PERSONAL GUIDE IN ROME
Apr 27th, 2007 | 07:11 PM
#2
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,322
Likes: 0
Look no further: The info below is copied from a Fodorite poster, Sandi_Travelnut, who describes Francesca beautifully. I couldn't have said it better myself, and no, I'm not related to her. She's the best!
...our guide Francesca Caruso. I cannot say enough glowing things about Francesca. She’s a 30-ish petite blond who has an American mother and an Italian father. I believe she was born in NY but was raised since infancy in Rome and has been there ever since. She speaks only English to her mom and Italian to her Dad. Her take on the tours was not to spout dates and facts but to get you to really visualize how things truly looked as you walked through the Forum or wherever we happened to be standing at the time. She spoke very eloquently and with great passion and at time I had tears in my eyes. We started our tour in front of the Coliseum where we got our first lesson in how to read the ruins. I cannot repeat everything she said but she did beat into our heads that you think of the buildings back then as white marble but everything was covered in brilliantly colored marble and the statuary was painted with bright colors as well. We traveled up to the top of the Palatine where we spent the better part of an hour discussing the birth of Rome and the history that unfolded there. The views down onto the Forum are worth the price of admission (11e each). We ended up with a slow walk through the forum where she again astounded us with her insight and passion for her city and its history. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a reasonably priced guide. She apparently is Rick Steeve’s right hand girl when it comes to Rome tours. She will guide you through any part of Rome you wish. The tour started at 9:00 and ended just before 1pm and the charge was 145 euro total. Since there were 2 couples, we split the cost. What a deal. Francesca’s info: Email: [email protected]
She'll competently guide you through any site(s) you want to see in Rome.
...our guide Francesca Caruso. I cannot say enough glowing things about Francesca. She’s a 30-ish petite blond who has an American mother and an Italian father. I believe she was born in NY but was raised since infancy in Rome and has been there ever since. She speaks only English to her mom and Italian to her Dad. Her take on the tours was not to spout dates and facts but to get you to really visualize how things truly looked as you walked through the Forum or wherever we happened to be standing at the time. She spoke very eloquently and with great passion and at time I had tears in my eyes. We started our tour in front of the Coliseum where we got our first lesson in how to read the ruins. I cannot repeat everything she said but she did beat into our heads that you think of the buildings back then as white marble but everything was covered in brilliantly colored marble and the statuary was painted with bright colors as well. We traveled up to the top of the Palatine where we spent the better part of an hour discussing the birth of Rome and the history that unfolded there. The views down onto the Forum are worth the price of admission (11e each). We ended up with a slow walk through the forum where she again astounded us with her insight and passion for her city and its history. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a reasonably priced guide. She apparently is Rick Steeve’s right hand girl when it comes to Rome tours. She will guide you through any part of Rome you wish. The tour started at 9:00 and ended just before 1pm and the charge was 145 euro total. Since there were 2 couples, we split the cost. What a deal. Francesca’s info: Email: [email protected]
She'll competently guide you through any site(s) you want to see in Rome.
Apr 29th, 2007 | 05:16 PM
#4
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,322
Likes: 0
She exudes charmissimo 
Our group of 10 women toured the Colluseum with her in April 2005. Francesca went out of her way to accommodate one of our group who had some mobility issues. She was knowledgeable and totally delightful, in stark contrast to our luck-of-the-draw Vatican guide the previous day who was obviously just going through the motions. I can recommend her without reservation.
Please tell her the group of 10 women from San Francisco says hello and we're still waiting for her to visit us!
Our group of 10 women toured the Colluseum with her in April 2005. Francesca went out of her way to accommodate one of our group who had some mobility issues. She was knowledgeable and totally delightful, in stark contrast to our luck-of-the-draw Vatican guide the previous day who was obviously just going through the motions. I can recommend her without reservation.
Please tell her the group of 10 women from San Francisco says hello and we're still waiting for her to visit us!
Apr 29th, 2007 | 06:03 PM
#5
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Contact Sonia at [email protected] Family of four from Texas last summer- had forum tour and Vatican tour with her . Excellent. She works with one of the very reputable agencies.
Francesa was booked and refeered us to Sonia.
Francesa was booked and refeered us to Sonia.
