We are a couple in our mid 50s looking for fun an educational small group day tours for Florence, Rome and maybe Venice. I know many say you don"t need tours but we do want them. I am hoping to find tours that are educational but not geared towards academia and fun. I am considering both ArtViva and Walks of Italy and would greatly appreciate any feedback from people who have been on these tours or others that you feel would work for us. Since we are only two people the cost of private tours is not an option for us. Thank you.

I'd say you're better off searching for feedback on these companies rather than waiting for someone who has taken the tours to see this post.

I agree that walking tours or escorted day trips add to the enjoyment.

When people say that you can do a trip on your own they mean a totally escorted bus tour, not supplementing a DIY trip.

I've taken Enjoy Rome and Context walking tours in Rome and can recommend both companies.

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction...e_Tuscany.html
Seems to be pretty highly rated. We did a guided tour of the Campo/Civic center in Sienna and learned so much more than just walking by ourselves. For Uffizi and Academia and Borghese, we used audio guides available on site. That worked well too. If guided tours are what you want, go for it but specify English ( if you don't speak Italian)

Context Travel specializes in small group walking tours, and is very highly rated.

vacationhelp,

I did two tours with Context in Rome, Antica Rome and Arte Vatican. Both were excellent and worth the cost. They limit their tours to just 6 people and it really was more like an informal seminar, but not too academic.

Both went about .5 hour over the planned time, which was fine with everyone. Nice to be able to ask questions and discuss in a small group tour!

Buon viaggio!

We used ArtViva in Florence on our first trip there. Very good experience.