My partner and I took the classic Rome tour in June 2025 to see the coliseum and surrounding areas. Normally we just do self guided tours but wanted to get more guidance in such a historic setting. Francesca was an extremely knowledgeable guide and helped us understand the history and importance of the sights we were seeing. We were able to better appreciate what life would have been like at that time and what was happening in Rome. Furthermore Francesca has a superpower of being able to navigate the crowds more efficiently than anyone else – so we saved tons of time by avoiding getting too caught up waiting in line with other tourists. She helped us navigate all the attractions smoothly and efficiently. I would recommend doing this tour with Francesca …
Late in October of 2025, we were delighted to have a tour of Ancient Rome with Francesca. She was incredibly knowledgeable and knew exactly what to see and when to avoid the crowds.
She accommodated everything we wanted to experience within our 4-hour tour and coordinated our tickets in advance, allowing us easy access to the sites at the perfect times.
Francesca is truly delightful, and we would definitely choose her again for another tour when we return to Rome.
I first visited Rome in 2015, booking tours of both the Colosseum and the Vatican. At the time, I thought the tour guide was quite good, but I had nothing to compare her to.
When we planned our return trip to Rome in early September 2025, someone recommended Francesca’s services — grazie a Dio! Her communication skills, knowledge, patience, kindness, and professionalism were truly outstanding.
Francesca’s enthusiasm and energy were second to none. She provided a tour experience that went far beyond what we had experienced in 2015. Not only did she show us things the previous guide did not, but she did so in a way that was both highly entertaining and deeply informative.
We were captivated by every word she spoke. Everywhere we went, both in the Colosseum and the Vatican, she was warmly greeted by staff.
Simply put, Francesca is the best!
Ciao Francesca,
We had such a delightful time with you in the summer of 2021, where we were lucky enough to see the catacombs and hear of an Ancient Rome and its history that we had never encountered before. We couldn’t help but spend another day with you and our family in August 2023.
Having your insights and passionate perspective about the great historical sites throughout Rome truly made the city come alive for us and our children, and we are deeply grateful.
Sincerely, Blake and Varinie Nixon
We booked 2 day tours with Francesca. The Vatican tour was amazing. She got us in so quickly and kept us in front of the crowds and with her art history knowledge she was so informative. The tour of the Colosseum the next day was unbelievable. She knew exactly where to take us to get the best vantage points and special features. Her personality was delightful and we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. We would highly recommend touring with Francesca. She was terrific!
Shannon Hase
My son and I spent 2 wonderful days touring sites in Rome with Francesca in early October, 2025 as part of a trip celebrating his graduation from university. Those 2 days were among the best parts of our trip. The touring was tailored to our interests in history and archaeology and tying those themes together with the way they exist in modern Italy. Highly recommended!! Fun, interesting, and at the pace that worked perfectly for us…. standard “must see” sites, and also smaller yet profound sites we would have never seen on our own.
D. Soberman, Toronto, Canada
In 2018 My wife and I took our kids and grand kids on a’family trip of a lifetime.’.We were 12 people. My wife and I in our mid sixties, three children , plus 2 daughters in law( 30ish and 5 grandkids ages 5-12. First stop was Rome. We toured Rome for three days with Francesca. Best tour guide,EVER!! Based on our prior conversations/ emails before we left home. She planned an itinerary that was perfect for all ages. When she first met us she had books for the children highlighting some of the places we would visit and immediately connected with the little ones. She made sure there was something for all of us. She was knowledgeable and presented the information on each of our stops, in ways that were not only informative but interesting to the the age span of 60+ to 5. She was so warm and friendly and caring, making sure we were able to stay together even when we took cabs to some of our stops. She made suggestions where to eat or other places we might like to visit during our stay. She could not have been nicer. 8 years later my wife and I returned to Italy with a tour, but when we arrived in Rome we split off from the tour, and spent time with Francesca visiting parts of Rome we hadn’t seen before. We reconnected just like old friends. Fabulous time in Tresteverde. She recommended and even helped make dinner reservations for us. When in Rome… for an informative, fun and wonderful tour, please reach out to Francesca.
Joe Ruggieri
We did two tours with Francesca 2019. St Peter Basilica and Sisteen chapel as well as the colosseum and forum tour. Francesca is absolutely amazing. Personable, engaging, knowledgeable. We loved her tour so much we have recommended her multiple times and even gifts our niece a tour for her honeymoon. You won’t regret spending the day with this amazing person! Kendra and Ricardo
Our family’s experience of your guided Tour of the Coliseum was superb. There really isn’t a better way to do it. The details, the stories and the history is too rich to do so unescorted. Francesca was great to work with, and we would have done more tours had the schedule allowed. We will certainly plan for her assistance in future trips to Rome.
Joe Macgee
Francesca gave us the best tour of the Galleria Borghese! She is so informative, and brings the art and sculptures come to life! Francesca makes sure her tours are tailered to your needs. We have done at least 5-6 tours in Rpme with Francesca, and would highly recommend you do the same! We love Francesca ❤️
Jules Grimm
We had a lovely walking day tour with Francesca in 2024. We appreciated her punctuality and deep knowledge of the history and interesting facts about the specific sites and Rome’s culture. She was informative, warmly professional, and we recommend her tour.
K.C. Anderson and Michael Matze
Francesca is not only the best “tour guide” but became a wonderful friend after our time spent with her. We have visited Rome 3 times and each time she has given us such a memorable experience. Our first trip to Rome was in the Fall of 2022, we stayed in an apartment close to the Spanish Steps and she met us there after we arrived and took us to Cafe Greco for a cappuccino, a beautiful coffee shop started in 1860. From there we went to the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain and it was like a dream come true. She managed to get us up to the front to get pictures. After a couple of hours with her, we felt like we had been friends forever. Over the next 2 days Francesca took us to the Roman Forum, the Coliseum, Pantheon, Piazza Navona and and one of the best tours was of the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel…..we saw it through her eyes and she explained every part of it we toured, it was truly amazing. She showed us so many more places and we had fallen in love with Rome. When it came time to tell her goodbye, it was saying goodbye to a very good friend. On our next trip to Italy in 2024, we made sure to fly into Rome and we only had 1 night, so we took a taxi to Trastevere and Francesca met us and took us on an amazing tour. At the end of the tour she took us to a great restaurant known to locals and it was so good. After dinner, we saw Rome after dark as she drove us to all the major landmarks and it was beautiful. In 2025, we flew into Rome and had 4 glorious days. Francesca took us to the Borghese Museum and gave us an amazing tour, the sculptures and paintings came alive as she told us about each one. She also took us to Tivoli and we toured the Villa Adriana and Villa d Este, she gave us wonderful tours and my husband was having a small medical problem and she arranged for carts to take us through the outside areas as he couldn’t walk long distances. She was always so helpful and when it came to say goodbye it was so hard. She is the best guide we have ever had and if you get a chance be sure and book her. You will be so happy that you did and she will bring Rome alive to you as she did for us.
Con amore, Cathy & Bob
My wife and I had the pleasure of touring Rome with Francesca in April 2025, following a strong recommendation from a family member—and she exceeded every expectation. She guided us through the Colosseum, the surrounding historical sites, and the Borghese Gallery with a depth of knowledge that transformed what we were seeing. As a professional guide and art history professor, she brought layers of meaning, context, and storytelling that we would have completely missed on our own. What stood out most was her ability to connect history and art in a way that was both intellectually rich and deeply engaging. Our shared enthusiasm made the experience feel less like a tour and more like an ongoing conversation. We ended the day sharing a glass of wine and continuing that conversation—a perfect close to an unforgettable experience. Highly recommended.
Jeffrey H. Kenyon
Our experience with Francesca was nothing short of amazing from beginning to end! I was nervous to reach out to her because she was recommended in the Rick Steve’s Travel books, I assumed that she would be booked but we lucked out and Francesca was available, so always give it the college try! We immediately began communicating about the type of tours she can provide and narrowed the search down to 2. She was so helpful navigating what would most interest us and how to make the most of the 2 days we would be spending with her. The first day, we took the Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, and Basilica. The second day we explored the Vatican Museum and Sistina Chapel with Francesca. The amount of knowledge Francesca has on these tours is absolutely astounding but she does not make it overwhelming. We are a family of 5, with my youngest being 10 at the time, being a school teacher, she is excellent at reading the kids and understanding how their little minds work and was so patient and kind explaining all of the different historical facts in such an engaging way. She takes you under her maternal wing when you are with her and you truly feel like family. She was also so very helpful with navigating restaurant recommendations as well, each spot was absolutely amazing! I cannot speak more highly of Francesca and the the tours she provides. We have already recommended friends of ours to her who have also taken her tour and felt the same way! You will not be disappointed, 5 star review all day!!!
Siobhan McCann
Francesca was absolutely exceptional and made our time in Rome in 2023 truly unforgettable. She is not only a wonderful tour guide, but a genuine historian whose depth of knowledge brought every street, monument, and hidden corner of the city to life. Her passion for Rome shines through in every story she tells, and she has a remarkable way of blending history, culture, and personal charm into an experience that feels both educational and deeply memorable. What could have been just a sightseeing tour became an extraordinary journey through time because of her expertise and enthusiasm. Francesca’s warmth, professionalism, and attention to detail made us feel so comfortable and cared for throughout our visit. She went above and beyond to ensure every moment was special, and it left such a lasting impression on us that we are returning in September 2026 and fully intend to reconnect with her for more tours. If you are looking for a guide in Rome who is knowledgeable, engaging, and truly passionate about the city’s rich history, Francesca is simply the best. We cannot recommend her highly enough and are already looking forward to seeing her again.
Tammie Ormson