Stumbled upon this site (see below) & although it pertains to Le Marche, I'm willing to bet each region has something quite similar. The attached PDF explains what constitutes a half-day tour vs full-day in terms of minimum hours and cost. Also, explains that there is a 30 euro surcharge for a tour done in another language other than Italian. It is published under the heading of "Tourism Profession Rates Communicated by Trade Association for the Year 2025 provided for by article 54 of Regional law.
Posted by
Vignola, Modena, Italy
602 posts
The Regional laws about Touristic Guides have been updated by the new Italian Law about that profession: Law 190 dated 13/12/2023 . The official link here: https://www.ministeroturismo.gov.it/professioni-turistiche/guida-turistica/
Guides are freelance professionals, so there aren't fixed rates and each guide can decide his/her own rate.
Anyway, the link you posted is not a Regional Law of Le Marche, but the rates decided by some of the local guide associations (Federagit and others). The Region simply make public the rates decided by that associations, but doesn't means that are official/legal rates applied by all guides in le Marche.
As rates for example in Emilia Romagna you could expect a similar cost (around 170/200€ for an HD and 320/380€ for a FD), but if you are in very touristic cities like Rome or Florence rates are much higher.
Posted by
OP
New Jersey
241 posts
Thanks so much for the education, Ricky. I really didn't know what to make of the posting just thought it was interesting as I had never come across anything like it.
I know (or I think I know) that guides in Italy are highly educated in their field of expertise/knowledge and have to pass a challenging test. I've always been so impressed by the guides we've hired and come away feeling like a very limited American. It is embarrassing to admit that on occasion the guides even knew more about my own country's art, literature and culture than I did!
Posted by
Vignola, Modena, Italy
602 posts
At legal level Tour Guides before the National Law where recognized only by Regional Laws (20 Italian Regions, and 20 different laws! Immagine how confusing was), but in general there is (was) an exam about history, art and culture (and at least one foreign language) to be sustained to become a guide. On top of that each one starts to be specialized on topics or areas. Of course more serious is a guide, more prepared about a topic he/she is, means that you continue to study to improve your knowledge.
Even know a little of the history and culture of the other countries is important, because you can make cross references that improve the engagement and appreciation for a place.
About prices for tours they could be very different and in general very few guide associations create public rates. Is the reason why is difficult find them online. The ones in the link are usually followed for Italian groups, like cultural associations or schools, who do daily tours and respect a certain timetable. Like i.e. arriving in a city at 9:30, do a standard visit and be free at 12:00 for lunch (HD tour). Or maybe adding in the afternoon a second branch of the tour between 15:00 and 17:30 (FD tour).
Foreign tourists and individuals often follow completely different timetables, so customized rates.
For example I do often food tours bringing the full day tourists to visit producers who make cheese, Traditional Balsamic and other stuffs. Means leave the hotel at 8:00am and being back at 18:00: if I apply the rates on that table I should ask twice the FD plus the foreign language surcharge. A total of 640€ only for the guide! And to me: if you book through a Tour Agent will be even higher! Should be nice work for that amount, but I don't know how many tourists can afford it! Because is not included the transport, the tastings and tickets!