Crowds, long lines, long waits? Why not, but of course, let’s keep the distance!

Us at RomePrivateExcursions have started from the beginning to respect all the Anti-Covid protocols and are happy about it, as far as, we can start to tour you around pretty soon. https://www.romeprivateexcursions.com/covid-19-safety-protocols-carried-out-by-romeprivateexcursions/

HOW TO TOUR ROME IN THE SAFEST WAY POSSIBLE

Walking tours? Maybe not! Driving tours, yes, maybe yes!

The city of Rome is surely huge and maybe you have more days in the city and so your approach would be the one of visiting it piece by piece. Generally you would do it on a walking tour, but trust me, there are many other ways of seeing Rome and you can do it in the most private and personalized way possible: luxury private driving tours!

Your English speaking driver would be the key to your safe private excursion in the city of Rome and Italy in general

Of course, lots of you might be a little doubtful and you might have lots of questions:

1. Does my driver speak English? YES HE DOES AND VER WELL
2. Does my driver know the history of the city? OH YES, HISTORY, ART AND MORE
3. Will I be able to get out of the vehicle and take pics? OF COURSE YOU WOULD.  AT ALL SITES, BUT FROM “LESS CROWDED POINTS” AND STILL GET TO SEE IT ALL”
4. Can my driver act out like a walking guide? THE ANSWER IS NO, BUT THE TOURS ARE STRUCTURED IN A WAY WHERE THE DRIVER WILL BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU THE BEST, IN THE BEST WAY AND, WHERE THE WALKING GUIDES ARE A MUST, WE WILL COMBINE THEIR SERVICE FOR SURE such as at the big museums
5. Is it going to be only my party in the tour? YES, THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING PART. ONLY YOUR PARTY AND NOBODY ELSE
6. Can I see all of Rome in one day? OF COURSE THE ANSWER IS NO, BUT SURELY A BIG PART OF IT, IN A VERY ELEGANT AND SAFE WAY

See here one of our Rome private driving tours: https://www.romeprivateexcursions.com/products/best-of-rome-and-vatican-tour/

And of course this would give you more time to take private day trips from Rome, out to many other parts of Italy.

• Day trips to the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii
• Day trips to Pompeii only
• Day trips to Umbria
• Day trip to Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoregio
• Day trip to the countryside of Tuscany

See our day trip page: https://www.romeprivateexcursions.com/product-category/tours/land-tours/day-trips-from-rome/#day-trips-from-rome

The countryside of Italy has to be some of the most beautiful in the world—and we’re not just talking about the Tuscan countryside! Yes, the countryside of Tuscany is stunning and we love to bring guests their on our magnificent driving tours and day trips from the major Italian cities and back. But did you know how many other spectacular landscapes Italy boasts beyond its cities? 

The region of Le Marche, located in central Italy on the Adriatic, isn’t all rocky hills and forests! The region produces 13 varieties of D.O.C. wine  and makes many cheeses, including Pecorino and ricotta. Lots of medieval hilltop towns, country roads, and lovely agriturismi make the countryside complete.

Located next to Tuscany, Umbria deserves a mention all its own! You have the rolling hills, medieval towns, and fantastic olive and wine vineyards of Tuscany—but with a slightly wilder-feeling landscape and many fewer tourists.  This, for example, is the beautiful countryside outside of Montefalco, a lovely medieval town in Umbria.

The Amalfi coast remains terraced with vineyards and citrus groves… especially in the more off-the-beaten-path spots, like the countryside beyond Ravello! Not only is this farmland verdant and green, but it boasts stunning views of the glittering Mediterranean in the background. What’s not to love?

Tuscany is awash with idyllic charm, everything from the architecture to the landscape is captivating and inviting in equal measure. Choosing which typical towns and villages in Tuscany to visit on your holiday can be challenging, especially if you want to stay off the beaten track. The best way to explore is by car. Driving around this gorgeous region is a revelation, and a great way to see as much as possible from your villas in Tuscany. We’ve researched some of the most authentic and beautiful towns and villages in Tuscany to give you a real taste of ‘vita Italiana’. Medieval histories, walled towns and renaissance stylings await.

See Italy has got so much to offer and feel safe at the same time. Are you ready to travel again after this crazy months of shut down?

Article by Luca Orlandi, C.E.O. @ RomePrivateExcursions

9 hours to see the city of Rome! Wow! That is really too little, or maybe not?

You can surely check out a lot of my excursions from the my website at the following section: https://www.romeprivateexcursions.com/product-category/tours/shore-excursions/

Rome was not built in a day and for sure when people dock at the port of Civitavecchia they all have great expectations in terms of number of sites to be visited in less than 9 hours. Of course everybody has always 2 major sites in mind: The Colosseum and the Vatican.

Many, many times, I personally receive requests of guests who really send me a list of many sites to visit: Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, The Colosseum, The Vatican Museums and if time allows, also the Catacombs.

Wow, wow, wow!! Slow down guys. Yes, this is doable, but… We need to understand a copule of things first.

1. Remember guys, that all I suggest is for your own good. So, when you guys write me that “another company” told you that all you listed is possible, I would go careful with it!
2. All the sites that you guys listed can be seen but in a very quick and logistically intelligent way: Colosseum from the outside only and, if you really want to see the Vatican, you can dedicate to it at the most 2.5 hours and best with a private guide, a part from your driver escorting you to the entrance.
3. If you guys want to see also the Colosseum from the inside, then, you have to downsize your expectations and start from the point of view that for sure you will see the Colosseum and the Vatican and, whatever else we can fit in is always a plus! But, if you don’t see much more than the Colosseum and Vatican, please don’t be upset!

The really best way to absorbe Rome in a day from the cruise port on a private tour with my company – RomePrivateExcursions – is to try to see as much as possible in the following way:

• 07.30 am: pick up at dock-side by your driver (he will be there with a sign and your name on), ready to depart
• 09.00 am: reach Rome and start with a visit of the outside of the Colosseum
• 09.35ish am: drive past the Circus Maximus and stop for a picture and continue outside the Walls of Rome, towards the Catacombs
• 10.00 am: step on the Appian Way and take pics
• 10.30 am: be ready to tour the Catacombs whose tour generally lasts 45 minutes
• 11.30 am back into the walls of the city, drive past the “Wedding Cake” over to the Pantheon
• 11.45 am: visit the Pantheon from the inside, after the detailed historical explanations given by your driver
• 12.15 pm:  Campo de’ Fiori, for a quick bite
• 01.00 pm: Reach the Trevi Fountain
• 01.45 pm: Reach the top of the Spanish Steps, pic from the top, maybe walk down and up the Steps and off
• 02.10 pm: Navona Square where you can spend 15 minutes wondering around 
• 02.50 pm: Vatican: stroll into St Peter’s Square
• 03.20 pm: leave Rome
• 04.30 pm: reach the port of CIVITAVECCHIA

How is that? I really think this is the best itinerary ever. You are not super tired, but you are super happy. You guys saw the best of Rome in 9 hours from the port and bak!

TIME IS A FACTOR

Also this point is pretty relevant for many reasons:

1. The ship does not wait for you if you are on a private tour
2. Don’t push the return to the ship later than 05.00 pm
3. Try to get out in the morning as early as 07.30 am
4. You can easily talk to your driver and if you want to see as much as outlined in the above itinerary, you will have to entrust to your driver the time to be spent at each site
5. Not a long time for lunch: grab something quick to go

On the other hand dear friends of mine, if you are coming to Rome and yes, you want to enjoy the DOLCE VITA, then have your driver show a little, in a very cozy way, go to an off-the-beaten-path restaurant and enjoy the family style. Drink great wine, eat great food and just love each other. THIS IS ANYWAY A GREAT WAY TO SEE ROME.

See you all in Italy with me and RomePrivateExcursions

Article by Luca Orlandi, Rome Private Excursions C.E.O.

There is a legend, a funny legend to start with.

Have you noticed that a lot of Italian Descent American citizens are called TONY? Well, one day, while touring around some of my greatest guests, a gentleman in his 80s told me a great, funny anecdote.
Apparently the name TONY started to be used massively among the first Italian immigrants back in the 1920s. They of course were docking in Ellis Island, where, after a medical check-up, they were all asked for their personal information, starting from the name, the last name and ending with their birth place in Italy or, at least, where they were coming from.

Most of the immigrants did not speak a word of English, barely correct Italian, and most could not even read or write, a part from their full name.

The funny part about this “TONI thing”. One of these immigrants not knowing what to expect after docking in the Big Apple, had a friend of his back in Italy, write a sign for him which read “TO NY”, meaning “I wanna go to New York”. Apparently when the officer asked the gentleman for his personal information, not knowing what he was asked, he simply gave the agent the sign reading TO NY.

There you go TONY, to New York!

A part from this really funny story, there are some scientific reasons.

Italian surnames generally come in a few main categories as far as their origins are concerned.

• Patronymics (The surname comes from an ancestor’s first name)—d’Alberto, d’Angelo, d’Alessi
• Geographical areas—Lombardo, Di Genova, Napolitano
• Descriptives or Nicknames—Franco, Betto, Zello, Gambino
• Occupations—Ferraro, Carpenteri, Muratori

Some surnames, such as Esposito, Innocenti, and Incogniti, can even be used to identify a family who had an abandoned child somewhere in their family.

If you have Italian immigrants among your ancestors, their names could have been changed as they assimilated into their new home country.

A common surname such as Russo could have become anglicized or changed to become Russe, Russa, Russell, or even Russ. A surname could also have been translated into English directly from Italian. Examples include Piccolo becoming Littl

e, Chiesa being changed to Church, and Bianco changing to White.

In certain cases, at the immigration check on Ellis island, when asked what their last name was and not understanding the question, they happened to replay with the name of their city of birth and so, no wonder why we had and still have today a lot of:

• Palermo
• Ferrara
• Napoli
• Salerno