My husband Paul and I embarked on the 8 day Art and History tour with Robert as our guide. The trip didn't start off too well due to our luggage being delayed at Heathrow but Robert came to the rescue and transported us back to the airport to collect it. Our hotel was in the middle of the city and was conveniently placed for all the interesting places to visit. The tour started off in Rome which was incredibly busy with visits to several churches followed by a lovely lunch at a family-run restaurant, Priscila where later on in the week we made our Frescos but the visit to the Villa Borghese the next day was glorious despite being under renovation. What a wonderful place and the tour guide Robert had booked us with was superb. As we crossed Rome- and thank goodness Robert was driving, we passed many places that he was able to describe and relate the history making some hair-raising traffic bearable like the Triton Fountain, and the Fountain of Bees. We walked a lot but that only added to the interest with many historical monuments which were tucked away and could easily have been missed if not informed. The Vatican Museum was wonderful but just not enough time to stop and admire- a victim of too many tourist destinations these days.. We then travelled to Naples with a beautiful lunch stop on the way-medieval villages that you wouldn't normally see. Naples again was busy but we had a very informative trip to the Archaeological museum which has the relics and items found in Pompei along with a fascinating history of its discovery and ongoing archaeological work. Our guide, Francesca, another great booking by Robert, was a walking book of knowledge, both about the items and relics in the museum and also Pompeii where she had worked as an archaeologist. Dinner was in Naples on the port, and then a long drive back to Rome. The next day was a trip to Assisi, via another beautiful medieval village, Montecchio with more historical facts and interesting shops! We checked into another hotel, again all organised by Robert. The next day was Arezzo followed by a couple of days in Florence and the Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio and all the other wonders of that beautiful place. The hotel was right in the middle of the city so we could walk everywhere, another excellent choice. Our time in Florence ended all too quickly and we then drove all the way back to Rome. All the hotels were expertly chosen for their standard and location and the restaurants were also excellent and most were family run and favourites of Roberts own family. The special places for me were the small medieval walled cities and villages, you will not find theses on any other tour! We can thoroughly recommend Italian Adventures and especially the 8 day Art and History tour and if you are lucky to have Robert guide you then you will have a wonderful experience like us.

I booked the 8 day tour in Rome focused on archaeology. The tour was amazing in all aspects. Each day's itinerary was well thought out and was usually led by two amazing experts in ancient Rome - Robert, with a background in the engineering sciences as well as Roman history who answered all my questions about Ancient Rome's buildings and aquaducts, and Anastasia, an a very personable and lovely archeologist with a strong understanding of the Roman Emperors and how they lived, as well as an understanding of the development of art throughout the ages. Selection of restaurants throughout the tour was thoughtful too and focused on local fare. In addition, the hotel accommodations were enchanting -the charm of an old hotel but with modern amenities, and free breakfast in a lovely rooftop setting. There was some flexibility afforded and as an older solo traveler I felt well taken of throughout my stay ​

Robert’s Guiding was the Highlight of our trip! I booked Robert for two Private Guided Tours in May 2023. Robert took time to understand our interests and tailored the days to suit. As well as the major sights we agreed upon in advance, Robert took us to all sorts of incredible places off the tourist path and mostly unknown to the standard guide books. Robert is incredibly knowledgeable, and can cover his passion of Ancient Rome through to later periods; he is at home with the Emperors as he is with the Popes or the great Italian master painters and sculptures. Churches, piazzas and ruins come alive with Robert’s descriptions, stories and anecdotes - his knowledge of the city, its surroundings and indeed Italy, is first class. Robert is also able to recommend restaurants and bars, and his advice enabled us to avoid the tourist trap eateries entirely. If the above doesn’t sell you Robert’s services, perhaps this story will help. The Coliseum and Forum Area is full of large groups of guided tours - these cumbersome groups struggled with their ear pieces whilst listening to uninspiring and fixed scripts. So many in these groups either looked frustrated or disinterested as they were herded around - I can’t contrast this experience enough with Robert’s personalised approach.

I had a fantastic time on my archeological hiking tour with Italian Adventures. Anastasia and Robert were excellent tour guides, knowledgeable and friendly. They made the ancient sites come to life and the dinners and wines were a nice touch. I highly recommend them for a unique and memorable experience in Italy.

Review of Italian Adventures Tour: 8 Day Archaeological Tour, Rome Wine, Dine and Pompeii We thoroughly enjoyed this tour seeing not only main attractions, but also sites off the beaten track that you would never otherwise see as a tourist. Our guide, Anastasia, made everything come alive and so interesting. Being part of a small group we never felt rushed and we were encouraged to ask as many questions as we wished. If you love history and archaeology we wholeheartedly recommend Italian Adventures as it takes this kind of tour to the next level and is well worth the cost. From our welcome and collection at the airport to our return, everything went so well. Oh, did we forget to mention the food and wine……..superb. John & Alida Wardropper

This is a great opportunity to avoid the cookie-cutter tours and instead go on meaningful adventures with an archaeologist guide! On our next trip, we plan to book a private tour with Italian Adventures so that we can tailor our itinerary even further. Robert, the founder, is very personable and knowledgeable, and we can't wait to go to Italy again.

Just had to write to say how much my wife and I enjoyed our ‘Rome, Dine, Wine and Pompeii’ tour. We loved it! We felt immediately welcome; everyone got along, and the discussion flowed during each visit and exploration (along with the wine!) I felt the social structure of the event really enhanced the experience and to be able to absorb these wonderful sites and then have relaxed discussions with the qualified experts and other enthusiastic amateurs over such gorgeous meals really made a holiday to remember! We will be recommending this tour to our friends and will certainly be considering one of your other tours in a couple of years. Best regards, Ashley and Pat Holt.

Dear Robert, I'd like to thank you and your staff for the great time we had during our hike in Italy. The places you and Anastasia took us during the hikes were awesome and I'm sure that we would have never found them on our own. Linda and I still talk about the wonderful food we had while on the trip and we sincerely compliment you on your choice of restaurants for our lunches and diners. Thanks for the recipes you’ve sent and we're going to try them out one at a time until we get them just right (or close enough). We’ll certainly recommend your tours to our friends and we’re planning to come back next year for another hike to a different area. Italy is so beautiful that it may take many more trips like this last one before we’re sure that “we’ve seen it all”. Give our regards to your wonderful staff and thank them on our behalf.

So happy to find a tour agency where I can do things that aren't normally available on guided tours. Robert is great--he knows a lot about the area and is willing to be flexible so that we can see and do what we want.