I attended few of quarantine talks and virtual visits. Brilliant,instructive, funny, exciting, passionate, inspiring, just to mention few adjectives.
Mario is such a mix of academic background, love for funny... read more details, philosophical insights and friendly feeling that you hardly may figure out a better way to spend your time while in quarantine.
Bravo Mario

  I was invited to enjoy this fantastic virtual tour of "Cappella Sistina" and joined from New York I am living in. Mario, he is very knowledgeable and witty and he... read more makes use of fresh materials in the tour. Those make me feel like as if I were in Cappella Sistina! Highly recommended, Altamente raccomandato!!

  Mario Bernardi is a gift! I have now taken many of his online tours and cannot begin to express my gratitude. He has made these COVID times so... read more much more enjoyable and rewarding. His vast knowledge, passion for the subjects, and his personality all make for an outstanding way to learn. The selection of tours is remarkable ranging from the Sistine Chapel to Pompeii. There is something for everyone. (My 9 and 11 year old grandsons particularly enjoyed Mario's tour of the Roman Coliseum and Gladiators!)
I look forward to the next tour and the day my husband and I can again travel and have Mario guide us in person.
Grazie Mario!

  My wife and I toured the most famous sites of Venice, plus a few behind-the-scenes spots, for a full day with Cristina. She was amazing! Cristina conveyed the rich history... read more of Venice, back to the days of its inception with barbarians forcing the local Romans into hiding in the archipelago of islands which is now the Venice we know. We navigated in and out of St. Marks and the Doge's Palace, through the crowds, never having to wait for admission. In St. Mark's she took us up to the altar, and the sarcophagus of St. Mark, and showed us the great gilded Byzantine altarpiece turned currently away from the sanctuary. Behind the busy square, we popped into the small workshop of one of the few remaining Remeri, the carpenters who specialize in creating the forcola and oars for the gondolas (like stepping back in time). In a city which could appear like little more than an anachronism and tourist trap, this tour highlighted an Italian city with a very special and rich history, and ongoing artists, musicians, and craftsmen who keep alive the creativity we cherish in the Italian culture. Kudos to Cristina, and the Grand Tour Team!

  Cinque Terre and Lucca day tours
These two tours were fabulous. To see Cinque Terre from the water was amazing and one we highly recommend. The views were... read more breath taking!! The water so very clear. The bet time to go is in September when the kids are back in school. Not as crowded but still fabulous weather. Virginia was our tour guide and Michael was our boat guide. Both spoke English very well. Our driver Antonio was awesome. To get us through the mountain safely was no easy task. Be sure to have the focaccia and the pesto pasta. The best!

The next day we toured Lucca and finished at a local winery. Virginia was our guide again. Loved the consistency in tour guides. Antonio our driver as well. Both are from that region so they were very well versed on the history of the country. Again, we enjoyed local tastes of Lucca.

You can’t go wrong with this tour agency. Well worth the price! Thanks for the wonderful memories. We’ll be recommending Mario and his tour group to our friends.

Ciao Bella!

  The way Mario guides adults and kids through the world of art is unique and fascinating. Apart from an extensive knowledge of the subject, he is able to captivate his... read more audience with his vivid interest and the uniqueness of his way of diving into the facts and events representing the background of each masterpiece. I have never seen anybody mastering the details and the biographies of artists as Mario. My kids are always enchanted by Mario’s presentations and explanations. This is a five star artistic experience. Highly recommended.