I recently returned from a two-week trip to Italy with a group of four adults, visiting Florence, Rome, and the Amalfi Coast. Even though we traveled with a large tour group, we had a lot of free time and I wanted to make the most of our trip. I found Artviva after reading Rick Steves' Italy book. In January, I started working with Lara from Artviva and organized four tours - two in Florence and two on the Amalfi Coast.
These tours were the highlights of our trip! Lara was very kind and knowledgeable, promptly answering all my emails. We enjoyed the small private groups and the opportunity to interact with the guides, which wouldn't have been possible in larger groups. Our pasta-making class in Naples was delightful, and our tour guide Clelia's passion while showing us the ruins of Pompeii was amazing. During our three-hour tour of the Uffizi Gallery, our PhD professor guide brought the Renaissance to life for those in our group who were less interested. I could elaborate at length about each of the four tours we experienced and how truly fantastic each one turned out to be.
Remember that as a Rick Steves reader, you get a 10% discount.