Private tour of northern Italy

My friend Sandra and I spent four glorious days in Italy with Maria Rizziello of Treasures of Italy (Via Prandone 24, 14100, Asti, Italia; call, collect, 011 39 0141 294 801, email treasuresofitaly@outlook.com or visit www.facebook.com/treasures ofitaly). Maria conducts tours all over Italy. We got her name from a small ad she placed in ITN.

For our 5-day/4-night tour, May 5-9, 2017, we had very specific things we wanted to see, and Maria was able to get us into everything and so much more.

Specifically, we wanted a Jewish-themed tour of northern Italy. We had certain synagogues we wanted to see as well as libraries in Parma and Bologna. Not only did we see the ancient books, we were able to handle them. What a thrill! She also took us to Fossoli di Carpi, the site of a Jewish concentration camp during World War II.

It cost us less per day than the packaged tour we had been on and was so much nicer. We paid less than $400 per person per day; the total for each of us was about $1,700. This included hotels (with breakfast), dinners, driving expenses and all entrance fees. 

Maria chose wonderful places to stay and fantastic restaurants. The food we ate at the dinners was the best I’ve ever eaten.

She drove us everywhere, and we were able to see so much more than we could have seen on a regular tour. I only wish we had had more time with her. I can’t wait to return!

JUDY FAITEK
San Diego, CA