Sienna

Owner of Italy Hotline Custom and Gourmet Tours, Sienna first fell in love with Italy as a little girl. Because of her name, people talked to her about Italy. She loved to make drawings of Italian palaces and fountains and dreamed of visiting one day. On a three-week visit to Italy with her husband and son in 1998, she fell in love with the country and within four months, they moved to Italy. Since then, Sienna has lived the expat dream, immersing herself in the history, art, food and wine of Italy, traveling throughout the country seeking the best of Italy. Her lifelong love of Italian Food and Wine Traditions has led her to incorporate the culinary aspect of Italy in her tours, bringing Italy alive through its history, art, and architecture as well as its culinary traditions. Sienna believes there is a Secret Door to Italy of authenticity to open for each person and the key to travel is to have a friend in Italy to guide one through it. She wholeheartedly believes that private tours are the best way to travel to minimize harmful impact on the places being visited. Sienna prizes her relationships with providers of private tours, cooking classes, wine tours and chauffeurs throughout Italy. She loves working with the best!

Ally

Ally is the office manager for Italy Hotline and handles bookings. She was born in Russia and her family moved to Austria when she was just 3 years old. She grew up in Vienna where she loved to attend grand balls, visit galleries and take long walks with her camera. In Vienna she developed a love for languages, travel and art. After graduating from Vienna International School, Ally attended St. Andrews University in Scotland; she studied Art History and Theology and received a First Class M.A. in those subjects. She first fell in love with Rome when she visited for a week during her final semester of college. After graduation she worked for Bonhams Auction House and the Ernst Hilger Gallery in Vienna, before spontaneously deciding that English, Russian, German were just not enough languages to have mastered. She decided to throw herself into studying Italian, and signed up for a three-week language class in Rome. After a month in the Eternal City she permantently moved here, and has been dedicating herself to the continuous immersion in art and history ever since. Ally loves photography, great food & wine, and thinks that Rome is "magical".

Michael

A Chicagoan by birth, Michael Karris grew up in Indiana, where his decision to take the “useless” subject of Latin led him to a life-long interest in all things Italian. He has been residing in Italy for over 30 years now—in Bologna, Sardinia, Perugia, Naples and now Rome. His life long passion is teaching about Italian history from the ancient to the present. He loves accompanying visitors who crave to learn more about the history and heritage of Rome through the ages and enjoys the stimulating questions which come out of the visitors’ varied backgrounds. A teacher of Humanities courses including Roman history, archaeology and Italian art history classes, he has also developed a Cultural Tourism programs. He took up scuba diving to do underwater archeological investigations in the Bay of Naples. He is also one of the founders of the International Archaeological Society of Naples. A professor in Rome at the University of Fine Arts, he is also Director of the Anglo-American Language & Culture Institute and lectures at the Università Popolare di Roma. His educational background includes a B.A. in Italian and Literature at Indiana University, and a M.A. in Italian Studies from the University of California at Los Angeles.

Other professional experience includes a Fulbright Junior Lectureship, Information Agency English Teacher Training Fellowship in Eastern Europe for the Society of Bulgarian Scholars, and Director of Studies at the American Studies Center in Naples.

Daniela

Daniela was born and raised in Rome, where her passion for languages, art history and the history of Rome have guided her focus in life. The thing that most impresses Daniela about Rome is how each and every stone, column, and art work was part of the hustle and bustle of everyday life in another time. She earned her degree in tourism at the Christopher Columbus Tourism School of Rome, studied languages at Rome’s La Sapienza University, and took language courses abroad in England, France and Germany. Daniela followed the difficult official course studies for the history of Rome and Lazio, earning her Tourist Guide license in English and French in 1992 and has worked happily since then in Rome, Greece, Spain and Morocco. She loves to travel the world, meet new people and learn about other cultures.

Daniela’s favorite sites in Rome are endless, but she especially loves The Galleria Borghese with its superb wealth of Baroque art and its palatial interior that so clearly speaks of the parties and feasts of the past. Having two children herself, Daniela likes to give tours to young people and goes out of her way to make tours special for people of all ages.

Anthony

Born in Montreal, Anthony Majanlahti has lived in Rome for many years, making this city his main focus in his writings and publications. He is a reknowned author and is hired continually for his expertise regarding everything Roman. He revels in bringing history to life in a thoroughly entertaining way, including the most fascinating facts along with scandal and passion. His masterpiece of fascinating Rome history, The Families who Made Rome: A History and a Guide is a must read to understand the fascinating ins and outs, successes and failures of the Noble families who literally constructed Rome. Majanlahti is an expert on everything Roman; including Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Modern and Fascist eras. Anthony has connections like no one else in Rome and is the perfect person to get into amazing places that few people can ever see. We are pleased to be offering an exclusive array of Secret Door to Italy itineraries with Anthony. He is currently working on a book about Rome during the German occupation of World War II. We highly recommend reading his book The Families That Made Rome.

Ettore

Gourmand, wine enthusiast and certified Sommelier, Ettore, was born into a culture of food and wine from an early age. He is a native of the town of Genzano, an area known throughout Italy for its delicious yet rustic kitchen, frequented by every Roman at one point or another. He spends his time searching for hidden enogastromic, historic and cultural treasures in the countryside of Lazio, Umbria, Tuscany and Rome. Educated in a classics program, from an early age was exposed to classical history, mythology, and philosophy, which gave birth to his lifelong interest in pre-Roman Italy and archeology. He is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Archeology. While living in California for two years, he spent his free time studying the wine and food he missed in Italy. Passionate about local food and wine traditions and their historical significance, he is a certified Sommelier since 2009 through A.I.S. His future plans include completing the Master of Wine. Ettore is passionate about sharing the true treasures of his country; its food, wine and culture, with people from all over the world. He also has a great sense of humor and makes every day a wonderful one.

Silvia

Silvia is a Roman native who graduated from La Sapienza University with a degree in Foreign Languages and Literature in 1999. She has worked in the travel industry for 15 years, both in the back office as incoming travel expert for Rome and Italy and in the front line as travel escort and tour guide. She has been passionate about her hometown of Rome since childhood, exploring the city with her architect uncle, discovering every hidden corner, and learning about the city’s history from ancient times to the present. After studying art, history and archeology she earned her official tour guide license and now greatly enjoys helping visitors discover the beauty and the secrets of Rome, and stimulating the desire to come back as soon as possible! Silvia's favorite site in Rome is San Clemente for its blend of pagan and Christian sites and its intriguing history. Her hobbies are cooking, choir singing and yoga. She recommends a day outside of Rome with a visit to Ostia Antica, one of her favorite places for its calm natural beauty and wealth of historic interest. Silvia also recommends her scooter tours of Rome for an exciting way to experience the city as the Romans do!

Francesca

Born and raised in Rome by a Neapolitan dad and a London mum, Francesca became interested in cooking as a child and was in charge of the weekly pasta sauce (with 8 at home there was a lot of food to make!). Increasingly interested in cooking she bought endless amounts of cooking magazines. She moved to London at 26, and felt like Alice in Wonderland with herbs and ingredients she would not have found in Rome widening her culinary horizons. She then took off to Sydney to study at the Culinary Academy Le Cordon Bleu. When she returned to Rome she began her gastronomy and market tours, private catering and cooking lessons. She caters private meals for 1-200 people. She loves Italian regional food from typical Roman and Lazio dishes like supplì, rice stuffed tomatoes, lamb with egg and parsley sauce to classic Tuscan, Neapolitan, Sicilian, Ligurian, Piedmontese and other regions. She specializes in hand made pasta from ravioli to tortellini, and lasagne. Dessert making is also a passion- from simple to complex desserts including gelato and tiramisu. She loves the wealth of fresh vegetables the Italian market offers. Vegetarian, Kosher and special dietary requirements are easily arranged. Just specify what your needs are and the lesson will be tailor-made to you.

Special interests such as fresh pasta and sauces, pizza making, bread and baking, antipasti, desserts or a complete meal can be taught in one lesson. Her favorite restaurants in Rome are La Fucina for pizza, Il Pagliaccio and Doney. Francesca started singing in a choir at the age of 3 so you might even learn an Italian song while you cook!

Fabio

Fabio is originally from Rome and spent some years living in California. Fabio has enjoyed the last ten years working as a licensed guide managing Roman Art History and history tours for English- and German-speakers. He loves to transmit his passion for Roman art—from ancient to contemporary—and takes great pride in being attentive and understanding of cultural differences and needs.

His diploma is in Art History from La Sapienza University with a Master’s degree in Semiotics of Contemporary Art focusing on art history, iconography, aesthetics, philosophy, art criticism and art literature. He has delved into the symbols and the political issues that underline the Renaissance and Baroque artworks of Rome. Fabio is also a writer of reviews and critiques on contemporary artists and art exhibitions in Rome. Lately he’s begun curating shows for contemporary artists exhibiting their works in Rome. For critiques in Italian you can see his work at http://www.artapartofculture.net/author/fabio-pinelli.



Before giving private tours, Fabio was an art restorer for several years and has a certificate in decorative wall-paintings restoration. As part of these studies he was fortunate enough to work in Paestum, Campagna on the restoration of the ancient Temple of Ceres. He also worked on the restoration of 3rd- and 4th-century fresco paintings under the church of SS John and Paul on the Caelian Hill in Rome. Fabio’s favorite place on earth is in Rome: the Capitoline Museums!

Terence

Terence gives tours and lectures for private groups on art, architecture, gardens and all matters cultural in London and many European cities. English, though of Mediterranean background, he was educated at the universities of Oxford, Paris and Vienna, and became one of the youngest lecturers in Latin and the history of art at Oxford. He subsequently worked at Christie’s in London as art director of Old Master Paintings. For the last few years he has worked as an independent art consultant, advising private clients and museums on art acquisition, sales and investment.

He has for many years given art tours and lectures for various cultural tour organizations throughout Europe and beyond, including India, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Morocco, and the United States. Terence is known for his deep, wide-ranging knowledge of art, his relaxed manner, and his ability to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds. He also has a wicked sense of humor! He has given many private tours of art exhibitions in London museums for ambassadors, scholars and other art and history lovers.

Terence has produced books, exhibition catalogues and articles for many leading national and international newspapers and magazines including The Art Newspaper, Vogue, Homme, Condé Nast Traveler, Taj Hotels Magazine, The Times, and The Financial Times.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth has been reporting from Rome on all things delicious, beautiful and interesting for the last 15 years. Food, art, design and culture are her passions. She started out life as an academic, working on her dissertation on sixteenth-century garden architecture in Florence. During a break from working in the Medici archives, she met Domenico, an Italian architect and decided to stay in Rome and soon had a husband, babies, dogs and a brand new career writing for magazines like Architectural Digest and Bon Appetit. She has written six gorgeous big coffee table books on Italy including Italian Rustic.

Elizabeth lives in Rome and has a beautiful country house in Umbria. She is constantly involved with Italian food, concentrating particularly on Roman cooking, restaurants and markets and where to find the best of everything in general. Because of her long connection to Rome, she has an impressive amount of priceless connections to food and wine producers of all levels.

Knowing just about everything about Rome and its culinary assets, she is sure to have the answer to any question you might have, or to research until she has found it. On her blog she writes many reviews for restaurants, as well as recipes for Italian food and cocktails. She loves to travel, shop, cook, and make cocktails.

Concetta

Born in Rome from an English artist mother, Concetta graduated from the Roman Academy of Fine Arts and has worked as an illustration artist and art instructor for many years. As conservation is a major concerns of hers, she has a preference for illustrating Nature working with WWF Italy, children’s magazines on Nature and commissions from the Forestry, the Lazio Parks Agency, National and Regional Parks, Natural History Museums and nature sanctuaries. Concetta has created illustrations for display boards, calendars, books and other artwork related to educational initiatives. Her illustration of the State Forestry’s official 2008 Calendar has won great success. A member of the Italian Society of Nature Art, Ars et Natura, and part of a group of nature artists involved in conservation in both Britain and Italy, Concetta loves to organize outings for painting wildlife in its own habitat. She mainly uses watercolour, but she also paints in oils and mixed media. She speaks fluent english, and has been teaching drawing to individuals and small groups giving special attention to the individual level of comprehension. Some of Concetta's favorite places to work are in the city of Rome with its endless number of evocative sites. She has found many places to paint nature within the city and at beautiful nearby historic towns, gardens, parks and at the seaside around Rome.

She lives in Rome, with her husband who is an artist himself, and their dog. You can see more of Concetta's work on her blog.

Sham

Sham is an Anglo-Italian professional photographer. He met his partner Marzia Messina in 2002 in Rome where they begin a full-time collaboration creating the Marshamstreet agency under which they shoot fashion and advertising campaigns. Among their clients are: Bulgari, Pucci, and Medusa films. Contemporarily he develops his personal projects where his traditional photography is reinforced with Marzia's digital imaging. Their fine art work is represented by Wave Photogallery in Brescia – Italy in collaboration with Zoom Magazine where he has been featured many times. He runs Backspace, a photographic studio in Rome, an event space for exhibits, presentations, courses and conferences. He has received great acclaim for his photographic and editorial project 365 Days. Sham loves working with Rome and Italy as a setting and combines art and fashion with famous and obscure sites to make an impact. He is known for his special use of lighting to create subtly dramatic effects. Both portraiture and outdoor photography are passions and he loves to find the unusual angle, to capture an image in a famous place that has not been seen before.

Shown throughout Italy, as well as in France, Slovenia, Japan, he has won several awards such as the Cono d'Oro for magazine advertising, the Saatchi & Saatchi for the Dash Proctor and Gamble ad and the ADCI Italy.

Spike

Spike is the owner of Sienna and her family. He adopted us over ten years ago when he was in residence in central Rome’s Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary. A wild kitten abandoned with his little brother, he was rescued by a Roman woman who brought him to the sanctuary. When we met him he was tiny, with enormous ears and a back leg that did not work. He told us to bring him to our home so we did and that started a long and wonderful relationship as a family. Spike helps us run Italy Hotline and is always there to keep us company as we answer our clients’ emails and arrange their private tours. “Un vero gatto Romano” as they say—“a true Roman cat”—he brings joy and fascination to all who meet him! The cat sanctuary he left behind is found within the ruins of the ancient Theater of Pompey. It is a wonderful place to visit if you like cats; you can even adopt a cat there to take home with you, or help support abandoned cats and the volunteers that take good care of them. (They sterilize, vaccinate and feed all of their cats.) You can find out more about the sanctuary at their website: http://www.romancats.com/index_eng.php

Lisa

Lisa is a first generation Italian-American born and raised in New York. Wanting to explore her roots, she began studying Italian in college and decided to spend a semester in Florence. It was truly love at first sight and she was hooked. After graduating she continued to study the language and returned often to Florence. After a few years she decided it was time to finally do what she had been longing to do since her junior year, move to Italy. Once here, her goal was to learn as much as she could about her beloved adoptive city. Her love for learning and curious nature lead her to pursue a career as a tour guide. Enchanted by the Chianti countryside and its famed wine, she went on to receive her certification as a sommelier. Lisa continues to be intrigued by Florence's art, history and culture on a daily basis and considers herself a "lifetime student". She spends her free time visiting the lesser known gems of Florence, taking long walks in the countryside and exploring Renaissance gardens. She considers herself very fortunate to be able to share her knowledge and passion of the place she now calls "home".

Ilaria

Chef Ilaria, a passionate, fun, chef and food-lover is excited to introduce travelers to the world of Tuscan and Florentine cooking, and eager to share her culinary tricks and secrets! Ilaria was interested in cuisine from a very early age, and remembers spending hours in her granny’s kitchen as a child, watching her cook and helping her out. What began as a hobby became her life when Ilaria decided to attend first a wine tasting course on her way to becoming a sommelier, and finally Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris from which she graduated with a Grand Diplome in Cuisine et Patisserie, in other words, cooking and pastry making. Ilaria likes traditional Tuscan cooking, but also enjoys giving “fresh spins” on old favourites. She was taught by Michelin Star winners, has worked in five of the finest restaurants in Florence, and is now offering private cooking classes for us in her beautiful home in the heart of Florence.

Lise

Lise loves helping people discover and understand Florence’s abundance of history, art, architecture, food and wine. From Chicago, Lise came to Florence on a scholarship to study printmaking, then finished her MFA from the University of Washington. Driven by her love of Italy she returned to make the Florence her home. A licensed guide since 1995, she also teaches art history in private and public schools. She is co-author of Italianissimo, a charming book on “quintessential Italian things”, highly recommended for those who want to understand more about Italy's cultural secrets. Lise’s knowledge of Florence, its art, history, artisans and hidden treasures make her one of the city’s top private guides. Lise teaches art, cooking, and country skills at her farmhouse in the Mugello valley and enjoys making the “living classroom of the Renaissance” and the nuances of Italian culture come alive for travelers of all ages. Knowledge of food and wine and specialties of the region, as well as connections with artisan crafts and food producers are one of her specialties.

Lise has worked as a teacher, coordinator and museum lecturer for many groups coming to Italy, including the Humanities Institute, Dickens Destinations, Wilderness Travel, Classic Journeys, Backroads, Country Walkers, The School of Visual Arts, Montessori, and countless other school groups. We highly recommend Lise's book: Italianissimo: The Quintessential Guide to What Italians Do Best and The Civilized Shopper's Guide to Florence which she researched.

Michaele

Michaele was just six years old when his parents brought him to Florence, and it was love at first sight! This passion endured as he studied, worked and traveled the world until he was finally able to make Florence his home. Wherever he has been, the attraction of Florence has drawn him back, time after time, like a magnet whose force he is powerless to resist. With each visit, the city unfolded more of its treasures to discover and explore, from its scenic beauty and notable architecture to its wonderful diversity of churches and museums. Michaele's favorite tours in Florence are those that delve into the genius of the great Renaissance artists such as Botticelli, Michelangelo, Brunelleschi and Leonardo, tours of handicraft workshops that take advantage of his contacts with goldsmiths, leather working, sculpture and fresco artists. Michaele has made it his passion to learn more of Florence’s fascinating history and research the delicious food and wine specialties of Tuscany. He truly enjoys helping curious and discerning visitors discover and share in Tuscany’s riches, secrets and wonders. A guide in Italy since 1996, Michaele has the tour guide license for Florence. He also enjoys parachuting, mountain climbing and rescue, diving, skiing, world travel, architecture, art, history, gardening and speleology.

Antonella

Antonella was born in Sardinia and grew up there until she moved to Milan to earn a degree in foreign languages and English, Spanish and Portuguese literature. She then moved to California, where she learned about the United States and perfected her English. Coming back from the US, she visited and fell in love with Tuscany, made it her home and became a licensed tour guide for the Siena region of Tuscany. Antonella developed an intense passion for the wine, food, history and local traditions of Tuscany. She became a sommelier and has made priceless contacts with wine producers in the area, which allows her to bring clients into private vineyards for an experience few people are privileged to enjoy. She lives in the charming Tuscan town of Montisi with her husband, a noted wine-making consultant, and their dog Kiu. Antonella can create specialized itineraries in Siena and Tuscany, wine tastings, culinary tours, and visits to historic sites of all kinds as well as ceramics workshops and shopping areas. She has a great passion for what she does and loves to share the Tuscany she knows so well.

Riccardo

Born in Florence in the last millennium , Riccardo always say that he is a blend of cultures because his mother is German and his father was Greek . He speaks English , Italian, German, French and a little Spanish. After a long experience as dental mechanic he decided that he needed a bit of fresh air, so to speak, and began working as a chauffeur-guide 16 years ago. He first worked with his father and then after 3 years loved it so much he started his own company.

He loves meeting people from other countries and showing them the amazing sites of Florence, Tuscany and Italy. Because of his excellent service he is also proud to provide chauffeur services for the main soccer team of Florence. His greatest pride comes from having made a lot of people fall in love with Florence and Tuscany over the years, taking them to the best places so that they can discover first hand the beauty, culture, food and wine of Italy. His philosophy- that his clients are his guests and that they must take back home an unforgettable and perfect memory of the what they discovered with his help.

Pamela

Pamela lives with her family in a beautiful historic villa on their 15-acre organic farm near Montepulciano in Tuscany, an area famous for its great wine, olive oil and pecorino cheese. She originally trained as a chef in Los Angeles with noted chef Joaquim Splichal and over the last 20 years has enjoyed a freelance career as a culinary teacher, food stylist and food writer. She has published 15 cookbooks and has a new one coming out in 2011 called Tuscan Peasant Cooking. Pamela’s offerings include cooking classes in her home, day trips in Tuscany and Umbria, weeklong culinary programs and trips exploring the back roads of Italian food and wine culture in several regions of Italy including Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Campagna and Piemonte. Custom designed cooking classes and itineraries are her specialty and she has wonderful contacts with small local producers to bring her guests in touch with the real Italy in every region. Pamela is involved with production herself and has an active oliveto with 1,250 olive trees and a garden that provides fresh, seasonal organic produce- thus when you cook with her you get a sense of the connection between the cook and the land. She has beautiful horses on her property as well! Pamela's favorite restaurants in Tuscany: La Grotta- Montepulciano, Latte di Luna-Pienze, Mondo X-Cetona.

In her area she loves the Etruscan sites and museums and local artisan and ceramics shops. Pamela's hobbies are weaving, exploring dirt roads to nowhere in the Tuscan countryside and visiting the magical thermal baths of Tuscany.

Calogero

Passionate about both art and archeology, Calogero is a native Sicilian who successfully transplanted to Naples over 20 years ago as a university student. With a degree in Archeology and a background in English, French, Japanese and Chinese languages, he loves to root out the commonalities across peoples and historical periods. His background includes both European and Oriental archeology as well as Greek and Roman art and architecture. A lover of the past but firmly in the present he follows contemporary art, particularly photography and installation work. He loves the layers upon layers of history to be found in the labyrinth that is Naples, its roots going back thousands of years to the Greek colonists who first settled it. He enjoys showing clients the beauty of the city, allowing them to benefit from his decades of careful exploration that bring out Naples’ colorful history and vibrant people, its earthy Aglianico wines and its complex yet home-style cuisine.

Mariateresa

Mariateresa comes from a Sorrentine family who regard and hold dear the traditions of the kitchen as an art form. She has lived for twenty two years with her family in Naples and her love for good food has driven her to know the best of this lively and exciting city. Maria Teresa wants you to feel like a guest of the city of Naples and to leave feeling like you have found a wonderful friend, and discovered her city's secrets. She transfers her passion about the Naples culinary world; from the ingredients found in the markets and the best Neapolitan recipes to the strong artisan traditions to be found in pizza making, pastries, coffee and bread making. She has used her excellent research and connections to create a wonderful food tour of the city allowing you to discover its best, as the guest of a Neapolitan. She also offers a personal view into Neapolitan cooking with a private lesson in her Naples home, found in an ancient castle in the historic center. Her focus: the discovery of "Napoletanita'"!

Luciana

Luciana, coming from a family of cooks, provides lessons in the traditional regional cooking of Sorrento using the rich variety of local products of this beautiful coast. The Homeric land of the Sirens, it extends itself into the sea, bordered by the "Lattari Mountains" creating a stunning setting. This area has an ideal mild and moderate climate, creating lush foliage and great local produce, since the ancient Greeks arrived in this area and introduced terrace-cultivation of grape vines and olive trees. Today the region is also known for its beautiful citrus trees that thrive in the seaside climate, green and vibrant, dotted with beautiful yellow lemons and oranges contrasting with Mediterranean blue sea.

Luciana's kitchen is opened up to you in her home of great beauty, an aristocratic villa near the seaside and the famous Hotel Cocumella in Sant'Agnello di Sorrento. The setting, complete with a large private garden, statues and gorgeous dining room has been featured in architectural magazines and feels like one walked into paradise. She makes her own wine and liqueurs and will share her secrets with you. Examples of other dishes you will learn to make are Gnocchi and Lasagna alla Sorrentina, Eggplant Parmesan, and Lemon Tart with Sorrento lemons.

Sara

Sara is an art historian who graduated from the Ca Foscari University of Venice. The delightful and insightful Sara is a licensed sommelier and expert on cuisine of the Veneto area and all things Venetian. With Sara you'll learn about bustling markets, great street food, and historical secrets that will leave you wanting more. Sara can arrange anything from a cooking lesson in a palazzo based on the aphrodisiacs Casanova used to seduce his conquests, take you on a whirlwind giro of the ancient wine bars known as bacari with their local wines and cichetti, or provide you with a wine tasting in an historic palace on the Grand Canal. In 2004 Sara was hired by the BBC to develop a section of the TV programme 'Journeys from the Centre of the Earth', about the Salt Trade and Spice Routes of the Mediterranean. On one of her well informed and delightful walks, you’ll gain insight into the sweep Venetian history, while at the same time learning some curiously fascinating food facts of the area. Sara Cossiga is a passionate advocate of Venetian cookery, and runs gourmet walking tours of the city that explore the way in which the city's history has shaped its culinary landscape. Learn about the influence of the turks in Venice, fish and fishermen in Venetian history, and food in Venetian art or take a tour of the lagoon to see its fascinating islands and artistic treasures.

Sara also organizes tours of the Veneto region featuring the Prosecco growing region and DOCG and Grand Cru wine tours, special mountain cheeses, and the Palladio Villas.

Elizabetta

Elisabetta lives in Venice and is thoroughly immersed in the culture of this exciting city. She is a licensed tour leader in the Veneto region and for over 11 years has been informing and entertaining visitors about the sights, culture and tradition of Venice, the Veneto region and Italy. She loves to organize tours in the magical area around Venice as well, such as the Islands of the Venice Lagoon, Padova, Verona, Vicenza, the Palladio, Lake Garda, and the Dolomite mountains. Chauffeured tours through the Veneto countryside hold many surprises that few people see. A member of the Slow Food movement in Italy, Elisabetta loves taking her guests to small artisan wine and local food producers so that she can share the amazing specialties of the region.

She loves working with visitors of all ages, and can gear any tour towards the special needs or interests of her guests from families to corporate tours. Her interests include art, architecture, the Middle Ages, garden history & design, skiing and trekking in the Dolomite Mountains, discovering new restaurants and delving into the culinary and wine traditions of the Veneto region and Italy, going rowing in the lagoon and taking an "ombra" in the baccari (traditional wine bars of Venice).

Her favorite day trip from the Venice is to Treviso to visit the daily market. Favorite tours to give in Venice: The lagoon and visit to the islands in a private boat, The Hidden Treasures of Venice to discover the legends and ancient customs of the Venetians.

Marika

Marika shares with you the pleasure of authentic Venetian cooking as well as modern and dynamic Italian cuisine. At her palazzo in Venice she provides cooking lessons and caters events with passion and creativity. Marika's love of good food has been guided and inspired by her grandmothers, and by her parents. Together they delighted in passing whole days preparing sumptuous dinners for the family and the numerous friends and guests that frequented their home. Talent, creativity and a natural disposition in the art of entertaining found an answer in 1998 when Marika met Yolanda Garretti and Viola Buitoni who employed her in their Catering store in New York, where she also graduated from the Institute of Culinary Education. Marika then worked at Chantarelle, where she learnt techniques and secrets from the famous chef David Waltuck. She founded her own catering company of international fame. She has catered for Ferragamo, Giorgio Armani and Martha Stewart. Articles and reviews of her cooking have been featured in the New York Times, The New York Magazine, New York Weddings, Food and Wine Annual Book 2004 and the latest Bon Appetit Book.

Paola

Paula, a native Umbrian, is a creator of local cuisine beyond parallel. She is a master of everything: Antipasti, bread baking and pizza making, home made pasta, roasts and steaks, desserts and liqueurs. She takes simple traditional recipes and highlights and transforms them with her expert culinary vision, leaving you with a taste of her dishes that will stay with you forever, in a memory of a perfect meal. Paula is one of those people for whom cooking comes naturally and having been born and raised in a part of Umbria with a bounty of natural ingredients at hand she has lived this cuisine since birth. With a cooking class, catered lunch or dinner with Paula you will also be given a set of incredible recipes to take home with you so that you can prepare these wonderful dishes in your own home, since the ingredients used are simple and not hard to find outside of Italy. With great passion and fun Paula will share her knowledge and secrets about specialties of the area such as earthy black truffles, wild boar, chianina beef, and the fresh produce of the area. You will be left with an incomparable taste of Umbrian cuisine, hospitality and charm that can only lead to a long lasting love affair with this magical Green Heart of Italy.