Voices of experience: Qualified tour guides can help visitors make the most of their time

Planning a visit to Italy for the first time can be a daunting task if you are doing it on your own. If you are not traveling with a tour group who will organize everything from flights to hotels to guided tours, then you need to consider a number of factors when deciding what to do on your own and what to leave to tour guides in each of the places you will visit. Those decisions may be based on your level of comfort in dealing with all the planning but also the amount of time you have in each city and also your budget.

The Golden House of Nero requires a tour guide for entry. | ADOBE

I must confess our first trip to Italy was all self-planned. We had only one day in Rome on our first visit and managed to squeeze in a tour of the Vatican and Colosseum and short stops at other major sites, but it was a grueling 14-hour self-tour which we never repeated again. On subsequent visits we usually planned our own sightseeing tours, but they were better spaced out and researched in advance. Of course, we also had the luxury of speaking the language and always made sure to ask the locals for tips on lesser-known sites and local eateries.

In later years I worked for a cultural society in Rome with amazing tour guides who had extensive knowledge of the history, art, and archeology of the city. I was fortunate to tour numerous sites that were not usually experienced by visitors limited by time constraints, and I also got a good sense of how to choose a tour company based on one’s personal interests.

Venetian gondoliers need a license to transport passengers through the canals of Venice.

Some visitors want (or only have the time) to visit the major sites of a city and get the general background of a church or museum, and others will want to learn more about the history of the these treasures as well as fabulous archaeological sites and the magnificent art that one will see throughout the country.

If you have limited time in each place, you should first prioritize what you want to see most and what you want to learn about those sites. There are many guidebooks you can read before your trip, ranging from those with general or more extensive information before you visit. These can also include maps of the sites and information on pricing and hours and also suggestions on best times to visit.

Wandering on your own can lead to unexpected discoveries.

With museums you should check the days they are closed and also see if there are days when you can enter at no cost. For example, at the Vatican there is free entry every last Sunday of the month from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., except on Easter Sunday, June 29 (St. Peter and Paul day), Dec. 25 and Dec. 26. This can make it quite crowded unless you are visiting in the off-season. At the Uffizi Gallery in Florence admission is free for visitors under 18 as well as those with a disability or a medical certificate proving disability. You should always ask if there are student discounts or discounted rates for children prior to purchasing tickets.

Of course, there are some sites which require a guide in order to gain entry. One of these is Le Scavi, a necropolis (meaning city of the dead) which was discovered during excavations ordered by Pope Pius XI between 1940-1949 because he wanted to be buried as close as possible to St. Peter. Once an open-air burial ground, the tombs were covered over during the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica and are located between five and 12 meters below the foundation of the basilica.

Another recently discovered site in Rome which requires a guide for a tour is the Domus Aurea or Golden House. The site is a vast urban complex built by the Emperor Nero on the Oppian Hill in the heart of ancient Rome after the great fire of 64 A.D. destroyed much of the city. The private villa has over 300 rooms with light filtering in through openings in the ceilings and walls decorated with frescos and mosaics. There were also artificial lakes and carefully curated gardens as well as an enormous 114-foot statue of Nero next to the lake.

A guided tour along the Sentiero delle Felci (Fern Path) inside the Parco regionale della Vena del Gesso Romagnola in Emilia Romagna. | CREATIVE COMMONS

During my time at the tour company in Rome I was amazed at the knowledge of their guides. Many had master’s degrees in art and history. I also learned that in order to be licensed they had to take a test which covered a number of subjects, and which was not offered very often. Prior to 2024, licensed tour guides had to pass exams which were offered regionally and there were no national standards. Licensed tour guides were the only professionals allowed to conduct tours at all sites and museums and those who attempted to do so without a license were fined.

This all changed in December 2023 when Law 190 was passed which directed that the profession of a tourist guide was to include the explanation and interpretation during tours with both individuals or groups, of the significance of touchable and non-touchable resources. These resources include historical and cultural museums, religious items, architecture, archeology, and monuments which are part of the heritage of Italy. It includes the relationships between these assets and the territory in which they lie as well as the historical ties, community values and other important aspects of the sites or artifacts.

Those interested in becoming tour guides can attend approved schools to prepare for the test and there are also specialized courses throughout the regions and autonomous provinces specific to those areas which also focus on local customs and traditions, common artisanal crafts and provincial food and wine products.

To become a tour guide in Italy, one must obtain a license relative to the service they will provide. A tour guide or manager who books groups for tours with large companies needs a business license to take groups through Italy and must comply with Italian civil code and may also need a special manager certificate. If they are also serving as a guide but do not have a license, they must hire local ones.

Eligibility for a tourist guide exam requires being of legal age, having a clean criminal record, knowing English at an advanced level and at least an intermediate level of another language, and holding a high school diploma. To participate in the national licensing exam, one must be a citizen of Italy or a member state of the European Union or, if a citizen of non-EU states, they must follow current immigration regulations.

The process of obtaining this license involves researching requirements, preparing documentation, submitting the application, studying for, and then taking the examination, and receiving the license which is renewable every five years. Applicants are required to pass a national examination offered by the local public tourism authorities to test their knowledge of the city and or region where they plan to work. The questions cover history and geography, the cities’ art and architecture, museums, art galleries, churches, and cultural features.

It also includes these types of questions for areas outside the city limits which could also consist of questions on flora and fauna if there are national or regional parks in the area. Candidates are also required to demonstrate their proficiency in each of the foreign languages they applied for in both written and oral exams. The procedure may also slightly vary in the applicant’s country of origin and whether they are applying to provide temporary or permanent services.

Once a guide is licensed, they are issued a personal identification card, which allows them free entry to all sites where they exercise their profession or sites they access for study or training purposes. For guides already licensed, refresher courses are offered every few years.

If you are choosing a guided tour, start by making sure they are licensed and of course check the reviews! Licensed guides protect the reputation of tourism by taking all steps to ensure their clients treat the natural environment, wildlife, archaeological sites, monuments, and local customs with respect. Certified guides are also able to share dependable up-to-date information on all aspects of local life that include temporary exhibits, tips, information on local markets, public transportation, major events that may interest visitors and local venues which travelers may not discover on their own.

If you schedule some guided tours as you visit different areas and sites in Italy, either with a larger group or in a smaller individualized group, you will gain more insight into the distinctive cultural nuances of each city and region with a more thorough understanding of the special charm of each locale and a deeper awareness of Italy’s profound historical and cultural heritage.

With today’s technology it is much easier to find your way around and to research information on places you are visiting if you choose not to use a guide. It is always great to wander and explore on your own in some cases, but I recommend you also consider at least one or two guided tours as you explore the many cities and other cultural and archeological gems that Italy has to offer. Take the time also to learn and use a few basic common courtesy phrases as you immerse yourself in the rich heritage of Italy. Not everyone speaks English in the smaller or remote locales so per favore (please) and grazie (thank you) go a long way!