Erika was simply one of the most outstanding guides we have had in recent years. Her knowledge... read more
Erika was simply one of the most outstanding guides we have had in recent years. Her knowledge... read more
Being with Erika Cornali for two days at the Venice Biennale made our trip to Venice. We have been... read more
We had a great personal guide during our stay in Venice with Erika Cornali. She is very knowledgeable about Venetian history and knows the best places to take you to avoid the large touristy crowds while getting to experience the area’s where the residents of Venice live. Additionally, one of the highlights of the tour was a stop by a couple of local artisan shops where they make gondola oars and other unique wooden parts. Erika is extremely fluent in English as well.
My wife and I and two friends were lucky to have Erika Cornali lead us on two wonderful tours in Venice recently. The first was of St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace. The second was of the Rialto markets and the backstreets of the Castello neighborhood. Erika is a wealth of knowledge about Venetian history, art and food, and she is a lovely person to be around. We asked a lot of questions, and she had an answer for every one. We got so much more out of our stay in Venice because of these tours.
Our first trip to Italy 9 years ago we were lucky enough to find Matteo. We have sent emails to Matteo saying we would be back. His tour of the St Marks Basilica as well as many markets and back streets was so informative and fun. After contacting him a few months ago he made arrangements to take us where we wanted to go, not just a standard cookie cutter tour. One thing we did this time was the Secret Itinerary Tour at the Doge Palace. Matteo is very enjoyable to be around and his excitement and knowledge is contagious! His background in archeology is a plus. We will always call on Matteo when in Venice!
We booked Francesca for a whistle stop tour of the Doges Palace and St Mark's Basilica, as we only had one day in Venice. It was a tough challenge to visit both of these places in two hours, and to do it in a way that was interesting for us and our children. Francesca did a fantastic job. Our 9 year old in particular was enthralled, and has been telling the stories of Venice's history to everyone he meets.
Francesca is incredibly knowledgable - we threw her some difficult questions and she always had a thoughtful and well-informed answer. She also has a real ability to adapt her tours to the needs and interests of her group - we really felt that we had an experience tailor-made for us, rather than a 'standard tour'. Highly recommended - we will definitely use Francesca again next time we visit.
If you want to get to discover the hidden gems of Venice, learn the little secrets of the most frequented attractions, or just wander the city with the convivial company of real Venetians, then please do choose to spend your time with Barbara Tasca or Fiona Giusto. My March visit was my third in four months to Venezia. Each trip I spent time separately with Barbara and Fiona (each tour a different itinerary), and in each instance I discovered new wonders (where to find the best coffee & tea, chocolate, gelato, cichetti, local crafts and arts - not to mention where to dine - don't miss the octopus carpaccio at Osteria Mocenigo in San Polo); gained insight into the stories behind the storied wonders of this fabled city; and the hours went like minutes. By sharing their vast knowledge, good taste, and local insight, Barbara and Fiona introduce me to the Venice they love and embrace. And so now do I. Five Stars aren't high enough praise. Thank you my dear friends!
I was fortunate to have Nicoletta as my guide for a tour booked through TipAdvisor and highly recommend her. She was very conscious of her guests' interests and satisfaction, provided exceptional historical information, answered any questions thrown at her and offered terrific local information