We had the pleasure of Francesca Caruso’s guiding on our recent trip to Rome in January. Francesca is a native who knows the city very well. She can tailor a guided tour anywhere to your preferences and liking. There is just so much to see in Rome, we were hard pressed to determine how best to use her talents. There were four of us traveling together and we opted for the Vatican, which included the Vatican Museum, St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. We thought this would be a good venue to have a private guide. We are so glad we did! Francesca shed much light on what we were seeing as well as help navigate our way through a maze of corridors, rooms and various sites. Her English is perfect, and her knowledge deep. She is also a delight to be with. I would hire Francesca again in a heartbeat on a return to Rome. I would not hesitate to recommend her highly!
Posted by
Sapulpa, OK, USA
6289 posts
We've had Francesca twice on Rick Steves tours, and she is absolutely amazing. We didn't get her in the Vatican Museum, unfortunately, but we had her at the Borghese and the Colosseum. Outstanding guide, and a delightful person.
Posted by
Beaverton, Oregon, USA
740 posts
Francesca is one of those phenomenal local guides that you get on RS tours.
Posted by
5 posts
What is the cost of having her guide you for a day and how to you contact her?
Thanks!
Posted by
Liverpool UK
440 posts
Thanks for sharing something to bear in mind , always good to have a guide sorted if you can.
Posted by
TN, USA
2114 posts
Agree....we recall how Francesca made ancient Rome come to life for us on our RS Heart of Italy tour several years ago. She is the most incredible guide we have ever experienced in ALL our travels.
Re: how to contact her. Her contact info may still be in Rick's guidebook for Italy. You could check at your local library or call Rick's headquarters in Seattle (if another poster does not have recent contact info for her). Seems I recall there was an email address in my guidebook from years ago. But, contact her quickly, as she does get booked up (due to her being sooo incredible).
"enjoyingtheview" you are kind to share your great experience with her, and I can only add to it that if others hire her, they will NOT be disappointed. She's not only a great guide, but she has a delightful sense of humor.
After our RS Heart of Italy tour, my husband and I commented that we were so glad to have had her guiding, because we sure would have missed so much had we gone on our own.
Posted by
Los Angeles
3 posts
I contacted Francesca three months before our trip to Rome at the end of June, but she was booked. She referred me to her friend Ilaria Ciccarelli, also a native Roman. We found Ilaria to be an excellent guide. She took us through the Vatican one day (4 hours) and the Coliseum and Forum the next day (3 hours). She had all the information we needed. She has a Master's in Art History and was particularly good explaining Michealangelo's paintings, sitting us down in the shade before we entered the museum and showing us a binder full of the paintings and going over them with us. She answered all of our questions and more. Her expertise, pleasant personality, and excellent English made our days there very enlightening, deepening our understanding of the amazing world of Rome. I highly recommend her. Her email is ilariacecc@gmail.com
Posted by
Los Angeles
3 posts
Francesca's email is francescainroma@gmail.com
Posted by
Sapulpa, OK, USA
6289 posts
George J - we had Ilaria in Rome on our recent Best of Europe tour for the Coliseum and Forum. She's very good. Her style is much the same as Francesca's.
Posted by
East Peoria, IL
786 posts
We were fortunate to have Francesca for our morning at the Colosseum and Forum as part of our VFR tour last May.
She made us cry.
Francesca's a closer!