57 OI magazine We meet our Florence tour guide, Vanessa Tonarelli. With 20 years of experience leading tours through the beautiful city of Florence, Venessa is an expert in all things Florentine. From the city's incredible art and architecture to the delicious food and wine of the local Tuscan cuisine, Vanessa knows how to show visitors the best of what Florence has to offer. Join us as we sit down with Vanessa for an interview and discover that thanks to her tours you can have unique experiences and discover the hidden gems and secrets of the city. --------------------------------- Can you tell me something about yourself?Who are you, where do you come from, what is your job, and howmany years has he been doing this job: My name is Vanessa Tonarelli, I'm originally from Forte dei Marmi and I've been living in Florence for 11 years. I graduated from the University of Pisa in Foreign Languages and Literature. After graduating I dedicated myself to my greatest passion: art. I took the exam to become a Certified Tourist Guide in Florence and I usually take refresher courses. I have been working in the tourism industry for more than 20 years. What difficulties did you encounter? None in particular, maybe sometimes a little tired, having always worked and studied at the same time, but it was worth it. Is it true that in order to best carry out her work, she must know very well not only the history of the place but also be prepared on customs and traditions and know the food and wine traditions? To provide the best tour guiding experience, a tour guide should have a comprehensive knowledge of their territory, including history, art, food and wine, curiosities, traditions, sports, and entertainment options such as restaurants and clubs. You can say that today's travelers ask above all for authentic travel experiences Customers have changed a lot over the years, the services were mostly always the same, but now you need to know how to diversify the offer a lot. This is exactly why we started this business, which creates unique experiences for every traveler. What kind of travelers choose your services and what tours do you offer? I specialize in offers for small groups, individual travelers and families with children. We offer many tours: from classic city tours on foot and by bicycle, museums and gardens, temporary exhibitions, food, and wine tours as well as a whole selection of tours dedicated to children and teenagers. We have also created a Photo Vintage Tour to capture all our memories together. What are the ones most sought after by your customers? I don't have a more popular category; each customer creates his own package according to his interests. This is my favorite part of the job: getting to know customers and creating unique experiences for them. In general, I can say that families really like the treasure hunt for children and teenagers and the Photo Vintage. Couples and groups of friends, on the other hand, prefer food and wine tours in addition to museums. Do you have any good advice for someone who wants to do your job or who wants to start with this job? This is a job in which passion for what you do is essential, you have to be curious, constantly inform yourself, study continuously and have a lot of physical resistance! You have to walk a lot in hot and cold weather! You are dealing with people from all over the world and encounter many different cultures. The Spirit of adaptation and respect are fundamental. Did you ever have a dream as a child? That dream you feel you have achieved? I've always been fascinated and sensitive to art, I was one of those classic little girls who remain enchanted at the theater or inside a museum. Beauty has always touched my soul. So, I can say yes. What does this job mean to you? I get a wonderful feeling every time I realize that I have left a memory of joy in people's lives, a break from the daily routine, from problems. I keep in touch with some of my guests and friendships have also been born. Have you ever thought about giving up everything and dedicating yourself to something else? No, even in the toughest moment of the Lock Down, where the tourism sector has had one of the biggest crises. I took the opportunity to study and specialize in other areas of my work. In addition, we have created a program called "The Live Guide" and almost every day, with the help of many guides, we have proposed free tourist itineraries online. We had built up a huge community of followers. Who is to thank? Surely, I have had people who have inspired me: first of all, my parents, teachers, masters of performing arts, art figures, books, music, and my partner, who is a great creative and my right hand. Local Guides Tour Via Mazzietta,3 - 50122 Firenze (FI) - IT Tel: +39 055.4939067 booking@localgiudestour.com - www.localguidestour.com Facebook: @vanessatourguide Instagram: @local_guides_tour tiktok: @localguidestour
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