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Introduction
| The
city of Florence is in the heart of Italy in the beautiful region of
Tuscany. |
The
area features countless attractions: artistic works beyond compare,
a natural landscape among the most appealing in the world, a
population still devoted to its land and to a glorious past, and
world class cultural events .
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Cradle
of the Renaissance, home of grand geniuses and the “birthplace”
of world finance;otoday
Florence
and Tuscany represent perfect holiday choices for people with
diverse requirements, thanks to the fascinating features that can
readily be combined for either a brief or an extended stay.
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who we are
Beauty
in Italy" is owned and operated by Violetta Buti who is a
native resident of Florence, Italy.
She has worked in tourism for the past seventeen years and is a
licensed tourist guide in Florence and Tuscany. Violetta also
organizes and accompanies small group tours throughout Italy. The
history, art, and language exams, conducted by the city authorities,
that led to her guide’s license are very selective and required
years of study. She speaks English, German, French, Spanish, and
Italian fluently. Violetta attended high school both in Italy and in
the United States where she was an American Field Service exchange
student in 1974/75. She has attended numerous language schools:
Hamburg, Germany in 1982/84, Brussels, Belgium in 1985 and Paris,
France in 1986 where she was a student at the Sorbonne University.
She deals with small groups including couples, families, and
individuals who would like to see and experience Florence and
Tuscany through the eyes of an experienced and dynamic professional. |
| Violetta
and her team of experienced professionals look forward to hosting
you in Florence and Tuscany. |
Violetta
Buti
Via Giotto 49
50121 Florence
Italy
Tel./Fax. +39 (055) 247-7432
E-mail: v.buti@beautyinitaly.com
http://www.beautyinitaly.com |
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Service
Our
services are suited for a selected clientele - those who prefer to
avoid large groups and who seek artistic, cultural, and natural
attractions away from the big crowds of mass tourism.
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We
offer the assistance of professionals capable of customizing both
artistic and hiking tours in the city of Florence and the region of
Tuscany. You can rest assured that our experience and extensive
knowledge will result in a perfect holiday for you and your friends
or family.
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Our
tours are for those individuals or small groups who intend to visit
Florence and Tuscany:
- For
a cultural
visit - accompanied by a fully-qualified and authorized
guide.
- For
a natural, casual and sport-loving
visit, accompanied by a hiking guide on an outdoor
experience appreciating nature’s unspoiled beauty.
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Guided walking tours in Florence, Venice,
Roma |
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Cruise ship to Florence Via
Pisa
2005 Tuscany Tours
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Livorno - Pisa - Florence • |
| Ideal
for those on a Mediterranean cruise! |
| Itinerary: |
| Pick-up
at ship: |
8:00
am |
| Stop
In Pisa: |
9:00
to 10:00 am |
| Florence |
See
below |
| Return
to ship |
5:00
to 6:00 pm |
| Services
Included: |
- Mercedes sedan car (up to 4 people) or van (more than 4
persons)
- English speaking driver
- Visit Leaning Tower Of Pisa
- Photo stop at Piazzale Michelangelo
- 3-hour walking tour of Florence with a professional licensed
guide
- Visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Baptistery,
& Giotto's Belltower
- Visit Piazza della Signoria, Loggia dei Lanzi
- Visit the famous Ponte Vecchio
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| Prices: |
- 1 or 2 people - 570 Euros
- 3 people - 630 Euros
- 4 people - 640 Euros
- 5 people - 750 Euros
- 6 people - 770 Euros
- 7 people - 780 Euros
- 8 people - 790 Euros
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| To
book please email: |
| info@beautyinitaly.com
http://www.beautyinitaly.com
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4 Days in Florence
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4 Days In Florence • |
| A
trip you will never forget, combining sightseeing in our Renaissance
city accompanied by your private licensed guide and a cooking class
by an expert gourmet chef! |
| Accommodation
is in single, double, or triple rooms overlooking the famous Piazza
della Signoria in an exclusive residence. |
| Day
1 |
Arrive
in Florence. Pick-up at either the train station or airport in
Florence is provided. |
| Day
2 |
Your
guide meets you at your residence at 9:30 am for a 3-hour walking
tour. (B) |
| Day
3 |
Cooking
class (max. 4 persons) includes shopping for ingredients at the San
Lorenzo market, the food preparation, and then enjoy your meal at
the cook's apartment. Your afternoon is free. (B,L) |
| Day
4 |
Your
guide meets you at your residence in the morning for a tour of the
Uffizi Paintings Gallery.
This evening we enjoy our farewell dinner at a local trattoria.(B,D) |
| Prices
and notes: |
- 1 person (single room) - 1415 Euros
- 2 people (double room)- 1880 Euros
- 3 people (triple room)- 2185 Euros
- 3 people (suite:2 separate rooms) - 2335 Euros
- 4 people (suite:2 separate rooms)- 2640 Euros
- Includes breakfasts (B), lunches (L), and dinners (D) as
described in itinerary
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| 7
Day Gourmet Tour • |
September
26th to October 2nd
October 24th to 30th |
| A
tour that combines two of Tuscany's real treasures ... her
food and her sights. All of the tours and classes are
conducted in English. We have budgeted ample free time for
shopping and independent sightseeing. |
| 6-nights
accommodation in a beautiful Tuscan
Country Villa. |
| Day
1 |
Transfer
from Florence train station/airport and check into hotel.
Tonight we enjoy our first included gourmet dinner. (D) |
| Day
2 |
We
start the day with a cooking class with Silvia
Maccari. After lunch we depart for the Mugello region and
visit a knife factory in Scarperia followed by a 'marron glace'
factory in Marradi. This evening we partake in a 'chestnut and
mushroom' meal at a local restaurant. (B,L,D) |
| Day
3 |
Today
we depart for San Casciano Val di Pesa and visit Consorzio
Compagnia della Cinta. We then continue on to Greve in the
Chianti region where we visit a local butcher. We'll then
continue on to Montagliari to see how sheep cheese is produced
and experience a wine tasting. Dinner is included at our
hotel. (B,D) |
| Day
4 |
Our
second cooking class with Silvia Maccari begins the day. After
lunch we depart for Rufina for olive oil and wine tasting. We
return to the hotel for dinner. (B,L,D) |
| Day
5 |
After
a cooking class and lunch we depart for Pistoia and visit a
chocolate factory. Later it's on to Montecarlo (Tuscany) for a
wine tasting and dinner at a typical Tuscan restaurant. (B,L,D) |
| Day
6 |
A
feast for the eyes this morning as we visit San Lorenzo
markets then enjoy a city wlaking tour of Florence with a
licensed guide. After a snack at a typical 'vinaino' (wine
stall) we take a tour of the Uffizi Paintings Gallery. Dinner
is provided at the hotel. (B,D) |
| Day
7 |
Your
tour ends after breakfast today. We hope that you had a
wonderful visit! (B) |
| Prices
and notes: |
- 1622 Euros based on double occupancy
- Includes breakfasts (B), lunches (L), and dinners (D) as
described in itinerary
- Tours and cooking classes will run with a minimum of 6
participants.
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| •
9 Days In Tuscany • |
May
14th to 22nd
June 25th to July 3rd
August 27th to September 4th
October 8th to 16th |
| An
unforgettable tour from the capital city of Rome to
Renaissance Florence and the beautiful Bay of Portofino. We
meet you at the airport in Rome and travel to the holy town of
Assisi. On to the jewelled Renaissance city of Florence, then
Portofino and finally back to Rome. |
| Day
1 |
Your
English speaking tour leader will meet you at Rome airport and
transfer you to your hotel near the airport to relax and
prepare for the exciting journey ahead. Hotel: Cancelli Rossi |
| Day
2 |
This
morning we will travel to the holy town of Assisi where you
will check in to your hotel. In the afternoon you will enjoy a
guided tour of the magnificent Frescoes in the monastery of St.
Francis. Hotel: Il Palazzo (B,D) |
| Day
3 |
After
breakfast we drive to Florence. Before checking in to your
hotel in the heart of the city we stop at Michelangelo square
to enjoy a beautiful view of the city. In the afternoon your
licensed guide will take you on a walking tour around Florence:
We'll visit the Santa Croce Church with the tombs of
Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli; Piazza della Signoria with
the Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi, and the Loggia dei Lanzi. Hotel:
Grand Hotel Cavour (B,D) |
| Day
4 |
In
the morning your licensed guide will take you to the Academy
of Fine Arts (Accademia) to see the statue of David by
Michelangelo and inside the Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore - once
the largest church in the world. The afternoon is free to
explore on your own. Hotel: Grand Hotel Cavour (B) |
| Day
5 |
This
morning we go to the fruit and vegetable market and learn what
to buy and how to order in Italy. We will eat with the locals
at a market stall! The afternoon is free to enjoy on your own.
Hotel: Grand Hotel Cavour (B,L) |
| Day
6 |
This
morning we drive to Pisa to see the famous Miracle Square and
the leaning tower. We continue to Lucca for a visit of this
lovely city. We then drive on to Rapallo and after checking
into our hotel we can have a swim in its superb swimming pool.
Hotel: Excelsior Palace Hotel (5 Star!) (B,D) |
| Day
7 |
This
morning we take the boat to Portofino and to the Monastery of
San Fruttuoso and its beautiful natural setting. Hotel:
Excelsior Palace Hotel (5 Star!) (B)
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| Day
8 |
Today
we visit the picturesque fishing village of Camogli. The
afternoon is free for shopping in Santa Margherita Ligure
along the coast and close to the hotel. Hotel: Excelsior
Palace Hotel (5 Star!) (B,D)
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| Day
9 |
Today
we drive back to Rome airport or perhaps for an extended stay
in the capital city. We hope you have enjoyed travelling with
us and hope to see you back soon. (B)
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| Prices
and notes: |
- 2350 Euros based on double occupancy
- Includes breakfasts (B), lunches (L), and dinners (D) as
described in itinerary
- Includes: airport tranfers, luggage handling, all motor
coach transportation, boat excursions, entrance to 2
museums and 3 churches/monasteries, an English speaking
specialist guide andlocal tour leader
- Should you wish to add a few days in Rome at the
beginning or end of the tour we will happily assist with
hotel bookings.
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Florence City Tours
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GUIDED WALKING TOURS •
A
professional guide will help you to appreciate the beauty, culture,
and history of Florence and to make the most of your time in this
city.
A few of our sample itineraries follow. All of these tours can be
mixed and matched or we can customize an itinerary that is unique to
your needs.
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Classic
Florence:
See the most famous sites that Florence has to offer including the
Cathedral, Baptistery, Belltower, and the picturesque shop-lined
bridge of the Ponte Vecchio. Marvel at the beautiful architecture
surrounding Piazza della Signoria as your guide explains the
fascinating Renaissance history of this city.
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The
Fresco Paintings of Florence:
The fresco painters in Florence were the finest in the world.
Florence offers an incredible number of opportunities to see some of
the most famous frescoes remaining today - Brancacci Chapel, The
Procession of the Magi, Sassetti Chapel.
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The
Oltrarno Neighbourhood:
The Oltrarno is the local Florentines’ most beloved part of the
city. It features artisans’ handicrafts, shops, typical Tuscan
restaurants, the church and square of Piazza Santo Spirito, Piazza
del Carmine, and the impressive Pitti Palace with its majestic
Boboli Gardens.
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The
Renaissance:
The 15th
century witnessed the start of the Renaissance in Florence. View the
legacy of its masters such as Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo da
Vinci, and Brunelleschi. See squares, churches, and artwork left by
these incredible artists, architects, and thinkers!
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Florentine
Tombs:
See the final resting places of world famous individuals
including Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and Rossini. Hear the
history of these fascinating characters and enjoy the artistic
beauty of their sculpted tombs.
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Romanesque
Florence:
Witness some of Florence’s beautiful pre-Renaissance architecture.
See the Baptistery featuring Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise, San
Miniato al Monte Church near the panoramic viewpoint of Piazzale
Michelangelo, and other historical sites.
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Florentine
Palaces:
See the fabulous palaces of Florence’s bankers, traders, and
wealthy citizens including Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, Palazzo Strozzi,
Palazzo Gondi, and Palazzo Pitti.
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The
legacy of the Medici:
Florence’s wealthy Renaissance family, the Medici, left us
countless monuments well worth visiting not only for their history
but also for their beauty. See the Medici-Riccardi Palace, San
Lorenzo Church, and the Medici Chapels. Your guide will bring this
family’s history to life on this unique walk.
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The
footsteps of Michelangelo:
A true Renaissance master! Much of Michelangelo Buonarroti’s
amazing work can be seen on this fascinating tour. Start with a
visit to the Academy of Fine Arts to see the awe-inspiring statue of
“David”. Afterwards we will visit the Medici Tombs to view
several of his best sculptures including “Day”, “Night”,
“Aurora”, and “Dusk”.
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GUIDED MUSEUM TOURS •
Visiting
Florence’s Museums with a guide brings the artwork and history to
life. Make the most of your time as your licensed city guide will
take you straight to the front of the line and into the museum to
enjoy the treasures inside!
Academy
(Accademia)
David,
the most famous statue, and the Slaves by Michelangelo are waiting
for us in one of the most visited museums in Florence.
Uffizi
An
amazing array of paintings from the 13th to the 17th century.
Palatine
Gallery
View
famous paintings and furniture from the Pitti Palace.
Cathedral
Museum
See
the original “Gates of Paradise” by Ghiberti and one of
Michelangelo’s “Pietà”.
Bargello
Museum
Enjoy
sculptures by Michelangelo, Donatello, and Andrea del Verrocchio.
Silver
Museum
Witness
the impressive collection of silver jewellery from Florence’s
merchant family the Medici.
Palazzo
Vecchio
The
former residence of the Medici family. See the beautiful decorations,
furniture, paintings, and sculptures.
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| •OUT
OF TOWN EXCURSIONS•
We
can arrange excursions to any of the sites around Florence. The
towns of Fiesole, Siena, Pisa, San Gimignano, Lucca, and others are
all close enough to enjoy in a day. Transportation and a
knowledgeable local guide are provided to allow you to enjoy your
visit to any of Tuscany’s many delights.
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Hiking Tours
ONE
DAY HIKING TOURS IN TUSCANY
A
wide variety of one-day hiking excursions are available.
All of our packages include:
- 1-day
hiking in the countryside of Tuscany accompanied by a local
hiking guide.
- A
hearty packed lunch.
- Return
transfers from Florence.
Prices:
- Euro
150 per person (for 2 or 3 people travelling together).
- Euro
120 per person (for 4 or more people travelling together).
Why
not add a half or full day sightseeing tour of Florence to any of
our hiking trips to make a truly enjoyable visit to Tuscany?
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ONE
DAY HIKING & SIGHTSEEING TOUR
A
beautiful 1-day excursion to San Gimignano.
Your day includes:
- 1/2
day hiking in the countryside surrounding San Gimignano
accompanied by a local hiking guide.
- Lunch
featuring typical Tuscan products.
- Guided
walking tour of the medieval town of San Gimignano.
- Return
transfers from Florence.
Prices:
- Euro
160 per person (for 2 or 3 people travelling together).
- Euro
130 per person (for 4 or more people travelling together).
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THREE
DAY HIKING TOUR OF TUSCANY
Three
days hiking in the heart of the Casentinese Forest National Park
accompanied by a fully qualified hiking guide. Two nights
accommodation, meals and transport included.
This package includes:
- 3-days
hiking with a qualified guide.
- Services
of an English speaking local representative.
- 1-night
twin/double hotel accommodation in the village of Camaldoli .
- 1-night
twin/double accommodation in a Tuscan Country House.
- Breakfast
and dinner for 2 days.
- 3
packed lunches.
- Visit
to the Camaldoli Hermitage and Monastery.
- Return
transport from Florence.
Prices
(based on double occupancy):
- For
2 persons travelling together Euro 907 per person.
- For
4 persons travelling together Euro 675 per person.
Please
contact us
for full pricing details of hiking and/or customised tours.
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FOUR
DAY TOUR OF TUSCANY
In the unspoiled nature of the Berignone Forest, a few kilometres
from Volterra, we offer the following 4 day tour:
This package includes:
- 3-nights
twin/double accommodation in a Tuscan Country House featuring a
beautiful outdoor swimming pool.
- 3
breakfasts and 3 dinners.
- 1-full
day hiking excursion through the protected area of Berignone
Forest with a fully qualified hiking guide (packed lunch
included).
- 2-days
afternoon tea featuring typical Tuscan snacks and refreshments.
- Services
of a qualified local guide for the duration of your stay.
- 1
half-day excursion to Volterra and 1 full-day excursion to San
Gimignano and Siena.
- Return
transfers from Florence.
Prices
(based on double occupancy):
- For
2 persons travelling together Euro 1020 per person.
- For
4 persons travelling together Euro 777 per person
Please
contact us
for full pricing details of hiking and/or customised tours.
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Prices
Guided service:
55 Euros - 1 to 4
persons - an hour.
60 Euros - 5 or
more persons - an hour.
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Entrance
fees of museums are not included.
Please contact us for
full pricing of hiking and/or customised tours. |
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Contact
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Violetta
Buti
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Via
Giotto 49
50121 Florence
Italy
Tel./Fax. +39 (055) 247-7432
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Testimonials
| Bruce Howard
June 2004
Violetta -
On behalf of us all I wish to thank you for the most wonderful
trip we recently had to Italy. It took a leap of faith to do
everything over the internet but your professionalism ensured that
there was not a single hitch during the entire tour. I would be
happy to recommend your services to anyone considering a holiday
to Italy. Many thanks as well for the wonderful evening and supper
at the end and for seeing us home safely. I truly hope our paths
shall cross again in the future.
As always
Bruce Howard
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Bruce Howard
Violetta -
On behalf of us all I wish to thank you for the most wonderful
trip we recently had to Italy. It took a leap of faith to do
everything over the internet but your professionalism ensured that
there was not a single hitch during the entire tour. I would be
happy to recommend your services to anyone considering a holiday
to Italy. Many thanks as well for the wonderful evening and supper
at the end and for seeing us home safely. I truly hope our paths
shall cross again in the future.
As always
Bruce Howard
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John and Sue Cerrone
Violetta -
Sue and I arrived back in the United States on Saturday, July
10, 2004. Our trip to your beautiful country was beyond our
expectations. We so enjoyed meeting you and sharing our day
touring Florence. Your city has so much to offer in terms of
beauty, culture, art and FOOD. You helped us to see and understand
the art that just surrounds you there. We sit and look at our
pictures and wish we were back. Our family and friends were very
excited about hearing our stories and looking at all of our
pictures (I took 400 pictures). We spent our day with you on
Thursday, July 1. On Friday, we visited the Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio,
Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens, and Santa Croce. All wonderful. On
Saturday, we took a day trip to Siena and San Gimignano. What
beautiful countrysides. We were sad to leave Florence but had to
on Sunday to move on to Rome. Our tour guide in Rome was excellent
and toured one day with us in Rome and one half day at the Vatican.
Thank you for arranging this for us. We can't thank you enough for
making our dream trip a reality. We both feel you are all special
friends of ours in Italy and can't wait to get back and visit with
you again. If you are ever in New York please call us so that we
may share some hospitality with you.
All our best, John and Sue Cerrone
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Mary and Bob Dunn
Violetta!
We made it home safe and sound on May 6, two days before our
luggage! What a wonderful time. It was wonderful meeting you, and
we can't thank you enough for all your help in making our trip so
special. We look forward to you helping us with our next adventure
to Italy. We just made the decision that we would love a trip to
the Tuscany area for two weeks in late September 2005, so will
definitely be in contact with you later this year to make plans.
Take care, Mary
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John Rudder and Larry Peterfy
Violetta,
I am sorry to be so long in writing to thank you for our wonderful
tours in Florence.
We did want to emphasize however exactly how much we enjoyed
your company and commentaries on the glories of Florence. As we
explained, we long ago discovered that the best value in
sightseeing, if time is limited in particular, is to have a
personal guide. Certainly more expensive than a group tour to be
sure, but you get so very much more out of it when you are with
someone who knows the city and its treasures so intimately and can
cover so much "ground" that a group tour just can't. We
enjoyed our conversations with you and as you probably recognized
we have a great interest in learning something of the social life
of modern Italy as well as about the great works of art which,
granted, is why we came to Florence in the first place. It still
staggers the imagination to realize how very much of western
civilization and its art is concentrated in one place.
Thank you again for a great time, and with luck maybe we will once
again get to travel to Italy within the next five to ten years or
so. You can be assured that if we are that lucky, we'll be looking
for you on the internet. All best wishes for a great year, take
care, and we hope to meet again one day. Should you ever need a
recommendation or reference please don't hesitate to ask as we can
only say good things about our time together.
John Rudder and Larry Peterfy
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Lorraine Obrecht
Dear Violetta,
I am so happy to have received your e-mail. I tried unsuccessfully
to mail you before, so thank you for reaching me. I can't tell you
how much I enjoyed having you as our guide through Italy. I, for
one, missed you greatly while in Rome. However, we did enjoy the
many wonderful sights. I hope my coin in the Trevi fountain will
bring me luck in returning to Italy. I still think often of the
wonderful time we had. If you haven't already done so, I hope you
will some day visit California.
Ciao, Violetta.
Lorraine
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| Carolyn and Ken Richman
Violetta is not only intelligent and informed - about art, history,
architecture, and politics - but she is wonderful company and a
joy to spend the day with. She arranged an itinerary that gave us
a perfect blend of the sites we wanted to see. Our day with
Violetta was the most fun we had on our vacation!
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Suzanne and Mel Abramovitz
Roswell, Georgia – USA
Dear Violetta,
Thank you so much for the wonderful walking tour of Firenze. Our
trip to Italy was ever so nice and Firenze was our favorite place.
We could have stayed longer! It’s hard getting back to “reality”!
You are an excellent guide and we will recommend your services to
anyone we know who needs a guide in Firenze!
We enjoyed, too, our cappuccino break with you and talking.
Thanks again for making our visit so special. If you are ever in
our area, please give us a call.
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Tours et visites privées avec guides autorisés dans la
ville de Florence, Toscane, et dans les autres lieux d'intérêt
artistique en Italie.