Reviews

If you are looking for a small, intimate tour anywhere in Italy, I highly recommend Francesca and her amazing tours. My mom and I took her Tuscany tour in the Fall! What amazing memories we made! We cooked pasta and sauces, tasted wines and olive oils (that were harvested and pressed the week before), learned about cheese making,and visited unique towns in the region for shopping and history! We ate in real Tuscan homes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner learning everything we could possibly want to know about Tuscan food, wine,and people! Francesca provides a very well planned tour for groups of up to 12, providing you with the experience of living (and eating and drinking🇮🇹🍝🍷) just like the people in the area live! Don’t hesitate to make the trip! She is such a great hostess and she works with incredible people to make your experience a once in a lifetime event!

I spent a wonderful eight days with Francesca on LICA's tour of Umbria in October 2025. Deciding to go with a tour rather than planning my own trip, my usual method, meant the trip had to offer experiences and access I wouldn’t otherwise enjoy. Francesca has a deep love for and knowledge of Italy, and her delight in sharing those with others is evident. Many tours will help you tick off the “must-see” sites. But, Francesca offers access to those with incredibly knowledgeable local guides as well as access to less obvious experiences that other groups won’t provide. Some of these, such as the wonderful cooking days, are at small farms or restaurants with whom she has long and close relationships. It feels less like a tour stop and more like being invited into someone’s home. The trip’s itinerary was deftly split between free time and scheduled activities. I had plenty of time to explore on my own, but every day also featured some planned activity. The hotel that we stayed at featured a terrific breakfast, comfortable rooms, and an unbeatable location. Although I’m pretty sure I ate my weight in cheese over the course of the trip, we did so much walking that my clothes still fit once I got home. Umbria is hilly, and there is a lot of walking, but Francesca’s tours offered options for those who did not want to climb to the top of some site. The tour would be great for a group celebrating a milestone, such as an engagement or graduation, for a couple seeking a trip offering in-depth knowledge, or even for singles like me. I’d be happy to speak with anyone considering one of these trips who has additional questions. I’m looking forward to traveling with the Lazy Italian again. Many who tour with Francesca are repeat customers, which speaks very well of the experience she offers.

The trip to Sicily was wonderful. I had heard all about your tours from Tammy Perosi and she was right. The trip met all my expectations. I truly enjoyed the fact that we were based in one hotel and all transportation was efficiently arranged. You brought to the trip a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Our group was incredibly cohesive and made for a thoroughly enjoyable trip. The culinary experience was extraordinary. I am looking forward to my next trip, hopefully next year.

Once again you nailed it. The trip was fantastic which began when we arrived to stay in our beautiful villa. The week was a wonderful blend of enjoying the magnificent landscape, touring the different areas, each presenting something new and different, two fabulous cooking experiences, and lots of delicious culinary dining. We continue to marvel at your expertise in putting these tours together and creating a week that is always an extraordinary adventure. Your knowledge and professionalism leaves no stone unturned, and for us it is completely smooth sailing and stress free. We continue to meet new and wonderful people, and become like family after sharing the week together. This is our third trip with you, and yes YOU make us want to keep coming back. Thank you Francesca for yet another outstanding trip. We look forward to seeing you again, in October for the trip to the Italian Lakes!!

We had a mother/daughter trip of a lifetime across Tuscany with Francesca! I searched and searched for the perfect trip that would introduce us to real life as a Tuscan by spending time in kitchens, farms, and homes of the people in small towns across the region. I came across Francesca’s tours and we decided on a trip for the Fall 2025. What a perfect time of year to visit Tuscany with the vineyards of beautiful golden tones next to the greenish blue hues of the olive trees that were being harvested at that very moment! This was truly one of the best trips I’ve ever taken! Everyday was an adventure! We even tried roasted chestnuts for the first time at the Chestnut Festival in the charming town of Marradi! We ate amazing foods, tasted phenomenal fresh olive oils, and drank unbelievable wines for lunch and dinner every day! We would 100% recommend taking any tour with Francesca. We are having a hard time deciding which tour to we should sign up for next!

What an unforgettable trip to Umbria! Five girlfriends laughed, ate, and drank wine throughout a fun-filled week visiting towns like Assisi, Spello, Spoleto, and Perugia. Francesca was a great hostess with wonderful contacts everywhere we went! I can’t think of a single thing that could have been better!