How & where to verify the license and credentials of a private Tour Guide in Venice Italy.

I would not worry. A licensed guide can enter sites (Palazzo Ducale, ie) and show you around with out having to pay entry fees. They show their license on entry, (you, on the other hand, do have to pay the entrance fees, but you may skip the line) and can explain the exhibits. If they can't do that, they don't have a license.

One of my favorite guides, Alessandro Schezzini, who does his highly rated Chicchetti tour, is not a licensed guide. So his tours don't include any sites requiring admission fees.

Your hotel recommended your guide. Why question it? Why would they lie to you?

What is your concern? I have never checked the license of any guide we have hired over the past 30 years. So I may be missing something.

I guess my concern is not to wasted my time or money on a person that really doesn’t know what they’re talking about or charging me more to give a kick back to the hotel.

If I hire a plumber, cater or mechanic I check their references and their reviews, so why won’t I check up on a tour guide?

Hello Bruce,

Luisella Romeo is a licensed guide in Venice. Look up her site at seevenice.it. I have two tours scheduled with her in Venice next June. Very professional, prompt reply, excellent reviews on tripadvisor.
Good luck and have a great time.

Licensed guides must sit for exams in their area of expertise. The license is not easy to get. The local TI office usually has lists of licensed guides.

Unlicensed guides are subject to fines.

We used toursbylocals.com last year for the first time and it was very good. It wasn't in Venice, however. If you check their website for Venice, it will show the guides along with a short bio and their credentials. Perhaps your guide is included? Or, you may find other alternatives. I spoke at length with the office folks ( I think they are in Vancouver? ) before contacting our guide. I too like to know what to expect before I send sums of money over the Internet to someone I never met. Good luck and safe travels.

Did you google her name? That is where I would start and maybe just email her and ask her for her credentials? No harm in that. When I did the Walks of Italy Tours all the guides where very verbal about being licensed and the test they passed, which gave them credibility and they were able to all of our questions. One of our guides even worked on a restoration project at the Vatican.

One thing to consider is that not only authorized guides have to pass a state exam in order to be allowed to work, but also that most of them are archaeologists, art critics, curators. The recession has hit them especially hard, so they handle two or three jobs, which often includes being a tour guide.

I have only taken a few guided tours, and learned something new every time (and I was an undergrad history major)!

Regardless of what you decide, I hope you have a great time!

I thought it was the law in Italy that guides had to be licensed and wear their credentials in a visible manner.
As someone above mentioned, people serving as guides who haven't passed the exams can be fined.

Thank you all, for your assistance.

I was able to find what I needed.
I contacted the Licensing Department at Citta Metropolitana di Venezia.
www.cittametropolitana.ve.it

Below is the link and steps to find Licensed Tour Guides.
www.turismo.provincia.venezia.it

On their home page, click on “Area Operatori” (left side of page, midway)
A new page comes up, Type “elenco guide turistiche” in the Cerca box. Then press Cerca next to the box.
A new page comes up, mid page click on ““Elenco Guide Turistiche” a.k.a “Tour Guide List”
The “Ricera Guide Turistiche” a.k.a. “Reach Tour Guide” box comes up.
Search by Name “Nome” or language “Lingua”, Type “Englese” for “English”.
I suggest using first or last name to search by, not both, the search was quicker.

Just so you know, I inquired about both tour guides I was looking at hiring and the official wrote back with very short response to each.
The first Tour Guide that the hotel recommends, had her license revoke. No reason was given.
The second guide, is in good standing.

I did some further research of the second guide, and everyone gives her 5 stars with the exception of two reviews that gave her 4 stars.

For those who gave recommendation for Tour Guides, I thank you and I will look them up.

Thank you and Happy New Year!

Bruce