Tante Belle Cose
Tante Belle Cose, an Italy Travel podcast
Episode 3: To Tour Or Not To Tour
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Episode 3: To Tour Or Not To Tour

A conversation about how to escape the crowds with Petulia Melideo from Context Travel
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Before entering the travel business, I was a professional art history nerd. I honed my skills as a tour guide at the Met Cloisters for 16 years, which made me very selective about the tours I chose for my travels. There’s a lot of junk out there, and it’s important to me that my clients invest their time and money well.

In this episode, I chat with Petulia Melideo of Context Travel about the overcrowding of the most famous sites in Rome and Florence and how to avoid it. It’s an honest, straightforward conversation that I hope will provide you with fantastic value. And if you want to ask me a question or hear me dish on the things I hold back from saying at the 4:07 mark of this episode, join our subscriber community, and we’ll work it all out there.

00:16 My Journey from the Met Cloisters and the Secret of the Unicorn Tapestries

00:53 The Art of Being a Tour Guide

03:19 Choosing the Right Tour

05:44 The Impact of Over Tourism in Rome and Florence

10:38 Exploring Off the Beaten Path in Ostia Antica

21:26 Traveling with Kids in Italy Is So Much Easier Than You Think

26:29 A Slice of Local Life Near the Pantheon in the Piazza di Pietra

29:24 Conclusion and Invitation

The crowds enter the Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David.

Overcrowding in the Uffizi Galleries

Discussion about this podcast

Tante Belle Cose
Tante Belle Cose, an Italy Travel podcast
This Italy travel podcast blends immersive stories with practical advice, offering listeners inspiration for their next adventure and expert tips for planning the best trip possible. Some episodes focus on advice to help you navigate Italy's culture, food, wine, and history, while others tell rich stories that bring Italy to life and help guide your future travels. Subscribers also access a travel community moderated by host Danielle Oteri, where trusted recommendations and ideas are shared to enhance your Italy experience.
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Appears in episode
Danielle Oteri