Can anyone tell me about the Scala Reale tours?

I have not had a chance to take any of their tours but their web site and posts on this site have convinced me next time we're in Italy I'll definately try at least one of their tours.<BR>http://www.scalareale.org/index.html

Sam:<BR><BR> If you log on to their website, the information will be there. If you do a search on this site, you'll see many positive reviews. I did several of their tours when I was in Rome in November 2001, and they were all first rate. The guides are very informative. Especially rewarding if you are a fan of history and architecture. In particular, try Liz Lev's tour of the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican, a real must do.

We used them in August 2001 and would use them again if we return to Rome. Their &quot;semi-private&quot; tours are limited to 6 people. The guides we had (Vatican tour and Orientation Hike) were on time, informative and pleasant. Very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about Rome generally as well as their special topics. I wish we'd had time for their Colosseum &amp; ancient Rome tour. Also, I found Scala Reale to be responsive to e-mails and helpful with restaurant suggestions &amp; reservations, and they offered assistance in hooking us up with cultural events we were interested in, including getting our tickets. Their &quot;welcome packet&quot; with general info on Rome, and with our personal itinerary, was waiting for us as promised at our hotel when we arrived in Rome. I highly recommend this outfit. Their site and e-mails should fill in the blanks re: the tour content &amp; style.

We took the Scala Reale tour of the Vatican/Sistine Chapel as well as the Orientation Walk and enjoyed every minute.<BR><BR>The guides are so knowledgeable and friendly, with a good sense of humor. The next time in Rome, we will definitely take another tour with them.<BR><BR>

We used them in 1999 and were very pleased . Knowledgable guides &amp; small tour groups . We did the City walking tour as an intro to Rome and then the Vatican tour...both were perfect for Us !!<BR><BR><BR>Rob

Sam, One more positive review for Scala Reale. We took the Roman Forum tour last year and found it very informative. I particularly liked that the guide did not patronize us; if he didn't know the answer to a specific question, he admitted it, instead of making something up. However, there was very little he did not know! The orientation walk was helpful, probably even for repeat visitors.

Me too, they are excellent. NOt only are their guides knowlegeable and entertaining, but the company is incredibly reliable. Info waiting at my hotel as promised and as mentioned above. When a schedule change on their part was necessary ( shortly after 9/11, I was apparently the only visitor signed up for a particular time slot on a particular day) , they called me at the hotel, faxed a confirmation for me, and were very accommodating in my alternative preference. They also seem to keep their office staffed with a live person well into the evening, to accommmodate late questions or changes.<BR><BR>I took the Orientation Hike which was not at all arduous, just a little rushed because we covered a LOT of territory in two hours. The 4-hour Forum and Colosseum tour was one of the best things I did in Rome. Otherwise the Forum would have looked like a random bunch of broken columns to me.<BR><BR>I only wish I'd used SR for the Vatican, and I WILL next time.

I arranged for a private Scala Reale tour of the Vatican this past Oct. I was concerned because my mother is 81, can get around pretty well, but still the thought of a 4 1/2 hour tour was stressful. I really wanted her to enjoy and appreciate the Vatican without wearing her out. Well, it was an excellent tour. John, out guide was wonderful, knowledgable, and very accomodating with my mother. He made sure we paced ourselves, with plenty time to take breaks along the way. The time flew by and my mother is still raving about the tour. Yes, it was very expensive, but feel it was worth every penny.