Travelers Reviews

My wife and I very much enjoyed this tour of the true Roman ruins. The guides were fantastic and seemed to know everything about the Ostia ruins. These ruins are bigger and in many ways better preserved than those in the center of Rome. I highly recommend this tour! We will do a longer one when we go back.

This tour was one of the most interesting tours of our entire vacation through Greece and Italy. The guides were amazing, their deep knowledge and appreciation of the history and the archeology was quite apparent. Ostia Antica is an amazing place. The guides, Chiara and Federico, were invaluable in our enjoyment of it! The train ride down from Rome was easy and pleasant and our guide met us there just per plan.

This was a lovely personal and informative tour. Ostia Antica is a great example of a working port. Also, lovely gelato and a great recomendation for lunch. Thank you.

Wonderful tour of a little known gem. The largest archaeological site in Europe yet few tourists. Chiara and Frederico are great guides, very knowledgeable about the site and the area. This makes a good activity for the day before you fly home as it is close to the Rome airport. Gelato at the end was a fun touch .

Fascinating tour! Federico and Chiara were very personable hosts with amazing knowledge of Ostia Antiche. We were lucky to be the only guests on the tour, so we had lots of attention for our specific questions. The ruins of the ancient city are huge, and we enjoyed the well-preserved mosaics on the floors of the changing rooms for the Roman baths. It was fascinating to see the advanced technology of the Roman builders. Ostia Antiche is certainly as worthwhile to see as Pompeii, maybe better, and very close to Rome. The only downside was that my husband was disappointed that all of the gelato shops were closed that day.

My family did the Ostia Antica tour with Frederico and Chiara. It was a small group – just us plus one other couple, which was nice since it let everyone ask lots of questions. The guides are knowledgeable, friendly, and speak perfect English. The tour is 3 hours or so and roughly 3 miles of walking. There are a couple of places where you could climb a short steep stairway for a good view of the ruins from overhead but the climbs are skippable if, like a couple of people in our group, you’d rather avoid steep stairs. Ostia is worth the visit – it’s different from Pompeii in two ways: first, it was more of a working town than a vacation destination for the wealthy. Second, it was never frozen in time under volcanic ash, but rather had a whole life over hundreds of years before being abandoned and eventually excavated in modern times. It’s a large ruin with plenty to see.The guides meet you near the train station by the ruins, so if you’re in Rome you have to get yourself out there, but it’s easy and inexpensive using the metro and commuter train – take the metro to the Piramide station, which is connected to the Porta San Paolo train station, then switch to the Ostia-Lido commuter train. My teenager is a history buff and this was his favorite thing he did in Italy.

My husband and I drove about 5″ from our hotel to the archeological dig at ostia antica. We met Chiara and Federico by the ticket office. They were knowledgeable, friendly and presented this phenomenal treasure from before Christ (BC) onward. This was a Roman shipping port. We learned about burials, tapestries/mosaics, the amphitheater which is still in use today, the spa with multiple pool temperatures, public latrines where socialization occurred, an olden time B&B, and even where firemen were stationed. There was so much more…they were a wealth of knowledge! At the end, we walked a short distance for gelato which was a perfect treat on a hot day! I cannot say enough about this experience! Well done!

Ostia Antica is a hidden Gem. Lovely and quiet away from Rome. Hosts were very knowledgeable, patient and took the time to explain every little detail about the tour. Would recommend to anyone to make the trek out to Ostia Antica and take part in a small tour.

Ostia Antica is an amazing place that was brought to life by our knowledgeable and friendly guides, Federico and Chiara. We had many curious questions and Federico always had an interesting response that gave us a deeper understanding of the history while Chiara added more touches about the culture and daily life that was so intriguing! Without them taking us straight to the most impressive parts, we would’ve wasted so much time and had no context for what we were looking at. So grateful for the time they spent with us during the tour and the extra time hanging out with them afterwards was such a treat! Do yourself a favor and book Ideas4Travelers, you’ll be so glad you did!

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of Ostia Antica with Chiara and Federico. While the open air museum was more than a 30 minute drive from our hotel, it was well worth it. The gracious guides met us at the parking lot which had ample parking spaces and we practically had the place to ourselves the whole tour. Chiara and Federico guided us to highlights of the archaeological site while enthralling us with interesting facts and fascinating history of the place. They also paced the tour well keeping in mind the limited time we had, which was informed in advance. In hindsight, we wish we had budgeted more time to exploring the place at a leisurely pace and really enjoying the peace and quiet of the place. The museum and the tour are highly recommended!

We highly recommend “Ideas 4 Travellers” as tour guides for anyone visiting Rome. Chiara and Federico were brilliant in choosing Gianicolo Hill as the starting point for our time there! The breathtaking panoramic view from this spot of the city below gave us a beautiful visual sense of the city, and their insights and descriptions of what we were looking at provided us with a historic overview of this “work of art” city. The retaining wall from our observation spot was inscribed with the Consitiution of the independent Italian states created by Garibaldi and his freedom fighters. The Gianicolo’s Hill tour was a perfect introduction to Rome for us, because not only is the hill’s location overlooking all of Rome inspiring, but as we walked, talked and looked with awe at the sites around we learned about their history and significance thanks to our guides. As we did, it truly dawned on us just how much the city’s people, and their fellow countrymen, have shaped the art and culture that we enjoy, value and share. We had studied this in school, but being there with Chiara and Federico made it real. It sank in that even the means of governing countries now in place around the world is influenced by Rome, and that doesn’t even begin to cover how we owe so much to Italy and Rome for our knowledge and practice of science and engineering.From the start of our tour at the lighthouse (sadly no photo to share) past the statues of Giuseppe Garibaldi, and his inspiring and fiery wife Anita, we leisurely walked, talked and enjoyed the moment and the place. As we began to walk down the hill we were thrilled to look across the street and see a wall of the Vatican bordering the top of Gianicolo’s Hill. And that lucky feeling, and our learning, continued as we leisurely walked down past Garibaldi’s Mausoleum, the tomb and shrine of St. Peter, and then down the steps on the way to the Trastevere neighborhood. Chiara and Federico pointed out many small, and seemingly insignificant landmarks that would have otherwise escaped us along the way, such as the shrine in the wall as we entered Trastevere noting that the candle lights in shrines such as this gave protection from thieves to citizens who had to pass through the dark alleys at night in days long past. As we ended the actual tour we settled down at a table outside a small café where my wife and I we enjoyed an aperitif and a light repast with Chiara and Federico giving us the chance to chat and get to know our guides, and they us, a little better as well as to become friends.What a tour – it was one of the most enjoyable 2 ½ hours that we have spent, and we highly recommend that you consider and use “Ideas 4 Travellers” as your travel guides for your trip to Rome.

We really enjoyed our tour of Ostia Antica. It was a relaxing walk through with detailed explanations of each section we went to. There was no rush and any questions we had were answered thoroughly. It was lovely to have an apertive afterwards while still discussing things we’d seen.

As the Concierge at the Beverly Hilton for over 30 years, I have worked with many tour companies. My wife and I took the Monks and Knights tour with Chiara and Federico, and we were thoroughly impressed with their Roman knowledge and interesting presentation. It was a very unique and enjoyable experience. Rome requires the obligatory visits to the Vatican, Colosseum etc., but those visits leave you hot, tired and sick of crowds. Book “Ideas 4 Travelers” for a relaxing alternative . You will experience a side of Rome that leaves you informed, relaxed and very pleased with your Rome visit. They are open to questions, so feel free to partake in engaging conversation. They love Rome and it shows. Another perk… you will have made 2 new friends.

As someone who has visited and lived in Rome, I would 100% recommend the Testaccio walking tour. This tour is lead by Chiara and Federico who are extremely knowledgeable of the Testaccio neighborhood. This tour is a nice walking tour that blends together history and present times. The tour ends at the Testaccio market where you are able to taste a variety of true Roman dishes. I also recommend shopping after the tour for any gifts you’d like to purchase.

Take this tour! Fantastic! So happy with the guides: knowledgeable, good communicators, caring. Very interesting! Want to come back! I enjoyed this experience so much! Highly recommend.

We had such a good time with Chiara and Federico on this experience! They are so passionate and knowledgeable about Ostia Antica and it really makes the whole experience that much more enjoyable. The pace of the tour was great, we saw a lot but didn’t feel rushed. The tour of Ostia Antica alone would be worth the money, but ending with a short walk through a secluded little enclave of Ostia and the aperitif was really icing on the cake. We felt like old friends by the end which was really wonderful!

Chiara and Federico were really personable and kind hosts. It is clear they know a lot about Ostia Antica and communicated their knowledge in an interesting, thorough way. The pace of the tour was not strenuous at all, yet it felt like we still covered a good amount of the site. The hosts have thoughtful things to share and answer as many questions as you may have. The site itself is magical, a great mix of history and nature. It is so big that you can really imagine the magnitude of the old city. In addition to the tour, the village we went to after was lovely. The castle is really well preserved, and inside the village walls was like walking in a sweet little dream, so quaint! The restaurant we ate at had delicious food. I really appreciated the overall thoughtfulness of the tour. It wasn’t just a walk through an old site, it was a nicely planned and paced excursion not only to see Ostia Antica but also to enjoy the village, food and most of all the company of the hosts. I have never been on a tour where hosts would sit and chat afterwards, and this was a really nice touch, most appreciated. It felt more personal and interesting than other tours. I really loved this experience and would highly recommend it!

My college-aged daughter and I did the Testaccio Experience Walking Tour with Ideas 4 Travellers. It was a fantastic walking tour where we could see, hear, and taste the Testaccio neighborhood of Rome. We loved doing a unique and off-the-beaten path walking tour with Frederico and Chiara. They were lovely, knowledgeable, and extremely helpful with restaurant & shopping recommendations. We loved tasting all the different Roman snacks at Testaccio Mercato. And the shopping was great too. I highly recommend Chiara and Frederico as tour guides. It was fun, educational, and a must-do while in Rome with kids of any age!

This was a great experience in Rome! The walk was easy and beautiful, led by local guides who have a clear passion for sharing the lesser-known side of this city with us. The view from the Belvedere was such a romantic spot and the Acqua Paola fountain was so beautiful. We also saw the Tempietto del Bramante which is such a unique monument! Of course there was a lot of fascinating history such as Giuseppe and Garibaldi’s battles for the independence of Italy. Having a drink with our guides at the end was the cherry on top, felt like hanging out with our new Roman friends!

Wonderful tour! Chiara was lovely and the tour was perfect!

My mother and I loved the tour by Chiara and Federico. They are lovely, knowledgeable, and patient people, always ready to point out a cat hiding in the ruins or answer a question. We went on a rainy day when the park was pretty much empty, but it did nothing to ruin anybody’s mood. Federico has an abundance of historical information to share about every single feature, however innocuous. I was amazed at the excellent condition of many mosaics and even buildings (like the inn bar!). For an apertivo afterwards, we went to the nearby medieval town (I wish I could remember the name) and sat among the colourful buildings and potted plants. The food was amazing, and the company even better – I would highly recommend taking this tour!

My mother and I loved the tour by Chiara and Federico. They are lovely, knowledgeable, and patient people, always ready to point out a cat hiding in the ruins or answer a question. We went on a rainy day when the park was pretty much empty, but it did nothing to ruin anybody’s mood. Federico has an abundance of historical information to share about every single feature, however innocuous. I was amazed at the excellent condition of many mosaics and even buildings (like the inn bar!). For an apertivo afterwards, we went to the nearby medieval town (I wish I could remember the name) and sat among the colourful buildings and potted plants. The food was amazing, and the company even better – I would highly recommend taking this tour!

In these surreal pandemics times, when travelling is restricted, it is a great opportunity to discover your own city, seeing the sights with a new perspective and a new pace. Even more so let yourself guide through the wonderful Giardino degli Aranci and the beautiful sights on top of the river by Chiara and Federico: they are a lovely, knowledgeable and experienced couple. When we parted after our last stop at Circo Massimo, you really felt as if you were saying goodbye to friends! I will be back for more;)

This was such a fun walk. I enjoyed thinking about the monks and knights as we climbed Aventine Hill. Chiara and her husband took us inside beautiful spaces we would not have found on our own as well as one of the best photo spots in all of Rome. We truly felt like good friends as we connected through the walk. Before we even arrived Chiara went above and beyond with helping me with information for some of the local cat rescues where I wanted to volunteer. She was fantastic. The meetup spot was easy as she sent a picture through (Hidden by Airbnb) the day of the tour so we could find it easily. We also enjoyed the fabulous Appertivo at the end of the tour where we were able to get to know each other a little more. I had such a good time the next day at Largo Torre di Argentina as Chiara suggested. I highly recommend not only this tour, but also their travel company for any of your other holiday needs 🙂

This was such a fun walk. I enjoyed thinking about the monks and knights as we climbed Aventine Hill. Chiara and her husband took us inside beautiful spaces we would not have found on our own as well as one of the best photo spots in all of Rome. We truly felt like good friends as we connected through the walk. Before we even arrived Chiara went above and beyond with helping me with information for some of the local cat rescues where I wanted to volunteer. She was fantastic. The meetup spot was easy as she sent a picture through (Hidden by Airbnb) the day of the tour so we could find it easily.We also enjoyed the fabulous Appertivo at the end of the tour where we were able to get to know each other a little more. I had such a good time the next day at Largo Torre di Argentina as Chiara suggested. I highly recommend not only this tour, but also their travel company for any of your other holiday needs 🙂

One of the best place to get paranomic view of Rome. It would be much better if the city trim some of the trees a bit. Standing up on this hill, you can basically see most of the attractions in the city of Rome. It is an amazing view. I also loved seeing the roads below. If you are in Trastevere area and have time to spare, it is worth a visit by walking up here. It is quiet when we visited in December. We walked from Vatican city up here. It is a bit long walk but in Rome, there is always something nice to look at along the way. One note of warning when walking from Vatican city to here: on line Google street map offers one road which is quite dangerous when you start the up hill walk, there is no side walk and you are facing traffic on one way street so avoid “Via Delle Fornaci” street if you see it on Google map showing walking direction.It is a romantic place and worth a visit for the great view.

Ostia was beautiful. We had a bluebird day with no wind. The city is easy to navigate and our guides explained everything perfectly. Not too much history to drown you and plenty of answers to all the small questions. This felt like a local tag along history walk, who spoke English, and did not mind blending humour with facts. Chiara and Federico were wonderful. 10/10 would recommend. 🙂

Ostia was beautiful. We had a bluebird day with no wind. The city is easy to navigate and our guides explained everything perfectly. Not too much history to drown you and plenty of answers to all the small questions. This felt like a local tag along history walk, who spoke English, and did not mind blending humour with facts. Chiara and Federico were wonderful. 10/10 would recommend. 🙂

We enjoyed this walk away from the usual tourist spot of Rome, we love to walk downtown but the less crowded area around the Gianicolo’s hill was a pleasant surprise! The view of the city from above at sunset is something we highly recommend. Chiara and Federico made us discover a very interesting part of the history of this city and its historical characters. Ending the walk with a good glass of wine was the best way to end this experience with our local experts.

Seeing Rome from the Gianicolo hill is a sight not to be missed.I am so happy I decided to take this walk with Chiara and Federico, they introduced me to a part of the most recent history of the city that I didn’t know, explained why on a hill there is a lighthouse and visited the Tempietto del Bramante which alone deserves the whole visit.Ending the walk in Trastevere with a real Italian aperitif in the company of Chiara and Federico was the perfect conclusion to a very pleasant experience.

Chiara and Federico who live nearby in Ostia Lido met us at the Ostia Antica train station and walked us to the site gate where we picked up official site audio guides which were excellent. Ostia reminds one very much of Pompeii, but while it is almost as large, it is a great deal more convenient to visit, and much, much less crowded. It was the port for the city of Rome from around 80 BCE through the early 100s CE when due to siltation problems a new port was built nearby, after which Ostia was gradually abandoned and figuratively and literally sank into obscurity. Like Pompeii, the city includes a theatre, a forum, temples, baths, tenements and mansions, a much larger site than we have the energy to explore completely at our age. Our hosts very tactfully guided us through the process of prioritizing our time and energies. After a comfortable, yet informative time in the ruins, we moved on to excellent lunch in the shadow of a castle built by Pope Julius II (think Rex Harrison in Agony and the Ecstasy). Lunch included great local food and a surprisingly lively conversation about things to love and things to hate about living in Italy.”

Seeing Rome from the Gianicolo hill is a sight not to be missed.I am so happy I decided to take this walk with Chiara and Federico, they introduced me to a part of the most recent history of the city that I didn’t know, explained why on a hill there is a lighthouse and visited the Tempietto del Bramante which alone deserves the whole visit.Ending the walk in Trastevere with a real Italian aperitif in the company of Chiara and Federico was the perfect conclusion to a very pleasant experience.

Such a beautiful walk!!! Chiara and Federico introduced us to a part of Rome that we knew little about with its history linked to the Roman Republic. The view of the city from the Belvedere is beautiful. The Fontana dell’Acqua Paola or as the Romans call it “Er fontanone” is very beautiful and the church of San Pietro in Montorio is a real jewel. The walk ends in Trastevere where Chiara and Federico have led us to enjoy an excellent aperitif chatting like old friends. We recommend this experience far from the crowd and in good company.

This October, I took a private tour of Ostia Antica with Chiara and Federico. What a great experience! My walking tour was fun and informative. I love Ostia Antica! Beautiful and atmospheric, with such historical significance. This couple’s knowledge of the area is extensive–they are Romans and live in the town of Ostia, and can talk about the history as well as the contemporary scene. Best of all, I feel I made new friends with two exceptional people. Thank you for a great tour!

This October, I took a private tour of Ostia Antica with Chiara and Federico. What a great experience! My walking tour was fun and informative. I love Ostia Antica! Beautiful and atmospheric, with such historical significance. This couple’s knowledge of the area is extensive–they are Romans and live in the town of Ostia, and can talk about the history as well as the contemporary scene. Best of all, I feel I made new friends with two exceptional people. Thank you for a great tour!

Such a beautiful walk!!! Chiara and Federico introduced us to a part of Rome that we knew little about with its history linked to the Roman Republic. The view of the city from the Belvedere is beautiful. The Fontana dell’Acqua Paola or as the Romans call it “Er fontanone” is very beautiful and the church of San Pietro in Montorio is a real jewel. The walk ends in Trastevere where Chiara and Federico have led us to enjoy an excellent aperitif chatting like old friends. We recommend this experience far from the crowd and in good company.

We had a personal tour which was very fortunate. A lovely afternoon stroll through Ostia Antica toward sunset was spectacular. Hosts were very knowledgeable and personable. Wish we had even more time for the exceptional tour of these priceless Roman ruins. A nice glass of wine and antipasti was lovely at the end! Highly recommended experience for any traveler through Rome!

Such a beautiful walk!!! Chiara and Federico introduced us to a part of Rome that we knew little about with its history linked to the Roman Republic. The view of the city from the Belvedere is beautiful. The Fontana dell’Acqua Paola or as the Romans call it “Er fontanone” is very beautiful and the church of San Pietro in Montorio is a real jewel. The walk ends in Trastevere where Chiara and Federico have led us to enjoy an excellent aperitif chatting like old friends. We recommend this experience far from the crowd and in good company.

The most important thing is that Chiara and Federico are very nice and careful people. They just want us to feel good, they are very good communicators and they talk about Ostia with passion and knowledge. The choice of the restaurant is also very good, a small family restaurant with delicious food. And on the Ostia Antica site, pines and flowers smell so good! You really need to do this! Enjoy:)

The most important thing is that Chiara and Federico are very nice and careful people. They just want us to feel good, they are very good communicators and they talk about Ostia with passion and knowledge. The choice of the restaurant is also very good, a small family restaurant with delicious food. And on the Ostia Antica site, pines and flowers smell so good!You really need to do this!Enjoy:)

The most important thing is that Chiara and Federico are very nice and careful people. They just wanted me to feel good, they are very good communicators and they talk about Ostia with passion and knowledge. The choice of the restaurant was also very good, a small family restaurant with delicious food. And on the Ostia Antica site, pines and flowers smell so good! You really need to take this tour! Enjoy:)

I’m so glad I decided to visit Ostia! It is quite a little gem, not far from Rome in distance, but a charming place. A big thank you to Chiara and Federico who were able to show me its charm. They are not just guides, but friends. They know all the best food spots, and I tried pasta that I didn’t even know existed accompanied by a pleasant conversation. It was a pleasure to spend time away from the crowds of the city center in the company of two truly professional and amazing hosts.

It was an informative and interesting experience. I learned a lot about an area of Rome that has always interested me. I’ve visited the Aventine on my own, but the tour put things in historical perspective, which only those who know the place can provide. Chiara and Federico really made it special—such great people. We all hit it off really well, including after the tour itself was over.

Chiara and Frederico’s walking tour of Ostia Antica was very well organized. Walking thru this ancient port city and hearing the history was very special. At every turn there was another amazing site. Chiara and Frederico were very knowledgable and explain the workings of this great ancient port city. The walking tour was private and any questioned asked was answered. This is one of the best tours I have ever taken. Plus the lunch @ Borghetto was amazing. Do not miss Ostia Antica and do not miss seeing it thru the eyes of Chiara & Frederico. Wonderful guides.

Absolutely the best way to explore Ostia Antica. They answered all our questions as we toured the city. Lunch was fabulous and we enjoyed their company. They also helped us get back into Ostia Antica after lunch which I would highly recommend. We spent another 4 hours and saw so much more and had the place all to our ourselves. Just make sure you have water and lots of it. Would definitely recommend taking this tour – Ask them about the PEZ’s!!

We loved our visit to Ostia Antica with Chiara and Federico! They met us outside the Ostia Antica train station- a mere 5 minute walk to the entrance of the archeological park. This is an amazing place and so close to downtown Rome. We were so thrilled with the chance to also visit the Borghetto, a medieval citadel across the street from the archeological park, where we had lunch and enjoyed authentic roman cuisine in a lovely restaurant. Our guests made us feel like old friends deep in conversation over great food and wine.We would definitely recommend that anyone coming to Rome not miss out on this unique opportunity to tour Ostia Antica with Chiara and Federico.Happy travels!Nancy

Very few experiences will surpass this one. I have been around for a long time and have traveled often and taken quite a few tours. This tour was offered with a freshness and openness that let us know that they were genuinely interested in what we thought and wanted to know. As much as I have studied the history of Rome, I discovered several new things on this tour. I have been to Pompeii but found this tour to be far more interesting and without the hassle of traveling from Rome to Naples to Pompeii. After the tour we had a wonderful lunch in Ostia where we were able to talk at length about the area and its history as well as our personal lives and experiences. I feel as though we made two new friends from Rome. Well done Chiara and Frederico!!

Had a great time! My hosts were warm and friendly with a sense of humor. But what I really liked was their passion for the subject. It was not a rote recitation. Well worth the price. Very much enjoyed the restaurant they chose for a delicious meal and friendly conversation. Did not feel hurried at all.

Had a great time! My hosts were warm and friendly with a sense of humor. But what I really liked was their passion for the subject. It was not a rote recitation. Well worth the price. Very much enjoyed the restaurant they chose for a delicious meal and friendly conversation. Did not feel hurried at all.

Very few experiences will surpass this one. I have been around for a long time and have traveled often and taken quite a few tours. This tour was offered with a freshness and openness that let us know that they were genuinely interested in what we thought and wanted to know. As much as I have studied the history of Rome, I discovered several new things on this tour. I have been to Pompei but found this tour to be far more interesting and without the hassle of traveling from Rome to Naples to Pompei. After the tour we had a wonderful lunch in Ostia where we were able to talk at length about the area and its history as well as our personal lives and experiences. I feel as though we made two new friends from Rome. Well done Chiara and Frederico!!

Absolutely one of the best tours I have ever been on. The insight and knowledge of hosts was perfect, they really took us back in time to see Ostia Antica as it was. The restaurant was fabulous, food and atmosphere great. If you are looking for a tour that gives you a personal experience that is fun, friendly and unique you can not do better!

Chiara and Frederico’s walking tour of Ostia Antica was very well organized. Walking thru this ancient port city and hearing the history was very special. Every cornered turned was another amazing site. Chiara and Frederico were very knowledgable to explain the workings of this great ancient port city. The walking tour was private and any questioned asked was answered. This is one of the best tours I have ever taken. And the lunch @ Borghetto was amazing. Do not miss Ostia Antica and do not miss seeing it thru the eyes of Chiara & Frederico. Wonderful guides.

Absolutely the way to Ostia Antica. They answered all our questions as we toured the city. Lunch was fabulous and we enjoyed their company. They also helped us go back into Ostia Antica after lunch which I would recommend. We spent another 4 hours and saw so much more and had the place to our ourselves. Just make sure you have water and lots of it. Would definitely recommend taking this tour

This is the best tour you can do in Rome. It is a luxury to be with Chiara and Federico and learn history and visit the non tourist places that are worth knowing. I have made many tours but this one was the best by far. Unforgettable and with so many tips that will enrich your visit !Este es el mejor tour que puedes hacer en Roma. Es un lujo estar con Chiara y Federico y aprender historia y visitar sitios no tan turísticos que merecen ser conocidos. He hecho muchos tours pero este ha sido el mejor. Inolvidable y lleno de consejos que enriquecerán tu visita!

What a great day . beautiful scenery, knowledgeable hosts and fabulous food. They were kind and patient with me and made my day special. Thank you for helping me a wonderful memory.

They say that Pompei is the best archeological site in Italy, well I must say that Ostia Antica is somehow better. It used to be the harbor city of ancient Rome, by being so close to the river Tiber, Ostia became in the 7th century BC Rome’s seaport, The site is known for the excellent preservation of its ancient buildings and impressive mosaics.Thanks to Chiara and Federico’s itinerary suggestions we managed to see the most important spots in about 2 hours using also the audio-guide explanations.After this beautiful walk in the ancient Rome our local guests took us to “the Borghetto” where we had a great lunch. Who would have thought that in front of the ancient Ostia there was a medieval castle?At the restaurant with our guests we enjoyed a very good lunch with all local goodies , loved “the spaghetti alla carbonara”, the local wine and the very interesting conversation. After lunch Chiara and Federico walked back with us to the train station where we parted like old friends.

I’ve been in Rome many times but I didn’t know that behind the famous Piramide Cestia there was the Non-catholic cemetery: an hidden jewel. A mystical atmosphere wraps you as you enter the gate, it isn’t only a resting place with beautiful tombs of famous artists, among which the famous romantic poets Keats and Shelley, it is also a very well kept garden where you can take a walk, seat on a bench overlooking the Piramide or pet one of the cats living there. Thanks to Chiara and Federico that took us on this walk we discovered a site unknown also to many locals. From there with a short walk we went to the Testaccio Food Market that our guests told us had been opened for over a century in the neighbourhood. They showed us all the different stalls that offer take-away dishes, fruits, bread and pizza. We could choose what attracted us the most and ate it all together in the main piazza. Chatting with our guests had been the highlight of the experience that we suggest everyone to try.

Chiara and Federico, two Rome locals, met us at the Pyramid station. From there we walked around the corner to the entrance to what is officially known as the NonCatholic Cemetery. Chiara explained that although English language guidebooks always refer to it as the Protestant Cemetery or the English Cemetery, many buried there were neither Protestant nor English. Beautiful grounds with opportunity to pay our respects at graves of Keats and Shelley. Fun also to get close up view of the back of the Pyramid, eccentric tomb of what must have been a seriously rich Roman dude dating to 12 BCE. From the cemetery we strolled through the neighborhood to the food market. Wandered among the many varied stalls before making our lunch choices and then sitting together to eat while talking together about life in modern Rome and Italy. All in all a great experience filled with insights and opportunity to make new friends.