Cindy, 43 from San Diego, CA loved the VATICAN - Group Tour!
After visiting countless museums, churches, ruins, and galleries in Florence, Siena, Pompeii, Naples and Rome, without a doubt I can say that the two of the highlights of my trip to Italy were the Vatican and Rome at Night tours led by our guide Grant. They were the most thorough, interesting, and enjoyable tours I have ever experienced – and FAR surpassed any of the audio tours I heard, even at museums like the Uffizi in Florence. Grant’s unassuming air belies the astounding (!) knowledge he possesses. What impressed me the most was not his scary-smart fact retention, impressive education, or his dashing accent (although that was a fantastic bonus). Actually, it was the way he interspersed our “lessons” with humor and reality, with countless little inside stories of the lives of the people and artists he told us about. Our group joked about having to take a test afterwards, but honestly I was enthralled. As we would walk and pause at each “stop,” Grant would casually chat up each member of our group, from young to old, making sure to engage us one by one and leave no one out. It was a human touch and one that I appreciated and noted as a mother. Grant was informative and intelligent, without making us feel ignorant. There is NO WAY just walking through the Vatican or the city at night by yourself you could possibly appreciate all that surrounds you. Having a good guide can make or break an experience. Grant also gave us fabulous suggestions for gelato and panini, both of which were divine and within walking distance of the Vatican. And he suggested a jaunt to Gianicolo across the river. After figuring out the buses (so proud of ourselves!) we made it to the top of the hill. This was a lovely secret little nugget all but devoid of tourists. The grounds and the breeze through the trees was reminiscent of the Presidio in San Francisco – with the minor exception that within the city unfolded beneath you like a carpet are St. Peter’s on one side and the Coliseum on the other. Like a movie set, yet it was all gloriously real. I bought a cold Peroni and sat on the wall and marveled for a while before clambering down a narrow and wistful path into Trastevere, a beautiful area of town with shops and cafes on every corner. Magic. Thank you Grant. The works of art themselves, the ruins, the buildings, the history, the lives of so many people and cultures over thousands of years – the utter vastness of it all is practically incomprehensible. The only art I see these days are originals hung on the fridge door. (Although these are priceless and no less spectacular!) For me and I am sure many others, it has been a long time since we have had to dust off our art appreciation skills. Although it takes no special skills to experience art on a personal level, it does require a certain openness. You need someone to make it available to you on a level that is not too esoteric or pretentious. You need someone to help you open your eyes again. The fact that Grant named his new baby daughter “Siren” (from the Greek mythology) should give you some insight into his poetic nature. This is a man who lives beauty and art. This is the guide you want when visiting a place like Rome. The entire week was one that was surprisingly emotional, but in a good way. I am 43 and gratefully realized last week that I can still learn something new. Many thanks to Italy and Eden Walks for this shift in perspective. All that for a pocketful of Euro! Better than therapy any day. You owe it to yourself to experience everything in life as deeply as you can. Do not leave Rome without taking a tour with Eden Walks.