They Say it Takes a Lifetime to Get to Know Rome…
They say it takes a lifetime to get to know Rome. I can absolutely wholeheartedly vouch for this statement. How do I know? My name is Stefanie and I have been living in Rome for nearly 10 years. I was born and grew up in Canada. Six years ago, I decided to obtain my professional tour guiding license for Rome. A bando opened up (this is like a call for submissions in Italian) of interest to participate in the tour guiding license exam in 2013.
I diligently put together the heaps of paperwork and documents required (classic Italian bureaucracy) and sent everything in. At the time this felt like the most difficult part. HUGE miscalculation! The difficult part was just beginning.
The tour guide licensing exam was to take place in two parts a written exam and an oral exam (called an interrogation in Italian). The written exam was to be entirely in Italian and and a pass was 70%. Only once you had passed the written exam would you be scheduled for an appointment for your interrogation. So begins my adventure into the world of studying in this kind of way.
Two years of preparatory classes in Italian on subjects beginning with the infinite details of Ancient Roman history starting as far back as the 8th cent BC to art history to present day and contemporary art to Vatican City to geography and finishing up with legislation. It appeared to be an insurmountable task but I figured if nothing else I will certainly keep my mind in shape. Multiple courses in the evenings, guided visits four times a week including every weekend visiting archeological sites, museums galleries and churches. I was working as a tour leader accompanying visitors on day trips to Pompei, Tuscany and other locations. Hundreds or hours walking around Rome and the province of Rome and I STILL had not seen everything!!!
The end result? Of the 5000 people that sat the written exam I was one of the 600 or so that passed. Then one day before my birthday in 2015 I sat the oral exam which included a panel of six experts that could ask you any question they wanted on the individual topics of archeology, art history, geography, legislation and language proficiency that they wanted. I have never been so anxious in my life. The result…I was one of the 464 that PASSED and would be receiving my tour guiding license! Needless to say I WAS PUMPED!!!!!
So since 2015 I have been a licensed guide in Rome. Actually my license is valid for all of Italy but my specialty is Rome. I offer private tours of Rome and I work for tour companies as well.
Over the last nearly five years I have been asked loads of questions from guests on my tours who were already here in Rome or via email from travellers trying to organize their planned trip to Rome and the rest of Italy.
This is where Rome and Beyond was born. In order to answer some of the most common and even less common questions for people planning a trip to Rome and the rest of Italy. A city that takes a lifetime to get to know requires at least a little research before you travel here. The sooner you start planning which tours you would like to take, places you would like to see and where you would like to stay, the better.
Some things in Rome cannot be left to the last minute or you might find yourself unable to do the things you really wanted to do. Consider booking early for Scavi or Necropolis tours (like 3 months in advance), Borghese gallery tours 4/6 weeks in advance, Vatican Museums tours and Sistine chapel and Colosseum.
So come back and visit us often. Visit during the planning stages, visit if your just thinking about a trip or visit if you are curious about the incredible city that is Rome and the beautiful, delicious, thrilling country Italy that contains it.
If you are interested in booking private tours in Rome or a customized private tour in Rome, please feel free to contact me. I would love to take you around this captivating city.