Testimonials
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“A belated but sincere thank you to Destination by Design Italy for giving our dream trip to Italy a perfect start! In February 2019, my husband Basil and I celebrated our 40th anniversary with a trip to the three great cities: Rome, Florence, and Venice. We met Salvatore Bossone, Founder and Executive Director of Destination by Design Italy, at a Chicagoland travel fair. His exuberant spirit, knowledge, and personality convinced us to 'convince us' to take a private half-day tour of the splendor of the Vatican for two. We now smile, knowing it was one of the best decisions we made regarding our trip. ”
Extremely interesting - 5* rating
This morning we visited Ostia Antica, and our guide Massimo accompanied us throughout the tour, making the visit enjoyable by bringing everything to life and trying to engage our 12-year-old daughter as much as possible. A special thanks
A walk through history - 5*
It was a pleasant surprise to meet the helpful Massimo Marani, who patiently and knowledgeably guided us on this educational walk through the historic ruins of a stunning site. I could never have understood or recognized the importance of the various buildings I saw on my own. Thank you, it was moving.
Vatican Museums at night - 5*
Magnificent visit to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and more... thanks to our guide, who guided us through the tour, trying to reveal secrets, anecdotes, and curiosities often not written down, making our stay in the Vatican lively, interesting, and enjoyable. We entered at 7:30 PM and left 2.5 hours later; however, the time was enough to savor the most famous works without getting too tired, also helped by the pleasant temperature and the smaller number of visitors. The visit to the papal carriages and cars was enjoyable. A must-do experience if you visit Rome.
Highly recommended guided tour - 5*
Visiting Ostia Antica with Destination by Design was truly a pleasant experience, a real discovery for us, guided by a knowledgeable and well-prepared person, able to present the site in depth and allow us to learn many details about the daily life of the ancient inhabitants of Ostia. Thank you!
Passion and friendliness to guide you in discovering Rome and its treasures, even the unconventional ones - 5*
My kids spent two half-days with Massimo, who guided them to Castel Sant’Angelo and then to Ostia Antica, and they were enchanted! Professionalism, empathy, and so much passion that he shares with those who follow him. In September, we will do more excursions with him and I highly recommend him!
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel – 5*
Last night, Massimo Marani led a fascinating night-time tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel with great expertise and in a witty, engaging, and never boring manner. The artworks were explained not only from a historical and artistic perspective but also from the viewpoint of the artist's personality and character. Through his descriptions and analyses, I was able to fully grasp the context of the time and was able to “perceive” the personality and character of the artists.Highly recommended experience.
Two hours in Ostia Antica - 5*
Visiting the ruins of Ostia Antica is in itself an intense experience, even for those who, living in Rome, are jaded by always beautiful artifacts. But visiting the ruins of Ostia Antica with an expert guide who is in love with History and Beauty, like Massimo Marani, is a wonderful experience. Competence, passion, empathetic attention to the traveler, understanding their curiosity and interests and trying to fulfill them, make the visit an enrichment, enjoyed with unusual lightness. Bravo Massimo, amazing, and a friendly guide. You're friendlier than Cicero.
Vatican Museums - 5*
Fantastic visit to the uncrowded Vatican Museums. Massimo, the guide, is engaging, cheerful, and always has interesting information. In these tough times, we Romans can enjoy the city! I highly recommend it.
Ostia Antica with Massimo Marani - 5*
You can't go to Ostia Antica without being guided by Massimo. You would miss the chance to travel through time and to understand this magical place. Thank you, Massimo, for the wonderful experience and congratulations on your passionate expertise!
St. Peter's Basilica, crypt, and exterior - 5*
For the second time, we had the pleasure of being guided by Massimo Marani in discovering Rome. First the excavations of ancient Ostia, yesterday St. Peter's. Massimo is a passionate lover of his subject, with the ability to convey this love in everything he talks about. He has expertise spanning history, art, religion, economics, and geography, which allows him to provide a completely organic and comprehensive picture of the historical period, the artists, and the context being explored. All of this is seasoned with ease, humor, and joviality, making the visit unforgettable. We look forward to repeating the experience as soon as possible!
Excellent - 5*
A very pleasant visit to St. Peter's both inside and outside the basilica. Massimo Destination by Design guide welcomed us with friendliness and competence. A very rich and multifaceted historical and cultural perspective shared with passion and generosity. Thank you everybody, and see you next time! Alessandra and Marco
Vatican Museums and Ghetto - 5*
Massimo Marani is a guarantee: he knows how to combine expertise and friendliness with great communication skills not always found in tour guides. On two different occasions, we enjoyed an excellent visit to the Vatican Museums and an equally interesting tour of Rome's ghetto and Tiber Island. You ask, and Massimo arranges it!!!
Colosseum Tour - 5*
Our DbD guide, besides being very knowledgeable, managed the difficult task of capturing the attention of two young boys for almost three hours with interesting explanations and anecdotes. He also proved well-prepared in answering all the questions we asked throughout the tour. We will definitely seek your support in the future for other tours in the capital. Thank you very much for your courtesy, kindness, and for sharing your expertise.
Time Travel - 5*
Visiting the HOUSES OF CELIO was yet another demonstration of Rome's inexhaustible wealth and its architectural and cultural layering. The guide, with skill and professionalism, guided us not only through ancient spaces but also through time. Thank you.
Unique experience - 5*
I attended two guided tours by Destination by Design Italia with Massimo. It was fantastic. Friendly, fun, and very professional. Not at all boring, he tells the story of places and people from a perspective different from the usual, not didactic, making many connections and references that only educated people like him can make. I had a great time.
The right person to enjoy Rome - 5*
Massimo Marani is fantastic! We had a wonderful experience with him as our guide at Ostia Antica. He is an unconventional guide with a natural empathy for your interests and culture. He always makes sure to introduce you to the universe you are visiting, with insights into the economy, customs, traditions, technology, and everyday life of the site. It doesn’t matter if you are visiting with children; with his professionalism and experience, he is able to capture their attention and make them forget about their phones. In my opinion, the right tour guide is the only way to make your visit unforgettable and to understand the essence of the place you are visiting. Many thanks, Massimo. PS: I am Italian, but I wanted to write this feedback for English-speaking people going to Rome. Massimo already has plenty of five-star feedback in Italian.