We have just returned from our trip to Italy, having been delayed by one day because our plane left from Rome an hour late to Newark, we could not connect on our flight and all other flights were also booked. Fortunately we have family where we stayed and came home a day late. We were delighted with the arrangements that Roberta Albert made for our trip. She exceeded our expectations. Our guide in Venice was knowledgeable, found us the type of glass blowing/sculpting master we asked for. We were also able to go to the Glassblowing School and see another master sculpt. Our 18 year old grandson, for whom this part of the trip was arranged, was thrilled. He has been working with glass at summer camp for the past 7 years. He said he could not do anything as complicated as the masters we saw. Our guide in Rome was Manuella Vitello. We had an outstanding tour of the Vatican, the Colosseum and the Forum with her. She was also flexible. My husband had knee surgery and could not walk really well. For the Vatican tour we found a wheel chair that my husband could ride (I pushed) and that our grandson carried up and down staircases. Manuella knew all the guards since she is a regular tour guide and they let us through the crowds and helped with the wheel chair. She was superb. She knows her art and had new insights that she imparted to us. I would recommend her to everyone. I would also recommend the special Colosseum tour to others. There is an elevator in the Colosseum so my husband could ride up and down various levels in it. We paid for the special tour of the lower level and the stage. The guard who accompanied us and took my husband in the elevator told him that she loves to listen to Manuella who knows so much and is passionate about the history.
So, I would recommend Cultural Italy to others. We were very pleased with all our arrangements.
Thank you very much.
Susan Schwarzwald
