We are a group of ladies in our sixties and seventies going to Italy in late August. We are wanting to set up local guides for Florence, Siena and Lucca. We also want a private driver to drive us to Siena and Lucca. We would each of these separately. We have a VRBO in Florence and will also want a local guide (for our group only) for one day to show us Florence. Any suggestions for great local guides and private driver with very nice vans?
Posted by
Boston
226 posts
Hi For a private guide, I recommend Anna Piperato Siena Italy Tours. I just returned from Tuscany and she did our tour in Siena. She is so knowledgeable, engaging and personal. Many people on this forum also recommend Anna and I think she was a tour guide for Rick Steve Tours. Enjoy your trip.
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
2115 posts
If expense is no object and convenience is most important then a driver is certainly an option. But just FYI for Siena and Lucca driving has little speed advantage over public transportation which is straightforward and substantially cheaper.
If you want a local guide for Lucca you can't do better than Paola: https://www.paolamoschini.com
Have a great trip!
=Tod
Posted by
OP
10 posts
Thanks for your recommendations!
Posted by
New England
831 posts
Enthusiastically second the recommendations of Anna Piperato and Paola Moschini. Inquire WELL in advance!
I can also recommend Coral of “Curious Appetite” who gave our small group a wonderful food tour in Florence, and Elena Fulceri of “Florence with Flair” who gave me and my friend a lovely private tour of artisan workshops in Florence where we had a chance to observe the craft process and ask questions of the artisans.
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
8523 posts
Another option is Roberto Becchi. https://www.toursbyroberto.com/ He is a Rick Steves local guide, runs his own winery/BnB, and coproducer of an amazing short film, Tuscany beyond Expectation, https://www.amazon.com/Tuscany-Beyond-Expectations-Brian-Gendece/dp/B0G3Y7QX8L