Italy--How can I find an academic tour guide?
 

Dear All,

I have traveled with companies like Martin Randall, Andante Travel, & ACE, to Italy and Croatia, benefiting from their lecturers who are academics with expertise in art history or archaeology. This has enhanced my travel experience greatly and I’d love to find someone who could provide something similar for an afternoon or two to me and my husband on future travels in Italy (say in Florence, Rome, Venice, Ravenna, Verona, etc). Paris has something like this with Paris Muse (http://www.parismuse.com/) and at Chartres Cathedral, a gentleman who has published guides to the Cathedral and made a life’s work of studying it offers tours (http://www.artagogo.com/commentary/miller/miller.htm).

Does anyone know of an individual or individuals with academic expertise (as opposed to licensed local guides) who might be willing to act as a guide for museums or other sites of local interest in Venice, Florence, Ravenna, Verona, or any other places of special interest to art and history? If not, do you have any ideas on how to learn of such individuals? Thanks very much. Carol

The Rome tourist board has a list. www.romaturismo.it

Post on the Europe board and you will get more responses. I see many recommendations for certain guides on that board and mention of their backgrounds (art, archaeology,etc.).

Dear Kybourbon,

Thanks very much for this recommendation. I have posted the message on the Europe Forum and have received suggestions and have already checked them out and this is most helpful. Thanks again.

Carol

www.contexttravel.com

You will find them to be highly recommended on this board (as Context Rome,Naples,Florence,etc.)

Another recommendation for Context. We used their Vatican tour; just 6 of us with a guide who was quite informed and made the day memorable.

Curious-
You may have already also tracked down Giulia Bernardini on the Italy board, as she has been recomended there several times. An Italian-American dual national, she is an art history professor at U of Colorado during the academic year and then returns to Italy in the summer. In addition she is an actress, so her tours are both extremely informative and very lively. I know she will travel throughout Italy. Her email is [email protected] . Best of luck!