Hi! My name is Maria Ilaria, I am a Local Licensed Tourist Guide for Pisa and its province and . . . I love my job! Actually I was born in Perugia, the capital of Umbria, neighbouring region to Tuscany, and I have lived there, in the medieval city centre until my University Master degree in Contemporary Modern Foreign European Languages and Literatures, namely English as first and French as second language.
I was surrounded by art and history since I was born so I developed an interest in these subjects since I was a child therefore becoming a Tourist Guide has always been one of my dream jobs, combining my passion for art, history and languages.

I spent the summer after my degree in London in order to practise the language, while working as a shop assistant in an Oxford Street shop to earn my stay.

For personal reasons, a few months later, I moved to the Netherlands where I attended an Academic Intensive course in Dutch language. While attending the course, I started working as a Customer Support Agent in English, French and Italian at the HP's European Customer Contact Centre in Amsterdam.
Through the years my career has developed into Customer Escalation Agent, Team Leader and finally Customer Care Quality Assurance Supervisor in what had in the meantime become the HP Customer Care Headquarter for the EMEA region.

While in the Netherlands, I lived in The Hague, Rotterdam and Amsterdam and always kept cultivating my interest for art and history by visiting cities and places, as well as museums and exhibitions. Never missing the chance of doing the same during my holidays in most capitals of Europe, Camargue and Provence in France, Andalusia in Spain, Cuba, Thailand, Turkey and of course several cities and places in Italy.

Finally, after 9 years, I decided to get back to my homeland, Italy, missing its sunshine, its food and its beauties as well as my family.
Decision already made, I met my husband, from Pisa. A year after we decided to move back together to his hometown where I have lived ever since, in the centre, within the medieval city walls.

Getting more and more acquainted with the amazing history and artistic beauties of this town, I decided to try to finally become a tourist guide, my dream job.
After having successfully passed two exams at the University of Pisa (Medieval and Modern Art History), I could access the Tuscany Region License Exam for Tourist Guide for Pisa and its province and, having successfully passed it, the dream had finally come true!

Since I have been working as a professional Tourist Guide, I have had the chance to speak the languages I love and to show my customers, or rather guests, the artistic and historical wonders of this amazing town and its surrounding areas as well as taste the best food and wine of long tradition.
In a nutshell I am truly eager and looking forward to sharing these amazing experiences with you!
See you soon, Maria Ilaria

- Master Degree in English language and literature (French as second language) - University of Perugia
- "Quality Service Skills", "Presentation Skills" and "Cross-Cultural Management" Trainings - HP EMEA Customer Care Centre in Amsterdam
- Professional Tour Leader for Italy License - Municipality of Pisa
- Medieval and Modern Art History Single Courses - University of Pisa (as an integration to my degree)
- Professional Tourist Guide License for Pisa and its province - Province of Pisa Administration
- "Wine and Tourism" Training - Chamber of Commerce of Pisa

I am not a driver but I can arrange for a separate car and driver for groups of maximum 7 people.

Explaining the symblism of the Pulpit inside the Baptistery of Pisa

the Monumental Cemetery of Pisa and the fresco cycle "the Triumph of Death"

The first part of the tour will be about the millenary history of Pisa and visit 3  monuments of the Cathedral Square and 2 of you will climb up the Leaning Tower.
Then you'll be given some free time for lunch and/or shopping. I will be more than happy to suggest you the best restaurants/bars where you can taste true local food and/or the best shops according to your needs.
After lunch I will take you on the walking tour and see other very interesting squares, streets and alleys of Pisa, as well as the enchanting Arno riversides.
We'll taste some special local food and wine, as well as an icecream ranked among the best 10 of Italy!
Being a true local who lives happily in the city center, I will let you get acquainted with the city off the beaten tracks and feel like a local yourselves, at the end of the day!

A day in Pisa - Art and History + Food and Wine private walking tour

You will be picked up at your cruiseship peer in the port of La Spezia from a private driver with minivan. In about one hour drive you'll reach Pisa where we will meet.
After a short introduction about the history of the town and the amazing monuments of the Cathedral Square, you'll be fascinated to hear the incredible story of the weirdest and world most famous building, just before climbing it. I will be pleased to unveil the best spots for shooting pictures of you holding it up, if you wish to do so!
Afterwards we will enter the Cathedral.
Throughout the tour I will keep the kids involved in a "competition" to find as many animals, sculpted in marble or bronze, as possible in the monuments' Square.

Climbing up the Leaning Tower of Pisa and "Hunting in Cathedral Square" private walking tour with kids + Pickup & drop from the Port of La Spezia

You'll be picked up from the Port of Livorno by a private transportation driver and myself.  We will drive until reaching the vicinity of the Cathedral Square of Pisa. We will start the walking tour with a short introduction about the history of Pisa and the amazing monuments of the Cathedral Square, you'll be fascinated to hear the incredible story of the weirdest and world most famous building, just before climbing it. I will be pleased to unveil the best spots for shooting pictures of you holding it up, if you wish to do so!
Afterwards we will enter the Cathedral (limited access due to Sunday morning Mass service).
At the end of the tour we will be driven back to the Port of Livorno by the private transportation driver. 


Tour guide in Pisa Lucca Maria Ilaria A.

English, Dutch, French, Italian

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