The EU
Because Italy is a part of the European Union, they have to follow some of the laws passed by our unelected officials in Brussels. One of those laws is that a license to guide in Paris is good for all of France and all of the EU.
I am an Irish-American Licensed guide, living in Rome for over 17 years.
My family is originally from Ardara in Donegal. My great-grandparents moved to Pennsylvania, where he was a coal miner. I was raised in New Jersey, then moved to sunny Los Angeles to be a rock star!
I moved to Rome about 17 years ago, and have been attending universities most of that time, earning degrees in Philosophy and Theology. I also have a Masters in Inter-Religious Dialogue with a Focus on the Mediterranean Culture, and a License in Biblical Theology (a year after a Masters, but not a doctorate).
In my "spare time" I also attended classes on the "Bene Culturale" (cultural goods) of Rome and Italy. And I play with web sites and write articles.
It's important for guides to remember that you are on vacation - yes, you want the information, but you also want to have a good time about it. I try to give clients the best of both worlds.
Thanks, boys!
a guide from Puglia ...
That would be like a licensed guide in Washington who has the right to guide in New York City. How could a Washington guide possibly know all the ins and outs of New York City?
They can't - but this is what our Boys in Brussels have done.
Our unelected officials tried to do the same thing with Olive Oil - thankfully, Italy has a protected region, so the inferior oil from those other European countries will never be mixed with the better quality Italian olive oil.
Can work anywhere in Europe.
At the same time, their dumb law works for me. I passed the Puglia region exam, and this gives me the right to guide in all of Italy and all of the EU.
I actually have 16 years experience as a guide, and I work independently (as most of us do) for various agencies that I like and who treat the clients well.
You have arrived at my site probably because you or your friends have been on one of my tours. Hopefully, you heard that they were a lot of fun, with a lot of laughs as well as some really good, deep, technical information.
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you in Rome!
So - play with the various links, read up on the things I can do and have done.
If you are coming to Rome, send me an email with your dates in Rome and I can either put you on one of my group Colosseum tours or we can arrange a private tour.