Cultural Italy testimonials

Cultural ITALY

TESTIMONIALS FROM OUR CLIENTS

I just wanted to let you know that our Keogh party of 6 that went to events in Milan (opera - Carmen, Pinacoteca and Last Supper), Florence (Uffizi, Accademia and jazz concert/dinner), and Rome (Vatican and Sistine Chapel, and guided tour with Mr. Sarrocco) had a fabulous time. Karen said everything was just perfect and she wouldn't change anything! Karen said you even called her at her hotel to make sure everything was ok. I want to thank you very much also. Karen is a good client, but moreso, she is a personal friend. I so wanted to make sure her trip went well, and it did! I'm sure in the future we will make use of your services again.
Joan Gidopoulos, USA

Just to let you know we had a great time in Venice, and to thank you for the great seats at La Fenice!!! no one here or in Venice could believe that we got seats--it was all sold out. What a beautiful city and the theater met all expectations!!! Thanks so much--we will certainly return again...
Laura Clark, USA

Sorry for the slow reply---we've been home for 3 weeks now. The concert was great in all respects (music, venue, atmosphere, arrangements). Yo-Yo Ma even broke a string 1 minute in and had to start again. A once in a life time experience. Many thanks.
Jeff Brooks, USA

Yes, we enjoyed the opera and actually preferred the side box seats to the seats where we might otherwise have sat, at a greater cost. We could see most of the stage and could hear well, and it was interesting to be able to look down and watch the orchestra as well. Also, there is a fabulous restaurant just down the street from the Teatro Malibran called Fiaschetteria Toscana (Cannaregio 5719). By far the best
restaurant we found in Venice, and we went there several times. You should recommend it to your clients. Not cheap, but everything home-made and fresh and delicious. As you must know, there are a lot of bad touristy rip-off restaurtants in Venice that charge more for a great deal less quality. The Toscana was a marvellous find. Our week in Venice was a grand success. Thanks for arranging the
tickets.
Tom Boyd, UK

Everything was wonderful! We had so much fun in Rome. It was really, really great to be able to go to the concerts and enjoy the great musicians at such great places. I will visit the Terme di Carcalla and some of the other places where you offer concerts next time. Molte, molte grazie,
Alejandra Barahona, Costa Rica

Thanks for your kind follow-up email. We had a wonderful time and
everything worked out perfectly...reservations, events, transportation.
Thanks for your help. Hope to return next December.
Debbie Gendel, USA

The reservation for the Last Supper worked perfectly. We walked from our hotel in central Milan & arrived just in time
for our English speaking tour. As is the custom, we were allowed only 15 minutes with the fresco, too short, but it was worth it for the beauty
and history. A site we shall not forget. Grazie mille.
Ava Eichler, USA

Hi, Thanks for following up. It was an adventure. Nabucco was fabulous. I felt lucky to have seen the performance. I understand the venue is not being used very much now. Unfortunately, I had trouble leaving Rome the day of the Spoleto performance, so arrived too late. I visited the theater the following day, as I explored the city, and imagined how it would have been used, for that show, but also throughout the many centuries of its use. Thank you for making the arrangements.
Robin Beresford, USA

Many thanks for a wonderful show in Rome. The show was fully booked out and we had no hassle picking up our tickets. Our seats were very good and it was a magical experience that one only gets to do rarely in their lifetime. Again many thanks and hopefully I'll be back in Italy and book some event again. Ciao,
Peadar Derrane, Ireland

Thank you for your email. We had a great time, everything worked out just fine. Your advise was a big help particulary with the advance booking of tickets, etc. The vatican was beautiful, the concerts fantastic, we particulary enjoyed Verdi's requiem. We tried a few times to get a trip on the balloon but unfortunately the wind was a little strong... never mind there is allways a next time. I was thinking of maybe arranging a short break next year around the same time, so it would be good to keep in touch. Thank you for all your hard work organising. Regards,
Caroline Bray, UK

Thanks for your follow up. We had a wonderful time at the opera and had an incredible trip to Italy. The people were as beautiful as the scenery. Thanks for your help in making it a most memorable experience.
Steven Kanter, USA

Thank you for asking. Everything was really good. I appreciated all the reservations, when saw those huge lines!
Marina Stepanuk, USA

We had a blast! All worked out perfectly, even Florence with 5 reservations in one day! We were not pressured to meet our times at all. I can't thank you enough. I tell everyone that is planning a trip to Italy about you. Does your company do other reservations? Like Hawaii?
Sue Balas, USA

Yes - La Traviata was very enjoyable. I was a bit nervous that it was going to be an amateur production as it was performed in a church and at such a reasonable price! - but it was excellent. I'd thoroughly recommend it to other visitors. Thanks for your help.
Janet Baracaia, USA

Thanks very much for your e-mail. Yes, everything you set up was perfect! We loved Italy. Venice is a bit too full of tourists, but even there we found out-of-the way corners that were notso crowded. Our favorite part of the trip was driving through the vineyards and small towns of the lakes area, particularly our stay in Bergamo. We'll probably return to Italy within 2 years, and I'll definitely contact you then for help setting up the trip. Many thanks, and have a wonderful holiday,
Art Siegel, USA

We had a wonderful time in Italy with our grandson and everything worked out perfectly. The lines were enormous everywhere and we just walked up to the ticket counters and showed our confirmations and we were admitted immediately. It was great because the lines to the Vatican and the Coliseum were absolutely terrible!! I am referring another customer to you. Her name is Sheila Field and she is going to Italy in October. Please let me know if she calls or writes to you. Thank you again. If I need you next time I will certainly be in touch. Fondly,
Barbara, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA

I would like to thank you for the arrangements that you made for me to visit the opera in Rome. We had a fabulous weekend, both at the operas and seeing Rome's treasures. Thank you so much for your efforts - it was great! Regards,
Roy, Surrey, UK

Cosi Fan Tutte was absolutely wonderful. Your service was excellent, and we will not hesitate to order tickets from Cultural Italy again in the
future. Sincerely,
Dennis Brown, USA

Thanks very much for the follow up. Everything worked out pretty well, and the show was really amazing. I am glad I used Cultural Italy to
reserve tickets, so thank you very much. Italy is lovely.
Edward van der Wielen, The Netherlands

Thank you very much for all your help. Lydia enjoyed all the tours you
reserved for her. I amlooking forward to recommend your services to my other clients. Best regards and holiday wishes
Zina Dvorkin, Galaxy Travel, USA

Thank you for your message. We had a great time in Italy. We found your service very helpful. We very much liked the vatican tour and would recommend the tour in order not have to wait in line. We did rent the audio guides and found them all informative. Will definitely recommend your service to others. Thank you for your email.
Laurie Fuller, USA

Yes, thank you; the location and performance were most impressive, as was Rome itself. That evening it was a rush to make it on time but was certainly worth it. Thank you. rgds
Reg Baker, USA

Everything work out very well. The guide was wonderful, and the concert was interesting because of the venue where it was performed. Except for the devaluation of the Dollar, everything was so expensive, we had a great time.
Paul Kushner, NY, USA

Good morning, thank you for all your help. We had a wonderful time in rome (which is by the way an open museum), the opera was wonderful. The entrance to museums were easy as we had reserved in advance. thanks again and hope to talk to
you soon as I definitely intend to come to italy in the near future. thank you again
Ariella Verter

Thank you so much for your help on our recent trip to Tuscany and the Palio! We had a fabulous time and each place we stayed was special in its own way. We arrived in Rome and took a train to Civitavecchia to pick up the rental car without problems. Then we drove to Tuscany and Casa Bianca, which we found it to be a lovely place. It is a group of farms, some separated by a km or two, that were purchased and consolidated and turned into small rental complexes. The suite in which we stayed was large and included a small kitchen, living room, bathroom, and bedroom. The main facility was about 2 km from our farmhouse, had a very large pool and served excellent meals. The surrounding vineyards were beautiful and it was interesting to go on tour that included wine tasting. After staying at Casa Bianca, we went to Antico Casale near Scansano. The directions were very good and we had no difficulty finding them. Antico Casale primarily caters to horse enthusiasts, but it was also a lovely place to stay and we enjoyed visiting the surrounding villages and restaurants. We also took a cooking class from Antico Casale's chef (Mariannella) which was excellent.
Thank you also for your help in procuring tickets to the Palio. It was very exciting and the seats were good.
After we left Scansano, we returned to Rome where we met some friends of ours and had a great night on the town! Thanks again for all your help! I know that we were difficult, but you were great to work with and we have recommended you to others that have asked about our trip.
Mary Ann and Terry - Los Angeles, CA, USA

Thanks for asking. Yes, I was able to get in to see the Last Supper at the time of my appointment and it all worked out perfectly, thanks to your help. As a matter of fact, the entire Italy visit was wonderful.. A few surprises, getting lost driving, etc, but it was all great. Must go back next year! Thanks,
Bob Crane

Everything went smoothly. Pauline picked up the tickets at the show and everything went well. She enjoyed it. Thank you for everything. Sincerely,
Dan Rubin, USA

Thanks for the follow-up. Everything was great; the performance in such a setting was marvelous and the way it was organised was smooth - we had a great night out! once again, many thanks,
Elbert Terlunen, USA

Ciao. Tutto era bene. It was very definitely an advantage to make reservations for the main events. You may recall that we did not go to La Traviata as the performance date did not work out, but we did go to a performance (that you arranged) of arias performed in a church that was one of the highlights of our trip. I will certainly recommend you (and have already) to others. Grazie mille pertutto!
Clemente, USA

Just a quick note to let you know that we are back in US and had a wonderful trip.
Everything that you did worked out fine. The seats at both the Teatro La Fenice and Teatro San Carlo Naples were great. We were able to pick up all the reservations without any problems. Thank you very much for all your work and help. We are already looking forward to our next rip to Italy.
Gary Payne, USA

I had a great vacation. My first time overseas. You were extremely helpful in getting our opera/Vatican tickets. The opera is one of my favorites. We all enjoyed it. The location (at a church) was unusual, especially seeing the performance at the altar. It was a wonderful experience. The Vatican guide was very knowledgable and interesting. I liked the use of headphones--I heard the complete explanation wherever I stood. We had also considered a 3-hour tour but decided to go with your 2-hour tour. After hearing the Vatican has 50,000 items and after 1.45 hours, my mind was totally overwhelmed. If I ever go back, I want to spend more time in the Vatican & St. Peter's Basilica. My trip's highlights: train trip to Florence (3 days), day trip to 2 medieval towns, and ancient Rome. The food and wine was excellent. My 2 favorite meals: a restaurant in Florence (we just stumbled across it--we were the last to leave) and a cafe 1 block from the Vatican main road. Although I did not speak any Italian, I was really surprised about how much English is spoken. Thanks for asking--It brought back wonderful memories of my trip. Take care,
Renee Vollerthum, USA

Thank you for arranging a contrada dinner the night before Siena's famous Palio. It was a fantastic experience. In the contrada's main piazza we had a multi-course dinner that lasted past midnight. Throughout the evening the crowd of people from the contrada (Nicchio) -- and especially the long tables full of children -- sang songs in support of their part of the city. We all got caught up in the spirit of the evening. I'd always wanted to attend the Palio, but I'd never heard of the contrada dinners until I read about it on Cultural Italy. We had three fantastic weeks in Italy, but that was the high-point.
Gian-Carl Casa, USA

Dear Elena, It could not have been better. The seats were good, the opera was fascinating as it is so little known and the whole experience was amazing. Thank you and we will certainly ask for your wonderful help in the future,
Risa Domb, UK

I just wanted to send you a note of thanks for all the work you did for me, as well as all of your helpful hints and tips during my travels.
Just by using your services I was able to save myself so many hours of waiting on very, very long lines. The reservations that were made on my behalf enabled me to see far more on my trip to Italy than would have been possible without your help.
I have passed along your website address to quite a few of my friends and colleagues. I just hope that they follow through and use your services when they decide to visit Italy. Unfortunately due to poor timing on my part I was unable to use the reservation at the Borghese Gallery, but please be assured that on my next journey you will hear from me again as it is already on my "To Do List".
Once again thanks for all of your help, and I hope that your business continues to flourish and prosper.
Warm regards and Ciao (but only for a short while - I threw my 3 coins in the Fontana di Trevi)
Michelle Accettulli, USA

It was wonderful! Turandot is my favorite opera, and seeing it in Italy is something that won't be easily forgotten! Amazing - for as many times as I've seen Turandot in New York, the set design was interpreted totally differently in Rome - a bit more scandalous! I loved it! The tickets were at the box office waiting for us - there were no problems! Thanks so much for your help! 'til the next trip!
Mary-Lee Kvietkus

Everything worked out perfectly with regard to the arrangements you made for us in Rome. We also are grateful for the advice and counsel. Of course, the time we spent in Italy was far from enough; some day, we hope to return. When we do, I hope we can once again put some of our planning in your capable hands.
Richard Nirenberg, USA

My visit to Padova was very enjoyable, the people were very friendly and helpful. Giotto's Chapel was more than I had expected. He was truly a genius. I would hope to visit the Chapel again someday, but there are so many places to visit and only so much time.
Thank you for your help. Regards,
John Petras, USA

Thank you for your e-mail. Yes, everything went well both with the Uffizi tickets, the Opera in Florence and particularly with the day at
Castiglionchio. This was a delightful day; highly recommended. Many thanks for your help; it did make a difference to our trip. Regards,
Henri Little, USA

The arrangement to collect the ticket worked according to plan. The seat itself, just next to the proscenium arch, had lots of lights in front of it, and it was not possible to see anything at all, but one could hear well. I was able to get another ticket from another source to one of the other performances, so I did in fact see the stage on that occasion. Thanks for bothering to follow this up.
I have decided that La Fenice is one of the operas houses with the worst seating for viewing the stage in the whole world. In fact, in the side boxes, the seat in the second row nearest the stage has no possibility of seeing anything at all, and costs a good deal more than the limited-visibility seat you sold me!
Kind regards,
Alex Liddell, USA

The Secret Itineraries tour was brilliant, we had an excellent, well-informed guide who gave us lots of interesting facts about the art and history of the Palace and of Venice. We've recommeded it to everyone. Many thanks & regards,
Simon & Livia Weighell, USA

We're back! Thanks so very very much for your help with our two tours around Rome. Anna was great. We lucked out because it rained the morning we were to walk around the Coliseum and the Forum and by the time we got there, the weather had cleared. So...VERY few people crawling around there. Also, Anna's 20 years experience was key to getting us through the lines and mob scene at Vatican City. She's a great lady and very knowledgable.
Nina Berg, USA

Thank you so much for all your arrangements for La Scala. I cannot find words to describe the experience. It was indeed a dream come
true. Our holiday in Stresa was also most enjoyable and La Palma Hotel was perfect. Thanks again. Best wishes,
Jack and Sighle Fitzgerald, USA

Fantastic. The girls thoroughly enjoyed the tour of the Palazzo Vecchio with Giorgio Vasari, and although the tour of the Doge's Palace was not as good, the tour guide was so strange the girls had fun anyways. The two private guides were both good. The Palio was exciting, although a bit traumatic with one of the riders falling off and getting trampled, and the hotel you arranged was well situated and the garden used for breakfast had a wonderful vista of the Tuscan hills and is firmly planted in our memories. Thank you for all your help in making this a great vacation.
Gregg Gittler, USA

We just arrived home from our trip to Italy/France last Wednesday, July 27th. We had the most wonderful time, and our reservation at the Accademiaworked out well. We waited a minor amount of time, and thoroughly enjoyed the museum. We've come home to start saving for our next trip to Italy! Thank you so much for your assistance in obtaining the reservation, and your concern.
Cathy Zimmerman, USA

We loved our trip to Italy. The reservations you made for us were great.We did not have to wait in any lines and we found that the tour guides were very knowledgeable. If we had not had reservations we would not have been able to visit Galleria Borghese, as they were sold out. (The Bernini statues made me cry... they are so beautiful and full of life.) The necropolis was amazing. To be under the altar of St. Peters and at the gravesite of Peter the Apostle very awe inspiring. Thank you so much for all of your help. We would recommend you services to any of our friends. We can't wait to visit Italy again. Thank you,
Linda & Vernon Smith, USA

We loved the Doges Secret Itinerary Tour as well as the gondola ride and Venice Tour. We entered Doges Palace and then went through a secret door much to the amazement of other tourists not on the tour. This made a huge impression on our children. Venice was mobbed, had we not had the reservations for the tours we may not have had the opportunity to get in. One suggestion, the office where we picked up the tickets was not easy to find, we asked several people to no avail, I'd suggest you enclose a map of the square with both pick-up points. The gondola ride was very nice as was the Venice tour.
The line for the Uffizi was probably an hour to 2 hours not the 5 hours my friends had experienced in July. Nonetheless, we picked up our tickets and entered immediately. Since we only had the afternoon in Florence after an organized tour in the morning, the reservations were very efficient and appreciated. Unfortunately, once we entered the museum there were other long lines. My boys were on the young side for appreciating Raphael and Botticelli, I suspect they would have preferred the Science Museum with Galileo artifacts.
Overall, the trip was fabulous, we spent 7 days in Italy, 2 days each in Turkey & Greece, 5 days in Barcelona and one day in the south of France. The organized tours on the ship were not bad but I recommend using an outside touring service for Rome, Florence & Naples. We could have accomplished more had we booked a private tour.
My next trip abroad will be Italy again, Milan, Florence, Sienna, perhaps a cooking class. I will contact you when the time comes. Thank you again for your assistance, I will surely refer you to others traveling to Italy. Best regards,
Melinda & Travis Schaben, USA

What can I say???? You did a splendid job and we had a fabulous time. Everything was PERFECT!!! Maria Theresa and Gastone were wonderful. The tours were exquisite! Both guides were extremely knowledgeable and their personalities were delightful. I would highly recommend them and Cultural Italy to anyone who plans a visit to Italy. Your hard work and help were greatly appreciated. Please, please send me your address as we (the entire group who traveled) would like to send you something to show you our appreciation. The Vasari Corridor was fantastic and Gastone was very pleased to have the opportunity to visit it again. He told us he has only been there 3 times since the 90s....good job! Unfortunately we did not have time to go to that restaurant instead we grabbed something on the run so we could see EVERYTHING. Gastone brought us all to a lovely trattoria that had the very BEST food and the price was right! Again, both guides were great and very accommodating.
Again I thank you much!
Janice Nugent, USA

I just want to say grazie mille for all your help with the reservations and tips for my trip to Italy. I had the most amazing time! Every city, every thing, all the people - it was just great! La Notte Bianca was wild! It seemed like millions of people just roaming the streets. The streets were closed off to cars and there were just people everywhere. Quite a birthday! One I'll NEVER forget. Also 'Paradise Lost' in Venice was cool. I happened to go on a Sunday night, when they have a live Mexican band; they were great! I will tell everyone I know about you and your website and service. Going to Italy and NOT having reservations for the sites I saw would be crazy!
Michael Bonetti, USA

We had a magical night - and a fabulout 3.5 week trip, primarily in Northern Italy - Lucca, Rapallo, Como Lake, Venice, and our final night in Verona. Thanks so much for your help with the tickets - the logistics worked out perfectly. Thanks for your kind inquiry. We will be returning to Italy and will continue to check your website.
Jay Jackson, USA

Thank you for making our reservations for the Scrovegni Chapel in June. It was truly as exciting as I expected it to be. I have studied the various panels extensively before, but there is nothing like seeing them all together and surrounding. The video presentation was excellent and well done. The people who planned are all to be commended. It was wonderful. However I thought the charges were a bit excessive.
Doris Monahan, Susan Monahan, Mark Brucks, USA

Thanks for asking, the river cruise was enjoyed by all and it was one of the highlights of the weekend, hopefully I will return again and see more of Rome. Thanks for providing an enjoyable evening!
Best regards
Ceri Hopkin, USA

Madame Butterfly at Caracalla was a marvellous production, the set design was excellent and took full advantage of the surroundings - it was a surprise for my wife and she is still telling everyone how good our seating position was. We will be going back to Rome 'at some point' and the opera would definitely be on the agenda again.
David Newton, USA

Our trip was fantastic! We got to see so much in the short period of time we were there.. and this was due particually to Cultural Italy! My family loved the Four Seasons concert in Venice, and the opera in Rome. We also did not need to wait in line for the Vatican, which a lot of other people traveling with us were jealous about! We also got to see the David and went straight into Dodges palace without waiting. The Venice Biennale was also a great experience for me, being an art student. I have given presentations to my college classes on the artist's I saw there and my experience! Because of your service we got to see much more than we would have been able to just going without any prior reservations. I have recommend Cultural Italy to others in my tour group and people that are planning to travel to Italy in the future! Thank you for all of your help and commitment, me and my family really appreciated it.
Angela Speece, USA

Aida in Verona was absolutely spectacular; quite magical in fact; what asuperb way to spend a special anniversary! Our whole holiday in Italy was one of the best holidays we have ever had. The food and wine were wonderful and there were so many great places to
visit and things to see. From the Valley of the Gods & Piazza Armerina; Sicily to such wonderful places as Pompeii, Monte Casino, Siena, Florence,Venice and Pisa, together with the tranquility and beauty of Tuscany made it a very special trip. I was able to arrange the whole trip over the internet and it worked out extremely well. The majority of the hotels and bed & breakfasts that we used were first rate. We hope to be able to return one day soon.
Regards,
Wendy Osenton, Canada

We had a wonderful time on our honeymoon, although it was very very hot!!!! We enjoyed all the museums, although I guess we could have done without the Medici Chapels in Florence. Our favorites were the Borghese Gallery in Rome, and the Uffizi in Florence. What fun! Aida was a great experience, although I think I will do some more research before I attend another opera. I guess I hoped I would be able to tell better what was happening without understanding a word. I recently referred a friend to you who will be planning a trip to Italy for the Winter Olympics. I told her how wonderful the service was and how making the reservations in advance made our trip!!! We walked right by hundreds if not thousands of tourists waiting in line for the Vatican and went in the exit, just like you said. We were skeptical, as we were afraid we would get stopped or yelled at. What a breeze! Thanks for everything. If we plan another trip to Italy, we will definitely contact you again.

Debra Orr, USA

We loved rigoletto, the San Clemente church was beautiful, the performance was excellent, our seats were waiting for us on the first row. Thank you,
Robert Tate DVM and family, USA

Thank you so much for remembering! I had (and still have) all the best intentions of getting in touch with all the wonderful people that helped me plan my trip and those that I met in Italy.....but dratz...I got sucked backed into the work world immediately after my wonderful 6 weeks in Italy. My daughter and I very much enjoyed the spectacular opera of Nabucco. Thank you so much also for your seating suggestion at the Arena in Verona....our seats were PERFECT! We were close to the stage and the angle was just fine. ..The cement seats, of course, were cold and hard, so renting a cushion was a good investment. Your suggestion to arrive early was also a good one...it was worth the wait. Although, the production was long, with long set
changes, so we were quite tired afterwards. Thankfully, our apartment was only a few blocks away. Thanks so much for emailing me!!!! I love thinking about my trip again. I'm continuing my study of Italian and intend on returning to Italy. It would be wonderful to try to attend an opera in one
of the opera houses. Maybe La Scala????....or....we have family in Palermo...does Cultural Italy book operas or other theatre in Sicily? Elena, thank you again....I will certainly contact you when I make my next trip to Italy.....if I could afford an annual trip, I would...well, at least it is something to dream and hope for! Warm regards,
Genine Scelfo, USA

We had a blast. We really enjoyed all the attractions we purchased through your site and couldn't believe how much time we saved by
reserving ahead. There must have been an easy 10,000 people in line at the Vatican and several thousand at the colosseum. Thanks so much!
Tanya Sergey, USA

Our tour guide for these tours was outstanding. He was knowledgeable, sophisticated and moved through the galleries with a clear and cogent purpose. Thanks again.
Michael T. Stewart, USA

The tours we took with Cultural Italy were some of the best experiences we have ever had, and we have taken our kids many, many places. Our children have done very well in school this year as well, and it is in large part due to all that they learned while on these wonderful tours in Rome, Florence and Pisa. I have some great pictures of Antonino and our daughters around Rome and would like to send them to him. Could you forward this message on to him and ask him to send his email address, or could you send it to me? If ever you need references, please give people my email address. We loved – loved - our tours with Cultural Italy.
Sincerely,
Virginia Casey, USA

Everyone in our family was pleased with our surroundings and the grandchildren who had never been there, absolutely fell in love with Italy. Antonino who was our guide in Rome was very grand and very Italian and lent a flair and ambience to our trip. He was knowledgeable and kind. Getting up at the ungodly hour we had to do in order to see the Sistine Chapel was well worth it. My older grandsons in particular, were quite impressed with Antonino's ability to sneak around and through all the roadblocks put up by Italian protocol! I have given your name to associates of ours who will be coming to Italy in the spring and early summer of 2006 and I hope they will be in touch with you. Your efforts were the icing on the cake and you were able to see me through when other efforts had fallen through. I will continue to recommend your services whenever possible and if we are ever in need again, I will most definitely contact you. Thanks again. Your friend,
Mae DeFilippis, USA

Grazie mille per tua e-mail lettera. It was very surprising but I was very happy to see your e-mail. Yes, we had a great time in Italy and we enjoyed very much concerts by Interpreti Veneziani and I Solisti Veneti. Me, my husband and my son, we are all baroque music fans, especially me and my son, we love Vivaldi's music. So we were very happy to listen to the performance of such famous musicians. We thank you greatly that you made reservations for us. It was veryassuring to know that we can go to these concert, far in advance and being in Japan. Thank you. Love,
Hiroko Sato, Japan

Dear Elena,
All of your arrangements were flawless. NO LINES! It seemed to me that the lines were miles long. I told all of our friends about you. I will be calling you again in September as I will be returning with my husband. In fact, I fell in love with Southern Italy!
Thank you so much!
Ellen Berger, USA

The operetta concert in Teatro Marcello was one of the best things we did in Italy....they were wonderful. People were up in the streets above the theatre outside listening as well....it was a terrific suggestion and we all loved it.
It will be awhile until I can return to Italy, but I can assure you that I will return as I absolutely loved Italy!!! Thanks for asking,
Maddy Bowling, USA

Thanks for the follow up! All of us had an extraordinary time: the small children stayed (mostly) awake and didn't want to leave
before the end! And for the adults who had not been there before it was exceptional as well.
Many good wishes to you and many thanks once again...
Fred Gottlieb, USA

Hi Elena - it was delightful, the church was such a beautiful, intimate setting and it was one of the few evenings we were with locals - I would recommend it even though both lead singers that night were American!
Pearl Weiss, USA

The Interpreti Veneziani concert in Venice was truly fantastic. I bought some CD's and I listen to them often. What a night to remember!
David Corro, USA

Although we have been to Milan a number of times we always "passed on" the Last Supper. Not enough time, we were not really interested, etc. What we missed! It was a truly unforgetable experience and booking through you made the whole experience so easy. We walked to the church from our hotel, gave our confirmation number to the man behind the desk, waited a few minutes and the next thing we knew we were in front of one of the mst magnificant works of art in the world. Thank you for your help.
Regina O'Connor, USA

I have been meaning to let you know how much my family and I enjoyed our tour, with Antonino, of the Coliseum etc. He was just delightful and made it so interesting for my grandchildren. Also tmy clients had nothing but excellent reviews for all of their tours. I have found a winner with Cultural Italy. I appreciate all your help and information. My daughter fell in love with Italy, any wonder, and can hardly wait to return. Me too.
Linda Goodman, Global Journeys' travel agent, USA

Italy was beyond any expectations one could ever have. I was ready to move there after the first 24 hours. I love the cities, the countryside, the people, the food, the art, the language and way of life. Included in that list is I Musici Veneziani that we thoroughly enjoyed in both Rome and Venice. A wonderful experience! Thank you!
Candice Ritchey, USA

It would be difficult to convey just how much we enjoyed the excellent concert we heard at San Teodoro this past summer. My wife and I travel to Venice as often as we can – once every few years or so. This last trip was the first time we had ever heard the Virtuosi di Venezia. For us, it was certainly the high point of our visit. In particular, the young baritone who sang (I forget his name!) was simply outstanding! Not to take anything away from your soprano, who was also charming and first-rate, as were all of the musicians who played that evening. We thought the choice of material included in the concert was perfect! Mozart, Bellini, Donizetti – these are all our favorites. Here in the States, I teach composition at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. My wife and I love Italian opera, and had hoped to finally be able to hear it at the recently re-opened Teatro in Venice. But the week we were in Venice, the program at the Teatro was Strauss. Given the expense of the tickets, we did not feel it was worth it to travel all the way to Venice to see 20th-century German tragedy! So we opted for the Virtuosi di Venezia instead. We were very glad that we did! Sincerely,
Rick Hall, USA

I'm so glad that Barbara sent you this picture! I cannot thank you enough. Barbara and Antonino ware amazing! It was the most special day, we LOVED the Amalfi coast. Mi piace! Every tour you organized for us was fantastic! Antonino and his partner Paulina were fabulous. We also loved Roma, although that seems a liftime from now- we can't wait to return!
Next time we will spend more time on the coast however, perhaps return with some friends or family!
Thank you again. I will sen you some more pictures if you want.
Mille Grazie per tutto l'aiuto, ci è piaciuto molto!
Lourdes Benedicto & Matthew, USA

Thank you so much for your help and wanted to let you know it was great. The opera and the seats were absolutely perfect and thank you so much. It was a good thing and a bad thing. It was a good thing because it was a great experience, it is a bad thing because I want to do it again... once is just not enough!
Terri Spencer, USA

Hello Silvia,
We very much enjoyed the Vatican Museum -- the tour was wonderful! Thank you so much for your help on such short notice.
I wish I could have stayed in Italy forever. Can you arrange that?
Grazie mille (did I say that right?)
David Ingram, USA

Thank you for your inquiry. Interesting story. First, we loved Italy and had a great time for the two weeks of our visit. We started in Rome the first four
days and then rented a car for the next eight. We had tickets for the 9:30 tour for The Last Supper but we were in Levanto the previous nights so we left at 6:30
allowing plenty of time to drive to Milan and a little time to make it to the Church. My mistake was in not expecting so much rush hour traffic. Also, I didn't
have a map of Milan. Anyway, we got to the Church almost two hours late. But the people at the Church were very nice and let us attach to the group for the
11:30 viewing. That was extremely kind of them to do and we were very much in awe at the beauty and holiness of the fresco. My most sincere appreciation to Elena for finding the two tickets on such short notice.
Thank you and Cultural Italy very, very much.
James Michael Wilson, USA

Thank you for your enquiry. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of the Doges Palace and going behind the closed doors. It was very informative and good value. Our tour guide was very good as well. It was our first trip to Italy, and it won't be our last. Thank you,
John Peterson, USA

Dear Sivia, We enjoyed our stay i Rome 10. - 17.th May very much. That includes both the ballet in the opera and La Traviata in All Saints Anglican Church. Your
service was excellent, the tickets just were there when we asked for them. We have given our recomondation to friends.
Sincerely,
Kjell Johansen, Norway

Dear Silvia,
The performance at La Scala was a highlight of my trip to Italy, as was the performance at Teatro Massimo for which I also obtained tickets from Cultural Italy. Thank you for your excellent service!
Alvin Sasaki, USA

We had a great trip and the tours were excellent. My kids really learned a lot and will remember the trip forever. Thanks for your help coordinating our tours.
Craig, USA

It was just great and I am very glad to have bought my tickets in advance, especially for the Secreti and the Accademia as the lines were very long.
Just wish we could buy tickets for St Mark's in advance too. I will definitely use the service again.
Many thanks.
Doreen Jaeger, USA

Enjoy?? We were agog with the riches and beautiful historical pieces. Our enjoyment was made all the stronger by our guide. An older woman; she had a
thorough knowledge and appreciation of what she showed us. She gave us an excellent overview to start and then made sure that we saw most of the
masterpieces. She handled questions with aplomb and used humor to increase our energy and our understanding. The curator staff has an impossible job
to catalog all of the pieces. Thank you for ensuring we could visit the museum.
William and Valerie McKechney, USA

We had an excellent time on our honeymoon. All went well. All three transfers with your service were a pleasure - the easiest parts of our journey. Your drivers were timely, courteous and helpful. They both went above and beyond our expectations, giving us tips on our upcoming activities during the rides. Thanks again for all of your help.
Amy Blais, USA

Silvia, I wanted to thank you for arranging the events on our recent trip to Rome and Florence. We had a full and memorable trip that we will always remember. The tour guides were all wonderful. Flavia was very professional and we enjoyed her tour of the Vatican very much. Simone is great! We keep talking about our day in Tuscany and the tour of Casa Emma. And Lucilla is and excellent guide, her passion for history is evident in everything she does. And thanks for reserving tickets at the museums, it saved a lot of time on line.
We will be using your services again on our next tour. Hopefully, in the near future.
Best Regards,
Ralph & Liz Bruno, USA

Ms. Losavio,
Thank you very much for your kind inquiry. My wife and I absolutely loved the Borghese. It was simply spectacular. Now that I am back at work, I think about my trip to Italy to help motivate me to work hard so I can afford to return to Italy soon.
Happy Holidays and have a wonderful New Year!
Nathan Agam, USA

Dear Silvia,
Forgive me for taking so long to get back to you. I have to say, "Tosca" at La Scala was profoundly stirring! Our seats were terrific. We traded around, so each of us sat in the orchestra for one act! I was thrilled that I sat in the orchestra for Act I because the set "inside the Basilica" was astounding!! The "ceiling" was FRESCOED and I wouldn't have been able to see it from above. I don't know which was more dazzling--the voices--or the newly refurbished Opera house, itself! The red velvet, gilt and crystal were pristine. I enjoyed being upstairs the last two acts. I stood on a bench and watched Loren Maisel direct! Those hands....The three of us were bowled over! We had such a wonderful side trip to Milano. It was certainly a "Peak Cultural Event." It was tough going on the train. We failed to make reservations! We had been to Florence on the train the week before, and it was practically empty. Oh, well! We took turns sitting on our suitcase. We did get a sitting respite between someplace and Emilio-Romagno. We were so "jazzed," it really didn't matter. Our little hotel was very close to the train station when we arrived and we absolutely fell in love with it (Hotel Charley, I believe). It was one block from the direct tram to La Scala. Our opera tickets had been delivered to the hotel that afternoon, as promised! We were able to get relaxing naps and find something to eat first. Just as we were waiting for the tram, there was a downpour! Fortunately, we were able to stand under a large overhang, so it was no problem at all. The entire evening seemed "charmed." After the opera, we walked over to the Galleria for a coffee and were stunned when suddenly all the men stood up, and here came Hui He, the superlative "Tosca," without her
makeup and with her entourage. She was carrying an armful of lillies and she passed within ten feet of us. She bowed beautifully and was incredibly gracious to her applauding fans. Yes, it was an incredible evening! Thank you so much for inquiring. And the next day, we rode some more trollyes and saw the duomo, etc.
In Tuscany, we stayed at a wonderful place, "Il Pavonne," owned by two lovely Italian women--sisters-- They remodeled an old farmhouse estate and turned it into five apartments. We had the entire place to ourselves almost all of the time, we were there so early (arrived in Lippiano on April 8th). It is in an extremely picturesque, tiny agricultural valley, with the village above. I gave them the email et al. for "Cultural Italy." They also own Il Castello in Lippiano, and have their living quarters on site, but rent out a few rooms, too. There is a cultural event in the area at some point and suggested that she contact your organization. They are delightful I had hoped to get an email from Lily--there were many important things happening I wanted to hear about. But so far, I have not. I'm sure I have their last name and contact information somewhere. We originally found the place to stay through a gentleman who owns a small villa a few kilometers away, and above. Tuscany in spring was breathtaking. It was so wonderful to be there three weeks to get to see the plants unfold and blossom! To have all that, plus La Scala & two nights in Venezia as well-- the trip of a lifetime! The espresso-- the gelato-- there is nothing like it!! But we do have some nice places here.... Do you ever get to San Francisco, Silvia? It would be lovely to meet you. I'm not much for Southern California, myself, although San Diego is pretty special--and that is where you are, right?
Again, thank you, Silvia, for all phone calls and the special assistance you rendered in making sure we were able to attend La Scala. Thanks also to all of the Cultural Italy staff.
A terrific organization! Sincerely,
Edelle Waller, USA

We absolutely loved the cooking class we took in Siena -- it was one of the highlights of our 2-1/2 week trip to Italy. We even had a great time with the instructor speaking in Italian (even though we didn't speak it). We loved how we were able to actively help with the entire menu. (Many other cooking courses only let you cook one of the dishes, while other groups cook other dishes.) Since we have returned home, we have recreated many of the recipes for our friends and family -- everything was delicious.
Thanks again for offering such a great course.
Jessica Cuebas, USA

Everything worked out great! We went right up to the desk and they just printed out our tickets with no problem. It was a big help since tickets to the Last Supper were sold out. Thanks
Nicole Tallarida, USA

It was fabulous, the weather was great, the whole ambience was out of this world. As for Rome in general - it was my first time and I can't wait to get back, I loved everything about it - except trying to cross roads as a pedestrian!
Heather Kinsey, USA

It was wonderful; it exceeded our very high expectations. Our visit to Italy was joyous and without any negative experiences. The only difficulty was having to come home and go back to work. Thanks again.
Sandra Friedberg, USA

My husband thoroughly enjoyed the cooking class in Siena. He said that the teacher was excellent as were the facilities at the cullinary institute. He was taught how to create a 5-course meal and came back to the hotel excited because his teacher said that he was a good cook. In January, we're hosting a "Little Christmas in Italia" party for friends. During that time, they'll be invited to join my husband in the kitchen, creating the dishes he learned how to create in Italy.
At the same time, I'll be hosting an Italian wine tasting party in another room. We're looking forward to it. We'd recommend the same school/teacher to other people. Thanks for asking and happy holidays.
Kathleen O'Hara Podzimek, USA

Dear Valentina, An experience at La Scala is every opera lover's dream. The seats were reasonably good, although one learns that the horseshoe shape of most opera houses is designed for audiences more interested in looking at one another than in having a good view of the stage. The production of Don Giovanni, in contemporary style and costume (Donna Elvira arrived onstage on a Vespa), was excellently sung and played, just as one would expect, so no vegetables were thrown (in Vienna the audience loudly voiced its displeasure at the avant-garde production of "Lohengrin" we saw at the Staatsoper). However, I enjoy seeing new and creative approaches to opera production and design. The LCD display of the English translation at every seat was a great adjunct, and to see the words in one's own language is ample evidence that opera libretti feature ludicrous plots and impossibly silly words--only singing the words in the original language, set to great music, makes opera possible. If the whole text were spoken, no audience would tolerate it--it's just too ridiculous.
All the other events arranged for us by Cultural Italy went very well, particularly the private tour of the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's. Our guide was exceedingly well informed, with very fine academic credentials, and his English was excellent. He was even good humored when I disagreed with him concerning the size of other churches as compared to St. Peter's--we had a good chuckle about it--I have studied these buildings since childhood, and he was misinterpreting the meaning of the bronze stars in the floor of the central aisle of St. Peter's--they mark only the length of other great churches and cathedrals, not their total size. Our disagreement, as we say in America, was the result of trying to compare apples and oranges--the guide was using one standard of measurement and I was using another. In fact, our discussion made the tour more interesting. My cousin and I learned much.
The very best music was the Enchanting Opera Arias concert at San Paolo entro le mura, which happened to be only a block from our hotel. The small orchestral ensemble of I musici Veneziani was flawless, and their quartet of singers were by far the best I have heard in years anywhere. The contralto in particular was of a quality rarely heard. We heard many fine singers on the trip, but these four exceeded them all in every respect.
Thank you for helping make our time in Italy so uplifting, enriching, and educational. I quite properly threw my coin into the Fontana Trevi, so no doubt I shall return. Sincerely
Tom Davis, USA

My husband and I enjoed our stay in Rome very much and especially that marvelous opera concert! I was personally positively surprised by "the quality" of singers! You see I am very spoiled by the Russian and Danish opera singers, so I did not expect that much from the unkown orchestra playing in the church. My God, that was absolutely wonderful! I think you should be very proud of promoting "Most Enchancing Opera Arias" again and again.
Generally our stay in Rome was a very-very positive experience and I would like to thank you for the assistance.
I would also like to wish you and your colleagues a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Best regards,
Natalie Boukia, USA

It was wonderful. I would recommend telling people to allow more time between museums so they are not rushed. We were scheduled for the Accademia and the Uffizi only two hours apart. People could do the Accademia in the morning and break for lunch and see the Uffizi after lunch and enjoy dinner and the city of Florence in the evening.
The Vatican was incredible, but I would also tell people to spend a day in the Vatican and another day in Rome seeing other sights. People in general don’t realize how enormous these places are and come away feeling like they did not get to see all they wanted to. This was definitely the thoughts of our group.
Thank you for following up and Merry Christmas to you as well.
Kathryn Parker, USA

We had a fabulous time and can’t wait to go back to Italy. We’d like to go south of Rome next time.
The tours were perfect. We were thrilled not to have to wait in any lines.
Buona Vacanza!
Lisa Van Orman, USA

Hi Valentina,
That is a beautiful name and I enjoyed The Last Supper immensely. We missed our scheduled appointment and were able to go on the next tour. I was very
pleased with the experience.
Tim Massa, USA

Everything was great, thank you so much for all of the arrangements you made for us and for Cultural Italy, it was very convenient using the web page to arrange our events.
Toni Corelli, USA

Thank you.....it was an awesome experience and having tickets in advance took away a lot of stress. I would definitely use your service again.
Merry Christmas to you too.......
Marina Smith, USA

Thank you very much for your kind inquiry. My wife and I absolutely loved the Borghese. It was simply spectacular. Now that I am back at work, I think about my trip to Italy to help motivate me to work hard so I can afford to return to Italy soon. Happy Holidays and have a wonderful New Year!
Nathan Agam, USA

We loved every minute in Italy and plan to return. The Accademia was fabulous and mertis many return visits. Thanks so much for your help.
Kathy Wightman, USA

Hi Valentina, thank you for your email. Italy was wonderful and the cooking class and wine tour were fabulous! It was an unforgettable day and my husband and I would do it all over again.
Happy Holidays!
JoAnne Paegle, USA

Dear Valentina:
We had a great time although I forgot our prenotazione in the States and retrieved it through my e-mail. Remind your customers not to delete the message! Everything went smoothly (generally, the Uffizi was a bit crazy as usual on a Sunday with great weather). We look forward to going back soon. Best wishes for the weekend.
Alan Braverman, USA

Thanks for following up! Yes, we had a great time and really enjoyed our trip. Yes, all our services were terrific, we specifically enjoyed Renalto and Giovanni!! I actually passed on your address to a friend of mine who will be in Italy in July.
Thanks again,
Deb Pompei, USA

Hi Valentina,
We had a wonderful time, thank you very much. Your suggestions and museum reservations were greatly appreciated. Thanks for everything and please ensure to send me an email from time to time as a reminder of your fabulous services.
Kind regards,
Nicole Bittar, USA

Thank you for asking! The tour was spectacular. We enjoyed every bit of it. Our guide, who's name has slipped my mind, was well-informed, entertaining, and gracious. I will recommend the tour to anyone planning a trip to Florence.
Thank you!
Catherine A Smith, USA

Valentina,
Your arrangements for us went very well. Our tickets were waiting for us when we arrived at the Fenice.
The concert was fine, and the Fenice itself was just awesome. I'm really glad we went.
Thanks very much. I hope that another trip to Italy is in our future.
Louise Weiler, USA

Your services were excellent! Thank you for all your help, particularly at the last minute.
Our guide Teresa was perfect and really made the trip more memorable. We will surely return back to Italy and will also recommend your services to anyone else we know who is planning a trip Italy. Regards,
Kevin Covert, USA

The experience was extraordinary. I have been dreaming of going to La Scala essentially all my life. I am very grateful to your company for getting those tickets for me and will recommend your services to my friends.
Thanks again,
Mila Chistoserdova, USA

The concert was fantastic - our best night in Venice. Magical. Thank you
Helen Mason, UK

Our trip was fabulous and I’m very happy to report that the Cena Vinciana was a highlight. The reservations, presentation, organization, guides, setting—all were excellent and the curatorial standards were all very high; they allowed us to listen to an audio guide at no extra charge since our admission price included the Italian guide and I’m afraid our Italian is not so fluent. Thank you so much for arranging such a hard-to-get visit. It was a rare privilege to see such an astonishing work, restored and presented in its native setting.
In Milan we also visited the Ambrosiana and the Brera; the latter was particularly wonderful; I bought the catalogue—in Italian!—to study at home.
The earlier part of our trip was to Rome, where we spent a lot of time in museums and churches; Caravaggio, Bernini, Borromini all ended up as recurring theme artists in Rome. The Galeria Farnese was closed on the day we tried to visit but we were able to visit the Galeria Spada and many other less well-known collections. Siena, a side trip to San Gimignano and a vineyard, Florence and Bologna made up the rest of our trip. One of our group, who went for purposes of study and her doctorate in art history, is still in Rome, (about to return this week) and I have been feeling jealous since I got back to Toronto!
With best regards,
Michael Solomon, USA

The tour went really well. Naomi was our tour guide and did a wonderful job!! She really took the time to get into the details of each area/artwork/artist/history. My husband and I and another couple traveled to Italy and tried to make arrangements to visit certain sites before leaving the states (getting tickets, tours, and try to avoid any lines, etc.) It was nice to have a private tour in such a large place, the Vatican. Thank you.
Christine Duncan, USA

Dear Valentina,
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Italy (We just arrived home two nights ago). It will be a time that I will remember and treasure forever. The time I spent in Venice with Patricia and the two translators was incredible. All three women were kinds, generous, knowledgeable, and great company! I learned a lot about Venetian cooking, and spent a wonderful afternoon in the company of the three ladies. I would certainly recommend this activity to anyone! Thank you very much for providing such a magical day shared in good company! Blessings,
Sarah Thober, USA

Dear Gina, just wanted to compliment Sonia on a wonderful tour. We all really enjoyed her insight and knowledge and felt we got much more from our visit because of her expertise. Please pass on our apprecitaion and thank you for all you did to make it possible.
Sincerely,
Mari Anne Mason, USA

Dear Valentina, How grateful my wife and I are for your part in our 55th Wedding Anniversary dream come true! We did five operas in three cities of our beloved Italy. You will be at the top of our list for return visits, should we live so long. Grazie!
Donald P. Costello, USA

Hi Valentina,
The festival in Ravello was wonderful and our tickets were excellent - thank you very much. We had a wonderful holiday and look forward to our next visit to Italy. I hope all is well. Thanks again,
Sandy Minden, Canada

Dear Valentina,
Yes , we had a wonderful visit to the Scrovengi Chapel; it is such a special place, and so beautifully perserved. We also managed to see such marvellous treasures, first in Venice, then in Vicenza, and finally in Padova. I had just finished a course in the History of Art , so it was the highlight of my year.
Many thanks
Diane Bernal, Ireland

We enjoyed our Pompei tour. Our guide shared a wealth of information with us which made our Pompei visit that much more meaningful. My daughter
particularly appreciated seeing in person the four styles of art and visiting the Villa dei Misteri which she studied in school.
Best regards, Lori A. Meaders, USA

Thank you for the follow up email :) The visit to the Colosseo was beautiful.. it really is amazing to be inside!! I also want to express my appreciation for the reservation service that Cultural Italy offers.. you should have seen that line!! it had to be about 150-200 people waiting to be allowed in.. We just walked right pass them proudly with our reservation code.. it was amazing!! Thank you again :)
Sincerely,
Cindi Zakrewski and David Dudek, USA

We had a superb visit, my first in 18 years, and I believe the frescoes look lovelier than ever.
The arrangements were superb, the informative video excellent and the whole experience a complete joy.
Thank you very much.
Thomson Smillie, USA

We loved the Vatican tour and our guide!!! Thanks for following up. Our guide was so nice and patient and very knowledgeable and we really enjoyed it. We hope to go again soon!
Richard and Sharon Johnson, USA

The opera arias were absolutely amazing! Each artist displayed such joy and perfection in the music, so that the audience felt the delight of he music. I had the opportunity to run into some of the performers several days later and certainly made my enjoyment of their art known to them. Thank you for following up.
Wiesia Kujawa, Canada

Had a wonderful time! Our guide was absolutely terrific and we loved all the history and the areas that she took us to. Please know that we have passed on your name and information to several of our friends who are considering trips to Venice in the near future. Thank you again for making this trip so very special.
Charlene Harris, USA

Hello Valentina,
Everything worked out very well on our recent trip to Italy! It was wonderful having the ticket reservations for the various museums. It saved us many long lines. You provide a great service. Thanks for all your help.
Isabelle Pratt, USA

We enjoyed the Borghese and Adademia very much. Unfortunately, the Uffizi was on strike but we were able to go back on another day and see it. I unerstand that these hourly or one day strikes in Italy are not uncommon. Thanks for your help.
Gary J McLaughlin, USA

I enjoyed the Last Supper tremendously-thank you for making my reservation. I found it better than the Vatican in that they only allowed a limited number of people in at one time and you were able to take your time looking at the works of art.
Thanks again.
Rhonda Sereda, USA

Valentina,
The concert was fabulous!!! We had good seats, wonderful weather and the performances were great.
Thank you for making the arrangements. We took the metro to the concert because it was so direct but had no idea there would be no trains
running when it was over. We were a bit lost because we had no map with us and as it was our first day in Rome, no sense of direction. We must have been looking quite distraught when a stranger approached and said "you two look lost; let me call you a cab." A few minutes later we were in a cab on our way to our hotel! That act of generosity really gave us a very good feeling about Rome and Italy. Thanks again. Sincerely,
Sheila Sullivan Brown, Canada

Buon Giorno.
Hope you are doing well.
The trip to Mezzomonte with Francesco worked out better than we expected. He was a great guide and translator and really got involved with us in researching my family history. Met relatives and thoroughly enjoyed the visit. Thanks to both of you for a very memorable trip.
Len and Anne Piazzon, USA

Hi Kathleen - We had a wonderful time in Italy. Rome was my favorite part of the trip. Our guide, Max, was unbelievable and provided us with a tour of the Vatican, the ancient city, and the coliseum that more than exceeded our expectations - I wish we could have hired him for the entire time we were in Italy. He was a professor at a university in Rome and had a PhD in art history. There was nothing he didn't know! The hotel was perfect. The location could not have been better and our rooms were great! When we arrived at the hotel we were personally greeted by the hotel manager. Also, the driver in Rome was prompt and we were very grateful to have had a driver at that point in our journey.
Thank you for following up with the the limo company and the hotel to inform them of our late arrival. Franco - from the limo company - was very nice to deal with. He called immediately when we landed in Rome and told us exactly where to meet the driver.
Also the rental car was the perfect size too. All of our luggage fit with a little room to spare.
After we left Rome we spent the rest of our week at our villa in Pistoia which was very nice and the owners could not have been any kinder and more welcoming. They even cooked us a typical Tuscan dinner in the outdoor kitchen one night. We had wonderful food and lots of wine! And we had 2 dogs to entertain us as well.
We traveled to Florence 2 days and went to the Accademia Gallery one day (I purchased tickets online in advance and was very glad you suggested doing so. We waited in line only 5 minutes.) We also traveled to Pisa, Siena, Pistoia, Lavornia and Viareggio, Lucca, Arezzo and the Chianti wine region. We climbed towers in several doumo's in several cities and the leaning tower of Pisa, ate wonderful Tuscan meals, ate pounds of gelato, toured museums, churches, took a horse and carriage guided tour through Lucca, walked on the beaches of the Tyrranean Sea, shopped and drank wine.
It was a very enjoyable and will be a memorable trip for all. We got to spend a lot of time (nearly every evening) with my cousin who is studying in Pistoia which was a bonus for her and us.
Coming home we again missed our connection in Paris and ended up staying the night in Paris. A lesson learned -Paris is a wonderful city to visit and make your destination, but never make a connection through that airport. There is never enough time between flights to make the connection - at least that was the way it appeared on AirFrance.
All the services you provided for us were perfect and I don't know how to thank you for all that you did. I would love to go back to Italy when the dollar becomes stronger - the exchange rate was not good at all and it dropped even further while we were there. Next time I would like to visit southern Italy. When I do so, I will be sure to have you help me plan the entire trip.
Hope we can see you sometime soon. I would love to share some pictures and talk about our trip further.
Deborah A. M. Mercado, USA

Hi Valentina-
I am sorry for not responding quickly to your email-we took out trip in teh summer and now it is almost November!
My daughter and I liked the fresco workshop. It was very informative and simple. Because we were the only people in the class that time, we were able to take our time and play with the materials. One of the most valuable things that happened is that the instructor gave me the name of a paint/art/plaster shop in Florence, which I really appreciated.
The Uffizi was one of the darker, duller Museums we had been in which was a surprise because I had remembered it from a visit 20 years ago and thought it really special. Not sure why there was a difference. But that has nothing to do with your services! Thanks for your help, you were very kind and accomodating on the phone. I hope you and your loved ones are well after all the nasty fires in California.Take Care,
Amy Ouradnik, USA

Dear Ms. Valentina:
Yes, I had a great time in your country. Your driver was very professional and courteous and he made my trip to Tocco da Casauria very enjoyable. I hope to be able to return again in a few years.
Jeff Sikirica, USA

Everything was great, Valentina! I appreciate your assistance so much! You helped make our honeymoon truly special. Thank you,
Tiffany Lee-Youngren, USA

The Perugia concert at Basilica di San Pietro was very enjoyable. The soprano was especially good. The bass was good. The entire evening was delightful. We sat next to an Australian man and his Italian woman friend, who had been a consultant to Montesorri, headquartered in Perugia. She had been assigned to Australia. We had a very enjoyable conversation. The Basilica sits on a hill at the southwest end of the city. We were able to get to the Autostrata in 10 minutes. However, Perugia is a very complicated place in which to drive.
The Four Seasons concert by Virutuosi di Venezia was extraordinary in both the excellent musicians but also the location: 50 meters to the left side of Duomo di San Marco. The ambience was wonderful.
You may recall that Lucca was on our itinerary. As the birth place of Puccini, not only does it have a very fine Ristorante Puccini adjacent to the square in which is his birth home is located, but every night of the year, including Christmas and New Years, there is a concert of his (and other) music in the church in which he played the organ as a young man. The name of the church escapes me as I write this but it is in the same square as the cathedral. It is no longer consecrated as a church but as a concert hall for Puccini and his music. I strongly recommend that you recommend this to your clients. It makes for a wonderful evening. And the restaurant is excellent.
Our trip was very enjoyable. We drove over 4,000 kilometers. The Autostrata is an excellent road system. It is difficult to select which town was our favorite. Each had its own charm, history, and unique features. Our hotel in Lucca, the Villa Giona near Verona and the Locanda Solarola near Bologna (with its One Star restaurant) were especially pleasant. Florence was very crowded. The tour groups amounted to thousands; and many were from Asia and herded in and out of historical sites and restaurants. We stayed one day and returned to San Gimignano and the solace of the country side. The town of Alba was among our most favorite spots. It was the International White Truffle Festival with its display and ingestion of the wonderful fungus, its Barola and Barbersco and Aneris wines, and the hilarious donkey patio, and over 1000 citizens from the seven neighborhoods all dressed in 15th century costumes that made it so enjoyable. Again, put the festival on your schedule of events.
Wines and food, particularly the fresh and colorful vegetables, were great. And, the people were very hospitable and happy to have the slowly evaporating U.S. dollar-denominated tourist visit.
Thank you for your assistance. We hope to see you again and ask for your assistance.
Paul Flask, USA

Hi Valentina,
The opera and setting were fantastic. Truly, much better than same production at the LA Opera. No comparison. I loved Italy. My favorites were Venice, Sienna and of course, "The David." Thank you. I hope to contacting you sooner rather than later for more Italian travels. Would like to do more of above and also southern Italy. Ciao,
Dana Knickerbocker, USA

The Vatican tour was excellent. Our Guide, Anna, was very well informed/educated in the art and history of the Vatican. We did not end up taking the seven hills tour. We look forward to using your services in our future travels.
Rich and Donna Lauckhart, USA

The best part of our tours without question was the service you gave us. You were kind, gracious, informative and patient with people who had no clue about Italy prior to this trip. We actually missed the Vatican tour because someone purposely gave us wrong directions on which way to go on the subway trains. We were able to find a last minute tour anyway . The most important thing we learned was to contact you much earlier when we plan to go to Italy next time!!
Sheryl and Bill Harper, USA

We had a very wonderful time on the excursions to Siena and San Gimignano. We especially loved the opera concert in the church.
We will certainly utilize your group again if God blesses us with the ability to visit Italy again.
Thank you and happy holidays.
Sharon Duncan, USA

Dear Gina,
Many thanks for reserving the three tickets with senior's discount for us for TRITTICO on May 21.
By the way, I am much impressed with the courtesy and professionalism of Cultural Italy, so do let people know that.
We're all looking forward to May as it will be our first visit to Sicily.
Thanks again,
Eric Rump, Canada

I would like to thank you so much for the tickets which allowed us to see the Last Supper. It was easy to pick up the tickets and the tours were very well organised and ran on time. The painting was amazing and the guide was superb and answered all of our questions.
If we return to Milan we would like to visit the painting again. Highly recommended! Kind Regards,
Keri-Anne Davies, UK

Hi Valentina,
We had a great time in Italy. The Last Supper was fantastic - thanks so much for your help with organising the tickets. The staff were really friendly there and the tour was well worth doing!
Thanks again!
Kind Regards
Irene Barry, Ireland

Dear Valentina,
We had a wonderful visit to Italy.
Our viewing of the Last Supper was particularly memorable , since it was Easter Sunday.
The tour was conducted professionally and my daughter and I learned many things about the work regarding the many hidden examples of symbolism that we had not known.
I appreciate the manner in which we communicated and will definitely refer friends to your service.
By far my favorite part of the trip, next to spending time with my daughter who is studying in Florence this semester, was visiting Venice. I am a musician and we were able to attend a lovely Vivaldi concert. The beauty of Venice is unmatched by anything I have seen previously on my travels. The uniqueness of the canals and of course the gorgeous glass in nearly every shop gives Venice a special flare.
Thanks for your services. Best of luck in your business endeavors.
Fondly,
Jen Rosisnki, USA

Ciao--- yes, we had a great time in Italy. The ony problem was the time limit of two weeks. I could have been two years but I just don'thave that kind of money. The Last Supper was wonderful to see again. I was there 5 years ago and it was still only partially restored so seeing it all with what is left of the vibrant colors was amazing. I have to keep reminding myself that they used real stone's ground into the paint not chemicals as we do today. I wonder how todays paintings will look in a few hundred years. I know that particular wall was a problem from the start but all things considered it is still wonderful to see and appreciate. And the best thing is that the tickets were no problem -- just walk up and get them. I loved not having to be carrying them around for several days. I would be just the person to lose them and not be able to get in at the last minute. Your system works wonderfully well.
Thanks so much.
Betty Swinkels, USA

Hello.
We are back from our trip to Italy and the reservations we made through you were definitely the smart thing to do. There were long lines for every place if one did not have reservations. Thank you for your help.
Allyn Engelstein, USA

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