Lucca & the Renaissance Garden Traveller Reviews

Well organised, and with a good choice of villas and gardens, some introduced by their owners. Hotel in Lucca was excellent as was the choice of restaurants. The tour leaders are very well informed. The group size (24) was just right to have good social interaction without being too large to get around easily. The use of listening devises worked well in churches and villas. Altogether it was a splendid, enjoyable and informative holiday.

We have been with Ciceroni on five occasions and they have proved to be very reliable. They are well organised and approachable if one has special requests. They are small operators but they really know the cultural tour business.

Based in Lucca Tuscany, visiting renaissance garden and villas of 16C Italy. not overdone, free time in Lucca and the organised lunch and dinners were superb as well as the visits to the villas and gardens. .

Ciceroni is well experienced in art, music and cultural tours and covers all requirements in travelling abroad and at home. On the Renaissance in Lucca tour I was on, Tour Manager James Hill lives in Italy and the tour guide Tom Duncan is an art historian, what more can you wish for? Nothing was omitted and everything catered for. I wouldn't use anyone else for this type of holiday

The holiday "Lucca and the Renaissance Garden" was a 4 night tour of this city's heritage of great villas and gardens located in the countryside around Lucca as well as the wonderful treasures within the city walls. We had access to the elegant and historically interesting interiors of the villas and met some of the owners. During the tour we enjoyed authentic Italian cuisine and wines. Our 4 star hotel San Luca Palace was very comfortable and handsomely appointed, bedrooms were large and breakfasts a marvellous smorgasbord. The staff were always responsive and helpful.

Ciceroni provided courteous and smooth arrangements concerning tour information, bookings and payments. The commentaries/lectures by tour leader Dr Tom Duncan were unsurpassed in their erudition and graceful presentation. The tour manager James Hill who speaks fluent Italian, added his extensive knowledge of Italian and Papal history while also ensuring that the tour ran smoothly for all participants.

From the minute we joined the organisers we were 'guided' in the most informative and entertaining way, our every need was attended to, and we relaxed into Ciceroni mode for the duration. It was a most friendly and happy time.

Both Tom Duncan and James Hill have unbelievable funds of knowledge which they impart to the group with unfailing enthusiasm and a delightfully lighthearted touch. It is a privilege to spend time with them.

The trip lived up to the usual Ciceroni standard - great scholarship lightly worn and always delivered with humour, never forgetting the importance of good food and wine, comfortable accommodation and well scheduled free time.

We have travelled several times in Italy with Tom Duncan and James Hill and they are exceptionally talented at what they do.

An excellent introduction to the area

Efficent in every way

We had just completed a wonderful Ciceroni tour of Sicily and were doubtful whether the tour of Lucca and it surrounds could match the Sicily experience.. We need not have worried as the Lucca experience was, if anything,even better. The hotel at which we stayed was brilliantly located and very comfortable with pleasant and helpful staff. The gardens thatwe visited were brilliant and the views from them were just brilliant.

As we have come to expect the tour operator left nothing to be desired. Everything went smoothly, excellent meals and superbly delivered commentary of the highest quality as to content. Tom Duncan was, as usual, first rate and he was ably assisted by James Hill.

Well organized, informative, very high standard as always with Ciceroni

Excellent