vatican art walks reviewed

Charlotte, London England

Dear Scot, Just a quick mail to say a huge "Thank you" for a fabulous tour on Saturday. We had a great time and my Mum was so thrilled with it. It made our trip very special. We arrived home yesterday absolutely exhausted from a lovely weekend. Thanks again, it was really nice to meet you. Bye for now Charlotte

from hip travel blog Jaunted.com

"A New Hope On The Pope Circuit", August 21, 2006

Want the full Pope experience, but worried about taking the tour of the Vatican with a bunch of other people who see images of the Virgin Mary in their grilled cheese sandwiches? Then look no further than Vatican Art Walks [Insider Rome's previous incarnation - ed.]. Their strict no-yardstick across the knuckles policy means they are Jaunted's favorite Vatican tour company. Art Walk mastermind Scot (so cool his name only has one "t") will take you and a small group on a tour of the Vatican, focusing primarily on the famous art inside. The tour is informative yet conversational in tone, and are only scheduled during off-hours at the Vatican, which means you won't ever be with crowds big enough to make you hyperventilate. Plus, you might even learn something. How else would we have learned that there is a statue of Bill Clinton at the Vatican?

travel agent Sara K, Baltimore MD

Scot - we just wanted to thank you so much for our great day in Rome. We really enjoyed Andrea as well, and just wish that we could have spent more time with her at the Vatican, and in the Jewish ghetto. Rome in a day is a bit crazy, especially with the travel time built in! When I get over the jet -lag I will post a glowing review on Cruise Critic and Trip Advisor - I appreciate your customizing our day - it was one of our best on the trip.

Ros and Cassie, Melbourne AUS

Dear Scot, Finally writing after 8 months to thank you for sharing your knowledge of the Vatican and ancient Rome with Cass and myself. Sadly,we may not have retained all the detail but have an appreciation and background now which will make further reading more meaningful. Both afternoons were memorable and we enjoyed meeting our fellow travellers. After exploring ancient Rome with you on the Wednesday we joined a bus tour to Naples and Pompeii on Thursday so that left Friday with a list of must do's which I won't bore you with but we did visit the Borghese Gallery..... and after walking all morning and practically running to make our appointed time at the gallery I declared I wasn't walking back to the Jewish Quarter for lunch so we caught a taxi..... and found your recommendation ..d'ottavia where I tried the zucchini flowers.... delicious. Then for dinner after a wonderful afternoon walking and revisiting sights we headed to via della croce but your restaurant there was closed for a private function so off to osteria margutta your other suggestion where we had a wonderful dinner for our last Italian meal! Then a slow walk home past the Spanish steps for the last time and down to San Crispian for the last gelati! So,thank you! Also, I am delighted my friends Marion and Andy will be joining you shortly. They are "old friends" and I know they are going to love Italy and sharing stories with you. All the best for your summer..... hope it's busy Ciao Ros and Cassie Moore PS Found our photos on your site.

posted in Tripadvisor forums by "DrillCat"

My family and I were on Brilliance of the Seas recently. Wanted to visit Florence and Pisa but didn’t want to go with the cruise ship’s excursions as not only it was very expensive but basically they would drop you off at one location and you will be on your own to explore. (Someone mentioned a cattle tour in regards to this.) I really wanted to be able to see the masterpieces in Uffizi and also see as much as possible in one short day. Though I have no intention of criticizing what cruise ships do for the mass, having 3 kids including a baby makes things tougher. So my search in TA led me to Rina from Loving Italy. It’s a small company with just Rina and her fiancée Scot. Rina’s from Livorno and Scot lives in Rome. We decided on doing both excursions with Loving Italy. All emails were answered within the same day. Small deposits were made via Paypal with the rests paid in cash AFTER the tours were over. Now, Rina is a true Italian who LOVES her country and especially Tuscany. I read up on lots literatures before visiting any foreign cities and expect the local guides to truly know the history and culture. Rina had a vast amount of information and I really appreciated her sharing all those stories with us. She never stopped talking to us and relentless in her pursuit to allow us to see and learn as much as possible in that one short stop off the cruise. Moreover, she had her own MB van with a license as a tour driver which allowed her to drive right into the heart of Florence. This also saved us couple of hundred euros as she acted as both the driver and guide. The pick up was right on time. Her manner was awesome. She was very professional AND very competitive in price for the family of five. She had made a reservation at Uffizi as promised which allowed us to bypass the line. BTW, I strongly recommend any art lover to visit Uffizi. We spent about 2 hours there and we plan to return! Before we were dropped off at the port, we found time to stop at Pisa for the famous tower. I did not know that right along the Duomo and Tower of Pisa, there was a nice area for souvenirs and shopping with lots restaurants. Looked a bit busy but certainly wanted to stroll if had more time. Florence alone deserves a week or two of your time to explore. But if you have just ONE day to see Florence, I highly recommend Rina and Loving Italy! On the last note, the next day, we did Rome with her fiancee/partner Scot. He is an American from Ohio who fell in love with Rome and stayed. Fluent in Italian and kids friendly. The day was hot but didn’t lose his cool. He catered to our needs specifically as both my wife and I had visited Rome before for a week and I just wanted to give my kids a taste of Rome. Funny, how the sites were so close to each other than how we remembered. We figured that it was due to his knowledge of back streets and short cuts. A good local guide can make such difference… Another MB van came to pick us up from the port for Rome. Met Scot at one of the famous Piazzas in a central location. From there we walked to Pentheon, Trevi fountain, Forum and to the Coliseum. He took us to the Forum and bought tickets for the Coliseum as well which saved us from waiting at the Coliseum as the line was horrendous. We then took the taxi to Vatican museum. No wait in line. Got in right away. Then lastly we visited St. Peter’s Basillica. That was another FULL day of exploring the ancient Italy and completely fulfilling. No time for review and editing so if my writing is poor, please forgive me. Ciao.

Melissa, Houston TX

Ciao, Rina! So glad to hear from you. It is true; time has flown by. We have been busy with the grandchildren and getting reacquainted! Have your ears been burning; we speak fondly of you every day. I told my sisters that we have a new sister in Italy. It was such a wonderful trip and the best part was because of you! I have some friends who may be contacting you; a couple of different groups. One dear friend is going to be staying in Figline for a month in the fall in a house that her sister-in-law has rented. My friend, Julia, and her husband will take a side trip to Rome. I told her she needs to call you or email you for the best tour of Rome imaginable! I will let you know more as they plan their trip. I played golf with Nancy Walker today and we were talking about how much we missed you. Did you have a good visit with your family? Hope you were able to see them for more time than you had thought! Take care of yourself and yes, let's keep in touch! Sincerely, melissa

Al & Michele R, New York NY

Hi Scot, We are back from our cruise and back to work already. I just wanted to say that we had a great time with you in Rome! The whole Vatican tour was awesome and the kids loved the Colisseum. I liked the San Clemente church; that's something you don't get to hear about everyday. You were great with us and the kids. Also, me with all my emails! There is no way we could have seen what did and known what we were looking at without you. It felt like more of a friend showing us around than a tour guide. My husband Al is already saying we should go back to Italy, and when we do we will look you up! Hope all is well and thanks again, Michele and co.

Heather, Boston MA

Rina, I'm so happy that I finally found your email address! How have you been? How did your wine tour go? Do you have a lot of traveling to do in August? I just want to say how wonderful it was to meet you and have you be part of our trip, it was truly a blessing for our family to have you join us. I can't stop thinking about what an amazing time it was and can't stop telling all of my friends and coworkers about it! My new goal is to find a job that will allow me to travel and live abroad, hopefully in Italy. I'm taking Italian lessons in September so I will have to write to you for practice! I hope everything is going well for you and I hope to see you again in the near future, especially with my boyfriend's family being in Arezzo. I told Carolina to let me know when she makes the brochures for the wine tours because I think there are several people in my office who would be interested. Thank you again for such a wonderful time, my family and I will never forget it! Please keep in touch and say hello to your dog for me!

Carolyn G (and Ted, Betsy, Donna, Dale, Josephine, Suzy & Maxine) London, OH

Dear Scot Some of our group got together last night and we wondering how you were doing and what is going on in Rome???? It has almost been a year since we made our trip to Rome. We were looking at our pictures and reliving our trip to Rome, Greek Isles, Tuscany and Malta. What a good time. We all were in appreciation for all you did for us. Hope all is well with you - I know you are probably busy but we would like to hear from you. Take care !!!! Carolyn

Norman

Rina, What a find you were, what a great day in Sienna, and you are my Italian Professor/tour guide. I need to clone several of you for other parts of the world. I will let you know when our Connoisseur Of Travel web site is up- should be a couple of weeks. Be well. Ciao! Norman

Heather

Rina! I'm so happy that I finally found your email address! How have you been? How did your wine tour go? Do you have a lot of traveling to do in August? I just want to say how wonderful it was to meet you and have you be part of our trip, it was truly a blessing for our family to have you join us. I can't stop thinking about what an amazing time it was and can't stop telling all of my friends and coworkers about it! My new goal is to find a job that will allow me to travel and live abroad, hopefully in Italy. I'm taking Italian lessons in September so I will have to write to you for practice! I hope everything is going well for you and I hope to see you again in the near future, especially with my boyfriend's family being in Arezzo. I told Carolina to let me know when she makes the brochures for the wine tours because I think there are several people in my office who would be interested. Thank you again for such a wonderful time, my family and I will never forget it! Please keep in touch and say hello to your dog for me! - Heather

Paula and her sisters, London

Saturday was the highlight of our few days in Italy. You brought St. Peter to life for all of us, and I feel as though I have culture coming out of my ears - which is wonderful. What a great way for you to live, and Rome certainly takes some beating. I have already passed your details on to my friends who are visiting Rome in January of next year (five ladies this time rather than four - but know you will cope!) Have just had my film processed, and there is a great one of you surrounded by ladies in your favourite little bar!! Thank you once again for being a superb guide and I promise to declare your talents for bringing history to life to any future visitors to Rome. Best Wishes

posted in Tripadvisor forums by "tefederman"

Our first trip to Europe and we wanted to visit the Vatican. I hit on a site called [--]. My first impression of Scot McFiggin, the director of the site (who also leads the tours) was kind, prompt and sincerely helpful. I felt instantly at ease. The whole process in getting the tour set up was simply a breeze. Not only did Scot give us a fabulous tour of the Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Square and the Sistine Chapel, he also arranged a reasonably priced and comfortable ride from the dock in Civitavechia to our hotel in Rome. We met for lunch prior to the tour and walked a short distance to the entrance of the Vatican.

Scot's knowledge of art history was extensive and impressive. His true talent was in delivering historical information in a fun and informal way. His use of a headset (with the group using earphones) was especially nice in a crowded setting. Our small group didn't have to huddle together to hear every word but felt free to linger in one place or another as long as we were within a few yards of our guide.

My husband was using a scooter for better mobility and Scot was eager to assist in carrying the scooter at stairways or leading my husband to an elevator when necessary. We went on several tours while in Europe... in Greece, in Turkey and other parts of Italy; but this tour far outshined the others in every way. The Vatican is amazing in and of itself - Scot made the whole experience more so. I highly recommend a visit to [--].

posted in Tripadvisor forums by "globalnomad"

I had arranged to have a guide walk us through Rome for the day – a brilliant decision! Scot McFiggen, of [Insider Rome], met us at the train and gave us a personal tour which started at the Coliseum (via Metro from Termini) then on to the Forum, past the Wedding Cake, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navrona, a short stop for lunch and then taxi to Vatican City to see the museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's.

All this with a running commentary of architecture, history and stories. No heads buried in a map and no getting lost. Scot is an American who fell in love with Italy and loves to share his enthusiasm with others. He is extremely knowledgeable but we never felt overwhelmed with information. We walked many miles that day, and this may not be for everyone but for us it was a great way to get the flavor of Rome. There are so many more senses aroused when you're on foot rather than watching from behind a window!

At 1:30 pm, when we arrived at the Vatican Museum there was no line. Apparently, Monday is 'cruise-ship' day in Rome and the mornings are very crowded. We bid Scot farewell at the St. Pietro train station about 4:30pm and made it back to the ship in plenty of time for our 7pm departure. The train was so packed, the walls kept us all upright for most of the journey. Somewhere in Italy, there's a poor man who has very intimate knowledge of my anatomy and definitely not by his choice!

Cunard Cruises V.P. David B.

I met Rina Bucci, who lives in Florence during my Holiday in Italy. See is a fantastic tour guide and organizes numerous tour experiences for individuals and groups. I would appreciate if you could pass her info (electronic card attached below) on to those individuals at Costa who are responsible for tours and shore excursions with my highest recommendation for her abilities. Rina is a fantastic resource that Costa might want to tap someday.

Thomas E.

Hi guys! I promised you in early July that I would send you some photos of the tour we took with you of the Vatican museums. The tour you gave was entertaining and informative and the topic was magnificent. I hope to return to Rome and take another of your tours one day. Best regards, Tom

Jack and Judy M, Washington DC

My wife and I participated in three of your tours in the latter half of June.We enjoyed all immensely; well done!"

Dan and Jeanesha, Philadelphia PA

Hi Scot. How's life in the Eternal City? Well, Jeanesha and I finally made it home. You really made our trip to Rome something special. I hope that you enjoy the picture. You may finally have the proof that you have been looking for for your fiance. Take care and see ya.

Jo Ann F., Shreveport LA

This will be a very short note. We loved our trip to Italy thanks to you. You are the best and as you already know we all adore you. I will be sending a package to you shortly, so be on the look out for it. This is one of the eBay sights for magnets. I will also forward one on cups and saucers. Hope this gets you started on an adventure with eBay. It can be addictive!! Till later- Love and Hugs, "Ciao Baby" Jo Ann (in case you forgot) P.S. Start planing your trip to Louisiana.

Kathy and Emily

Hey Scot - I want to say thanks for helping us to get off on the right foot - the entire trip was charmed from start to finish and you gave us a beautiful introduction to Rome and to Italy. We had so many incredible things happen to us! Within a few days we both got over our shyness about trying out the language and even Ms. Thing was cool with walking into stores by herself and running a few riffs in Italian. So, thank you! I appreciated your breadth of knowledge and your sense of humor about the city, art, politics (your spin, especially), history - and especially your passion for such an amazing country, despite it's faults. I'm not a t.v. watcher so have been devouring books on Italy - art, culture, history - since returning home - and I wanna move there (you've got to say that last part with a major whine in your voice!!!). Well, another visit in the meantime - and we'll connect with you! I wish you well and thanks again for making our trip that much more amazing!!

Linda, AK

Rina, we are back in Arkansas. The weather is 90 and sunny! The boys were glad to get home and see their friends. Gary said he was templed out by the time we made Venice. Our time with you was still our favorite. If it is OK with you , I am forwarding your e-mail to Nancy McIntosh. She will be in the Florence area the first of July sometime. She is an international stewardess for American Airlines based in New York.. Lovely lady. Please allow us to show you Southern hospitality if you ever make it to the States! Tke care! - Linda

Frank M, Miami FL

Buongiorno, Come sta ? I just wanted to say Mille grazie again for making our vacation so bellissimo I am in the process of sorting through 2,100 pictures taken in 10 short days and I wanted to send either a CD or prints of at least some of them. I went to your website and could not find your address so-> Qual'e' il tuo (suo) indirizzo? Send it to me per favore and I will get them out to you as soon as I am done. Buona giornata Frank J. Mercede

Anne, New York NY

(letter to her travel agent) Dear Carol, Everything was wonderful! THANK YOU!!! Rina is fantastic -- very knowledgeable, thoroughly charming and a pleasure to be with. We miss her already!!! Here's my review of everything: Venice- nice but overpriced and touristy -- no surprise. Hotel was lovely apart from the one drunk concierge, and the departure. Their inability to sort out our bill and the consequential charge of 25 euros for the waiting taxi did not impress, and the fact that they told the taxi driver we were late because we were still sleeping was offensive. Enjoyed Murano, Burano and Torcello. Jewish ghetto was really interesting. Peggy Guggenheim museum was OK -- a little cramped. We're spoiled by living so close to NY. Piazza San Marco - what you would expect - a scene but an integral part of the gestalt of Venice. Biennale was not our cup of tea but I expect real modern are aficionados would disagree. Florence - Lovely. Uffizzi and Academia were great. No matter how many times one sees The David it never fails to be awe inspiring. Shopping is still good for leather and gold, but because the dollar is so weak buying much else doesn't really pay. Food was excellent! Stayed away from the "must go to", trendy restaurants, instead opting for Rina's recommendations. Best part of Florence were the side trips: Fiesole: Cooking lesson was SUPER!!! Siena: Great San Gimigniano: Too cute for words. Has the best gelato in the world. Rina can tell you which place; she is friendly with the owner Chianti: Beautiful countryside. Verrazzano winery is breathtaking and the guide, Gino, is a real showman Pompeii - Stopped on the way to Amalfi. Incredible. Has to be seen to be believed. Amalfi - From now on, when I picture heaven it will be the Santa Caterina. I understand why you worked the rest of the trip around staying there -- very wise! Thank you! There are no words to describe the beauty of the hotel and the setting. The staff is extraordinary -- warm and so welcoming. From the moment we checked in, every staff member knew our name, room number, and how many in our party. Positano - more touristy than expected but cute. Much preferred the town of Amalfi. Sorrento- good shopping ... terrible drivers ... fabulous final Italian dinner courtesy of Rina. That's about it. Thanks again. All the best, Anne

David and family

"Rina, Linda and I and the boys had a great time today! I would appreciate the itemized list of where we went today and the email of your Greek friend so we can see if he is available when we are in Athens....thank you again for everything and Linda is saying she can't wait to come back! Gary"

Jeff, Lauren, Ethan and Chelsea

This letter is to give you a pat on the back. We were in Rome in mid August and went on your wonderful tour of the Vatican. Our whole family considered this one of the highlights of our 3 week adventure in Italy. I wanted to take a minute to tell you what a good job you do. We loved the history and stories you told us as we went through the museums. It was a very special three hours and I am sure we will remember all the many things you shared with us. It was so good I wanted to make sure you knew. Thank you again.

Louis Van E., Boston MA

We truly enjoyed the tour of the Vatican and we LOVED Rome. We felt very lucky to have been included in your tour as we both thought you were knowledgeable and passionate about the subject - its clear you love your job!!! I would love to bring my family to Rome and if/when we do I will definitely book you for a tour. Good luck to you and hopefully our paths will cross again in the future. Best regards.

Dick and Sally, FL

This is from Dick (the guy with the cane). I just want to tell you by e-mail how much Sally and I enjoyed the tours of Rome and the Amalfi coast. Your personal knowledge of Rome, Pompeii and the coast towns made for unforgettable days. We feel that the tours arranged by you were the highlights of our cruise. I feel that we learned more about Rome, and certainly the Pantheon, in that one day than in the entire week we had spent in Rome twenty years ago.

Leslie and Richard, New York, NY

Dear Rina, There really is no way to adequately express our thanks to you for making our trip special in so many ways. But let us try. First, when everyone asks what our favorite part of our trip was, we both answer without hesitation, "Assisi". It was sublime. Our day travleing through Tuscany and Umbria with you was divine, everything you promised and more. And you are the most delightful company! Now, when I hear Tony Bennett I immediately think of you as well. Second, we would have had no Rome experience without you. That day driving around would have been a day of us struggling to get from place to place by subway and on foot. How much would we have seen? How terrible would it have been in the heat? You saved the day! We felt we had a very complete visit, seeing what we wanted to see. Third, you removed all the stress and anxiety over the taxi strikes by assuring us we would have a way to get to the airport. It would have been hard to enjoy our vacation worrying about being stranded. And then, of all things, you produced a guide with a husband who is a driver, who could help us! Which brings me to . . . Fourth, Alessandra. She was so great! We had a wonderful Vatican/St. Peter's tour and really enjoyed her so very much. She is smart, funny and just a bit irreverent, which made for a great experience. And her husband took us to the airport Friday in a big thunderstorm, safely, what a sweet guy! We even saw more sights as we left the city. Our flight was on time to the minute and we got home with no problem. Rina, you made this all so very specal. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We look forward to further wonderful tours with you! All the best, Leslie and Richard Curtis

Rebecca C, Oberlin OH

Rebecca C. Dear Scot, Thanks again for the amazing tours. It's four years later, and I'm hip-deep in senior thesis, and during those hours when I allow myself to think about anything other than academia, I daydream about Europe and Rome, and I still remember those tours. I went to fourteen countries in that six months, but I don't think I knew anywhere as much as I got to know Rome. Thank you again

travel agent Sonja

(from travel agent) Hello Rina: Finally heard from The Walkers..the following are there comments. "We were very happy with the driver and the guides. They wery very informative, confident and intuitive, homing in on our needs and moods". All in all sounds good to me..thank you so much again. Sonja

Murray and Fiona, Perth AUS

found a message on there from Jo and Pete the couple from England who originally gave us your mobile and told us to contact you in Rome. So I e-mailed them to say thank you as well. Well after your superb efforts in showing Rome we left for a week of pure bliss on Santorini. We have told all our friends about you and the huge part you played in making our trip a great success - not too sure if many aussies will get to Europe at the minute but we will always give out your number to all the boring non red wine drinking non Italian eating victor Emmanuelle monument lovers we can find! I know you know this so won't mention it again, but you really did make our time in Rome a tremendous experience and we both felt as though you were immediately a great mate of long standing. You have a nature and sensational ability in doing what you do, so even if it ever gets slow or boring to you you are giving all your clients an experience they will never forget. Cheers then, Murray

Dick and Sally P, Santa Fe NM

This is from Dick (the guy with the cane). I just want to tell you by e-mail how much Sally and I enjoyed the tours of Rome and the Amalfi coast. Your personal knowledge of Rome, Pompeii and the coast towns made for unforgettable days. We feel that the tours arranged by you were the highlights of our cruise. I feel that we learned more about Rome, and certainly the Pantheon, in that one day than in the entire week we had spent in Rome twenty years ago.

Gary and Linda

Rina, Linda and I and the boys had a great time today! I would appreciate the itemized list of where we went today and the email of your Greek friend so we can see if he is available when we are in Athens....thank you again for everything and Linda is saying she can't wait to come back! Gary

Sheila and Hilary G., WALES

Dear Scot, Enjoyed your tour tremendously. We will pass on details to any friends going to Italy. Guides don't come any better, your depth of knowledge was amazing.

Jacquie, Kath and Vera, Newcastle ENGLAND

Hi Scot we are the 3 nurses from Newcastle,England who took your Vatican tour Feb 9th. We would like to thank you for a great 3 hours you know your stuff and your presentation is fab!! We checked out the eating places you suggested and were very impressed especially the 100+ anti-pastos!! Can't find the cave you told us about on the web site though! Take care and many thanks again for helping to make our visit to Rome so special. Jacquie,Kath and Vera

Trevor and Carol, Staffordshire, England

Hi Scot, Thank you for you e mail and we look forward to hearing from you again in the future. We only had a short stay in Rome, but we are both agreed that the tour you gave us of the Vatican was definately the highlight of the trip. It was our good fortune that we went on your tour and I thank you for the detail and friendly manner in which the trip was conducted. Best Regards, Trevor

Sid and Carolyn, Dallas TX

Scot,Thanks for a perfect trip to Rome! You certainly made it a special memory for us. We have both agreed that the vist to St Clement was themost exciting part of our entire trip. We did get to see the Pope (another highlight) and the driver you scheduled for the ride to the ship was very nice. We would like to send you some Skippy or Peter Pan if you think it is possible….then you can think of us!! Let me have any information about shipping food that will be helpful to us. Our love and best wishes, Sid and Carolyn

Delon D

Hi Scot, Thank you so much for your tour. We both found it entertaining and educational. I would definately like to experience more of your wealth of information in the future. I hope you don't mind, but I have given you a link below which describes my work in case you would like to know. Thanks again - do keep in touch and I will pass your name on to any friends headed to Italy

Don and Joyce H

Hi Scot, Don and I are so pleased that we met up with you and your tour last Friday.  You made Friday afternoon and Sat. midday a fun learning experience for us.  We enjoyed your humour and informative teaching.  Here are a few photos to sort for your album--couldn't leave out the American President--   Enjoyed your site on your "cave" area.  It looks really intriguing.  Thanks again for all your time and help to make our Rome visit a positive experience.   Don says he'll post a note to Graffiti Wall on your behalf.  Best of luck.  Don and Joyce

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