Tour Guide Legal Requirements

A Licensed Tour guide is the official representative of the cultural and natural heritage of an area. Therefore Italy requires the guide to have a guiding license. A person instead, giving for example best shopping, nightlife or ‘restaurant tours’ , does not require a license. This definition is given by the European laws for tour guiding (CEN).

To become a Licensed Tour Guide,it is required to pass an examination given by the local public tourist authorities to  test the knowledge of the area in terms of its history and geography, its art and architecture,art galleries, churches,all cultural features. In addition to this it is also required to speak fluently one or more foreign languages. Canditates must pass oral and written tests. Tour Escorts and Commercial Drivers have also to pass different and more technical written and oral tests. Vehicles with Driver or Driver/Guide for transportation of people, also need a special licence given by the local authorities.

Sicily’s Best Tour Guides

Palermo (includes Monreale and Cefalù)

Giusy Nicoletti (giusinicol@virgilio.it) English, French,Spanish.

Marina Di Cristina (digris@libero.it ) English,French.

Roberta Patti (roberta.patti@katamail.it) English, French,Spanish.

Messina (includes Taormina and Eolian Island)

Carmelo Guardione (carmeloguardione@yahoo.it) English, French,Spansh, German.
Tommaso Pantè (tpante@gmail.com) English, Spanish.

Agrigento

Michael Gallo (mgallo@sicilytravel.net) English.

Siracusa

Ragusa

Trapani (includes Segesta, Selinunte and Motya)

Saverio Renda (saverio_renda@virgilio.it) English.
Giusy Nicoletti (giusinicol@virgilio.it) English, French.

Enna (includes Piazza Armerina)

Dino Cuttitta (cuttittad@interfree.it) English.

Catania