Hello, I’m Rossella.
I have beeen travelling throughout Italy since a I can remember. The only child of mad, art loving parents who dragged at-first indifferent, then thoroughly enthusiastic little me to theatres, museums exhibitions, and every corner of the country. By the time I was ten I had visited all of Italy’s regions. I had fallen asleep halfway through most of Puccini and Verdi’s operas, stood open-mouthed before Filippino Lippi’s Madonna at the Uffizi, climbed a Nuraghe in Sardinia, and traced the glittering mosaics on the columns of the cloister at Monreale with my finger.
Life took some unexpected turns. I lived abroad for many years, worked in travel (and travelled A LOT myself), and raised a family. When I came back to Italy five years ago I knew exactly what I wanted to do: put everything I’d learned into helping people fall in love with Italy the way I did as a child.
So I studied (a great deal) to become a licensed national tourist guide, and I started The Curious Duck.
What I’ve learned about travel
There’s no better way to see a place than with a friend who lives there. Suddenly you’re not a tourist: you know where to go, what to avoid, when to slip in before the crowds. That’s what I try to be for you, whether I’m planning your whole trip or walking beside you through a basilica.
Why “The Curious Duck”?
Simple. It is the nickname my nearest and dearest gave me. It is also my favourite animal: a great traveller, a good communicator, constantly
What I believe
- Travellers, not tourists.
- See less, connect more. Better three places you’ll remember than ten you’ll blur.
- Art is NOT boring. If it ever felt that way, blame the way it was taught, not yourself.
- Honest advice, including “skip this”.
Credentials
Licensed national tourist guide (Guida Turistica Nazionale Abilitata) ยท [National Register of Tourist Guides n. 99001160]
Certified languages: English, Spanish and Italian