Secret Italia, Author at Secret Italia Tours

What Traveling with Locals Really Looks Like

By Secret Italia | 30/12/2025 |

The phrase “traveling with locals” is often used, but what does it actually mean in practice, and why does it matter? Traveling with locals changes the structure of a day. It shifts attention away from landmarks alone and toward the people who shape daily life. Vendors are greeted by name. Small food stalls are chosen…

Croatia in Shoulder Season: Why Late April Is the Smart Time to Travel

By Secret Italia | 30/12/2025 |

Sunny beaches, medieval villages with cobblestone streets, and breathtaking views of the Adriatic coast have made Croatia the new hotspot travel destination. Along with that comes big crowds, less authenticity, and higher prices on everything from shopping to dinner. The best way to see Croatia, the version that made everyone want to go there in…

A Quiet Journey Through the Northern Italian Lakes

By Secret Italia | 28/12/2025 |

The lakes greet weary and excited travelers alike with soft light and quiet beauty, reaching them at exactly the right moment with a calm that comforts the soul and steadies the mood. What most people notice first is how quickly everything slows down. The water sets the pace, easing the day into something calmer and…

Discover Magical Croatia

By Secret Italia | 28/10/2024 |

Welcome to the Balkans! When visiting Eastern Europe, spending some time in Croatia is an absolute must. Croatia boasts a pristine coastline covering almost the entire Eastern half of the Adriatic Sea. History and culture come alive in its major cities like Split, Dubrovnik, and Zadar, with Roman and Venetian ruins and religious relics similar…

MR AND MRS DREIER (USA)

Aldo, Thank you, thank you, thank you! My husband and I had a fabulous time on your Sicily tour May 13. You, and your team did a fantastic job of accommodating our every need. It was first class all the way from the airport transfers, to the hotels, to the restaurants. Everything we did depicted the lifestyle and culture of Sicily, we experienced and learned a lot. It is hard to say what our most memorable time was because they all were memorable. Rosaria is a rare gem! She is a very good guide, always concerned that everyone is happy and satisfied. She is very upbeat and it shows that she loves her job.Thank you Rosaria for all you did. Aldo, thank you for going the extra mile to have champagne for us on our 30th anniversary, that was an unexpected treat. We look forward to touring with you again

Sicily A Land of Contrasts (May 2017)

March 12, 2018

KATHY AND JOHN GILMER (USA)

What a wonderful trip we had with Rosaria and Marco September 23-October 4!It was one of our best tours ever! We enjoyed Sicily with its history, stunning landscapes and seascapes, friendly people and delicious food. But most of all we enjoyed Rosaria and the little extras that made the trip unforgettable.Madeira sipping at the Valley of the Temples in the moonlight, tasting candy, cookies, and other little unscheduled treats along the way, taking group pictures everywhere we went, dancing on the cruise in Ortega, bypassing crowds at the Opera, all added to the wonderful itinerary. Aldo made it easy to book and helped us feel comfortable about our choice.We will recommend Secret Italia Tours to anyone

Sicily A Land of Contrasts (October 2017)

March 9, 2018

SALLY TUCKER (USA)

Dear Aldo, Thank you so very much for one of the most memorable trips I have ever taken…MALTA You convinced me that the way to see the world is in small groups. Your Secret Italia Tours of Malta was perfection, touching on every aspect of truly getting to know and enjoy the area you are visiting and its history. I have already started to recommend you and your trips to my relatives and friends. It was a pleasure getting to know you and experiencing the personal commitment you have to your guests.

7 Days Malta Tour (September 2017)

March 10, 2018

MRS AND MRS WISE (USA)

The tour met or exceeded all our expectations. It is a 10 of 10! Having Rosaria, who is such a knowledgeable and well-organized person as our tour leader, meant that everything went very smoothly throughout the tour. Her love of Sicily is contagious. She was always one step ahead in terms of coordination and ready to provide suggestions or assistance, but also made the trip fun and interesting. All of the staff we met affiliated with Secret Italia contributed to making the trip especially enjoyable and congenial and we also appreciated the special local tour guides who enriched our experience of the site visits. The Secret Italia Land of Contrasts tours was so special because of the way the itinerary was put together and the charming hotels we were able to enjoy along the way.We appreciated the careful selection of venues and the diversity of activities in the program very much and take a hat off to you.

Sicily A Land of Contrasts (December 2017)

March 10, 2018

ROSEMARY VILLANI (CANADA)

Just completed the amazing Sardinia and Corsica tour with Secret Italia. Many many thanks to Aldo for this wonderful experience and his endless energy and cheerfulness to make this trip go off without any problems. The sites, accommodations, restaurants, size of the group and pace was top notch – way surpassed my expectation. He made sure all of the details were to your satisfaction. Thanks also to Ricardo for guiding us and Stefano for driving us around Sardinia. And to Sandy for driving us to our destinations in Sardinia.I highly recommend this tour with Secret Italia. It’s well worth it.

Sardinia and Corsica Tour (September 2017)

March 11, 2018

LAURA BETTS (AUSTRALIA)

Dear Aldo and Katrin, Thanks so much for a my recently completed small group tour of Andalusia. This was my first visit to Spain and is the first time I’ve taken an organised tour – I truly enjoyed having someone else look after all the details! The local guides in each place we visited were exceptional as were the hotels and restaurants. Our tour leader Laura deserves a very special thank you for her personal attention and great recommendations for our free time in each place we visited. An unforgettable experience – highly recommended!

Spain & Andalucia tour (September 2017)

March 11, 2018

ANDY MCHENRY (USA)

Hello Aldo, I hope you are recovering well from our tour and enjoying time at home with your family. Since I returned to work I have been raving about the tour! You run an excellent operation. All of the details are mastered and that makes it go so smoothly. We fully enjoyed both islands and all of the experiences. We can even get Sardinian Cannonau and Monica at the nearby wine store! Again, thanks for making it great.

Sardinia and Corsica Tour (September 2017)

March 10, 2018

BARBARA STALICK (USA)

The tour was well planned and organized. Everything was excellent!! Rosaria is a gem!! So delightful. She is personable, caring, fun and her love of Sicily is evident.She is an outstanding tour guide!! We loved her. Marco is an excellent driver. At no time did we feel unsafe. Everything about the tour was fantastic.I thank you for all your hard work in organizing such a great tour. The food everywhere was delicioso. Everywhere we went was fascinating.I will highly recommend Secret Italia Tours to everyone. Thanks again for everything. My wonderful memories of Sicily will stay with me always

Sicily A Land of Contrasts (October 2017)

March 6, 2018

MR AND MRS JOHNSON (USA)

I want to take the time to let you know how much we enjoyed our small group tour in Puglia. Everything about it was wonderful……the sights, the hotels, the food and especially Paola, our guide. She was knowledgeable and always looked out for our group. But the best part was her personality and the joy she took in her work. She was always cheerful, even when we asked stupid questions, and such a crazy, fun person. You truly have a gem in her and I would love to take another tour with her. The tour was well planned, not too many hours driving and interesting activities in which we could participate. Each day seemed to be better than the last one. I would highly recommend SecretItalia Tours and plan to take another of your tours in the future. Thank you for a wonderful trip and good memories

Puglia and Basilicata Delights (June 2017)

March 11, 2018

JACKIE MELVILLE (CANADA)

I am am writing to thank you for an amazing tour of Sicily. At the end of each day we thought it couldn’t get any better, and then the next day it did. Rosaria was so helpful, so knowledgeable and so lively. She was always in such good spirits. The hotels were lovely and the food tremendous.Thanks to your careful planning we experienced a variety of Sicilian foods and enjoyed a range of activities that were sometimes educational – and sometimes just plain fun. This is truly a trip to remember.

Sicily A Land of Contrasts (September 2017)

March 11, 2018

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Posts by Secret Italia

What Traveling with Locals Really Looks Like

Croatia in Shoulder Season: Why Late April Is the Smart Time to Travel

A Quiet Journey Through the Northern Italian Lakes

Discover Magical Croatia

Truly Personal Experiences

Need support?

Toll Free from USA/CANADA

Send us an Email

Get in touch with our travel concierge