become a professional tour guide.

What I enjoy most about my work is the possibility of combining my love for this city, its history and its art while meeting people from all over the world and having the opportunity to share my passion with them.