The Rabbinical Trail: A Jewish-Centric Exploration Tour of the Veneto Region

We had an absolute dream trip to Italy with the help of Zicasso's travel specialist! Traveling as a family of five, we visited Rome, Florence, San Gimignano, Greve, Siena, Cinque Terre, and Venice, along with many beautiful towns and smaller areas throughout the country.

The wonderful vacation rental accommodations were thoughtfully chosen and every detail of our trip was carefully planned. The local tour guides were incredibly knowledgeable and gave us a truly authentic experience. Our private transfers, train transfer, and private tours were efficient, informative, and made traveling from place to place seamless and stress-free.

The communication between all tour guides and transportation providers was great, as was that of each vacation rental host, who contacted us in advance to prepare us for our arrival.

One of our favorite parts of the trip was discovering the smaller, less-touristy areas within the larger cities, places we likely never would have found on our own. We enjoyed exploring Tridente for shopping and Trastevere in Rome for a private pizza-making class (highly recommended), artisan shops, excellent restaurants, and a vibrant nightlife.

Florence was wonderful, but we had the opportunity to travel to a few other areas, such as Siena, Greve, and San Gimignano. We even had a private vineyard tour and chef's meal while in Chianti. A must-see is the walk to the Boboli Gardens across Ponte Vecchio and, on the way back to our apartment, a stop at Piazzale Michelangelo.

While staying in Cinque Terre (Monterosso al Mare), be sure to take a private boat to visit all of the other villages and maybe even snorkel. The water is so clear!

Venice had great history, but we also enjoyed our boat tour to Murano to watch the glassmaking process and Burano, filled with gorgeous multicolored homes and artisan shops.

Every experience felt personal, meaningful, and special.

This trip was truly an absolute dream and we are so grateful to him for helping make our family vacation to Italy unforgettable. We highly recommend him to anyone looking to plan an incredible, seamless, and memorable trip!

Edwin and I struggled during this trip. It started in Venice with the hotel room and location. Horrible room with little or no amenities. Please note, the other hotels were much better.

There should have been better communication between Zicasso’s travel company and us. I was unaware we were not going to have local tour guides in Arezzo, Montepulciano, Verona, Orvieto, Cortona, etc. The drivers took us to these locations and dropped us off in the piazza or city gates and we were on our own. The drivers shared some notes about the city, but we wandered aimlessly most of the time. Please note, the local guides in Venice, Florence and Rome were great.

As per the restaurants, I had received recommendations from friends and family, which I shared with the travel company. They made the reservations on our behalf. However, they never told us how far the hotels were from these restaurants. It would have been nice for them to tell us. As a result of the distance, we asked the travel company to cancel some of the reservations on our behalf.

The three positive things I can say are as follows:

The travel company responded quickly when we called them from Italy.

The private drivers in Venice (from airport to hotel), Verona (driver), Florence (driver) and Rome (hotel to airport) were great. However, the driver from Florence to Rome with a stop in Orvieto was terrible.

The local tour guides in Venice, Florence and Rome were great.

All in all, we were not happy and very disappointed with this trip.

My trip was fantastic! Every single minute of it! I was in Europe city-hopping for 16 days and every aspect of the trip was perfect! My travel specialist and her team, who planned my trip and gave me support throughout it, couldn't have done a better job - it truly was the trip of a lifetime!

We started out planning it about a year ago. I contacted Zicasso about planning a multi-city trip and I listed the places that I wanted to visit. I am a woman traveling solo, so I asked for guides for many places that I wanted to visit - people who knew the cities and the best way to get around, great places to eat, etc. The guides were awesome - I had four of them and they each had a background in history or art history, so they were perfect companions to visit museums and palaces with.

I also had a somewhat unusual request - I wanted to go to thrift shops in three cities. I strongly believe in recycling and finding a new home for pre-loved items. I did end up going to thrift stores and some shops featuring local designers and artisans, and found some absolute treasures to take home with me! And I spent one wonderful morning at a Paris flea market with my Parisian guide, and we had a grand time! I found some jewelry and a small piece of art to take home with me. She had me try my first crepe (I've never had one before) and also something that I'm going to misspell that, when pronounced, sounds like "shoe" - yummy!

I wanted to see a show at the Moulin Rouge, but did not want to go to a club at night by myself, so my guide escorted me and we had a wonderful time! Similarly, I wanted to go to a jazz club one evening and my guide escorted me there, where we had a blast! She accompanied me to the Louvre and made sure I got to see all the pieces I was interested in seeing. She also took very good pictures of me at all the spots we visited so I could send them back home. I'll give her a 5+ star rating as a guide! She was just lovely!

My next stop was Prague and my guide was just as superb! She introduced me to espresso tonics (I'm sipping one right now as I've been making them at home - I love them!) and she gave me a wonderful guided tour of the city. The next day we did some thrifting and visited stores featuring local designers. Again, I found some treasures. Another 5+ star guide!

From there I took the train to Vienna, where my guide brought me on an amazing walking tour of the city. She was so knowledgeable about the city and its history - you could tell it is her passion. She also brought me to thrift stores and local artisan shops and again I found even more treasures! We visited museums and enjoyed lunch and coffees together. And she escorted me to a blues club one evening where we had a blast listening to live classic American blues (my real love, along with jazz). My guide is just so delightful! Highly recommended if you are interested in visiting Vienna.

From there I flew to Venice - my final destination. My guide was so knowledgeable about the artwork that we saw at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection - it felt as if by seeing the paintings we were visiting old friends of his! And he also took me to see Doge's Palace and on a gondola ride.

On day two in Venice, we went by boat to Murano, where we visited the glass factory and saw the glassblowers working. I had done very well at sticking to my budget for the trip until I got to the Murano factory showroom. I love glass and the pieces they were selling were all sublime! So much work went into them. I ended up buying two pieces that are being shipped to me so I did not have to worry about transporting them on the plane. And our tour guide at the factory even gifted me a necklace that I'm wild about after serving me prosecco in a handblown glass.

From there, we headed to the island of Burano and had lunch. I've got wonderful pictures of the colorful houses there. As I said, the trip could not have been better. The hotels were all fabulous in each city - centrally located and an easy walk to restaurants and shops. The beds were super-comfortable and each room was very quiet - I slept like a log from all the walking that I did every day.

I even managed to send postcards to friends and family from each city - not an easy task since not many people use snail mail anymore! But my guides were all determined to help me find postage and they did - every one of them!

Each hotel offered breakfast and the food was delicious. I'm on a keto diet but came off of it for this trip so I could enjoy the local specialties. The breakfasts were all buffet-style and offered everything you could imagine - eggs, bacon, sausage, all kinds of breads and rolls, pastries, fresh fruit and juice, yogurt, and the best coffee! Every hotel had an excellent buffet. They were all 4-star hotels and each room was charming. The staff at each hotel were also very accommodating, wanting to ensure that I had everything I needed.

There is nothing that the travel specialist and her team left out. Her team even arranged for a last-minute guide to help me get from my hotel to the airport in Venice and make sure I was at the right ticket counter (I was a little concerned about finding the water taxi and then finding the right place to go at the airport). He wheeled and carried my luggage, which by this time was heavy!

The whole trip was perfect and I'm hoping to return in a couple of years. I'd like to make a trip to the Christmas markets in Europe - especially Prague and Vienna - and you know which guides I'm going to be requesting! The whole experience was top-notch! Have no concerns at all about working with this company - they're the best! I thank each and every one who was involved in my trip. It really was perfect!

On the whole, we enjoyed our trip. However, we want to make note of a few things that could have been done better. When we landed in Naples, our driver was waiting for us. But instead of bringing the car to where we were, the 4 senior adults had to walk with luggage in the heat to get to his car. On our first full day in Naples, we were picked up for our cooking class. The driver did not speak any English, and when we arrived at the address, he expected us to get out of the car. We did not know where to go, and he was not able to assist us. Lucky for us, we met a nice lady who spoke English and was able to help us. The cooking class was wonderful. One of the highlights of the trip. The Capri boat tour was enjoyable. The tour of Pompeii was fascinating. The day we were taken to the Amalfi Coast was a holiday, and we mostly sat in traffic. Not anyone's fault but not very pleasant. On June 3 we were picked up very early to go to the port for the Hydrofoil to Ischia. At the port, we had to wait around for almost 2 hours. We were not sure why we were picked up so early. On June 6 we checked into our hotel in Naples, looking forward to our Jewish Heritage tour the following day. Our tour guide was lovely - 4 stars for her - but we learned there is no Jewish heritage in Naples, so that was quite disappointing. It would have been nice to establish realistic expectations.

I am writing this review with fond memories of my trip with Zicasso's travel company. From my first contact with Eva, I was impressed with her responsiveness and follow-up. This was not an easy trip to plan, as I traveled to many different cities and had unique requests. There was not one time when Eva did not respond promptly through email or WhatsApp.

When on the trip, I was provided with names and contact information of drivers and/or guides. There were instances that come to mind where the travel company and Eva really stepped up:

1) In Sarajevo, I wasn't able to see the famed Haggadah, but the guide was great with explanations and I did see a replica and met with her parents.

2) Prior to my drive to Mostar, I was to see the Tunnel of Hope close to the Sarajevo airport. There was an issue in that the local tour company cancelled the reservation and forgot to rebook it. After nearly an hour with back-and-forth phone calls and texts, I finally was able to enter with my driver. That being said, we were late to arrive for the tour of Tito's Bunker as they have only three tours a day and I was unable to enter the bunker. My driver was on the phone with Eva, who was on the phone with her contact at the tour company and, ultimately, it was determined we would drive to Mostar. Because of traffic and border control, I would arrive later than anticipated. Additionally, my travel specialist was informed that my scheduled trip to Blagaj the next day would not be possible as there was an annual spiritual festival I would not be able to attend. My travel specialist was able to work with the local company to switch around the itinerary so I was able to go to Blagaj, and I was fortunate to have been able to see this town, which was so interesting. Because of the inconvenience, it was arranged that my guide in Mostar would, of course, provide the tour of Blagaj and Mostar, but also take me to a very nice restaurant for dinner. It was very nice to experience how the locals eat.

*I do want to add that the destination company for Bosnia and Herzegovina has a very good reputation, but this was an isolated incident. And my point is... Eva took complete control of the situation and, truth be told, was very upset about this turn of events as she is indeed a perfectionist. All worked out as best it could.

3) Leaving Dubrovnik to go to Split required a ferry ride. Because of rain, the 8:00 a.m. ferry was cancelled. My travel specialist received notification at 8:41 a.m. and I had been at the dock since 7:40 a.m. My travel specialist was very disappointed that my driver just left me there. There was no place to shelter and it was pouring rain. Additionally, there was no guarantee that the 3:00 p.m. ferry would go. So I would be at the dock with my baggage and no place to go. I sent a text to my specialist via WhatsApp and was ready to walk across the street for shelter. However, within 10 minutes a driver was dispatched to pick me up. As luck would have it, this was the same driver I had for a couple of side trips in Dubrovnik. The good news was that I got to Split about three hours before I would have with the ferry, was able to check into the hotel, and binged on Netflix until the rain ended and I went to dinner. Again, thank you to my travel specialist for her quick response and follow-up.

My travel specialist was very attentive to my unique requests. Jewish heritage is important to me and she arranged visits to the different museums and synagogues. I appreciated the special arrangements made to personally meet with members of the community. I had a traditional Bosnian meal in Sarajevo with two very interesting people from the community.

In Trieste, Italy, my guide and I made a traditional Sephardic dinner and spent a pleasant few hours speaking to this wonderful husband and wife. Overall, I think I developed a strong connection with my guides and, through social media, I now have new friends, and someday, I will return, or if anyone comes to Chicago, I will be the tour guide.

The accommodations were very good as well. A couple of months before departure I needed to switch my hotel selection in Dubrovnik because of stairs. My travel specialist found me a very nice hotel in a good location that was not too crowded or noisy, just steps away from the Jesuit Stair ("Game of Thrones" site). The irony of this was that the steps in the hotel would have been the least of my challenges as I climbed many steps in these cities and up to castles. The staff at these hotels were so helpful and nice. The restaurant recommendations and them personally contacting the restaurants for me was much appreciated. As a solo traveler, I really appreciated this special attention, both from hotel staff as well as the restaurants.

The drivers and guides were courteous, friendly, informative, and on time. They really know the area. We were fortunate to not have long waits at border control between the countries. I do intend to write individual reviews for my guides and the transportation companies. A benefit of private tours is flexibility and getting to know the drivers and guides. I was able to enjoy Bosnian coffee and double espressos. I was able to go to restaurants that real people go to and not just the tourists.

When in Zagreb, I was finally able to meet my travel specialist. After almost a year of emails, texts, and conversations, it was nice to see the face behind the screen. We had lunch after my tour and it was a perfect way to end my visit in Zagreb.

This trip was not inexpensive and overall more expensive because of the value of the U.S. dollar to the euro. However, knowing that this was pretty much a trip of a lifetime (almost a month), I would expect the cost to be what it was, as it was not the height of the tourist season.

I would definitely arrange travel with this company again and recommend them highly.

Thank you for a wonderful trip.

When we started planning our trip to Italy, I knew I wanted to work with a travel agent—specifically, someone who specialized in Italy and was based there. After reaching out to several agencies and reviewing their responses, we chose Zicasso and, more specifically, our travel agent. She is based in Milan and from my very first interaction with her, I knew we had made the right choice.

Our trip could not have been more perfect. Our agent put a lot of thought into every location and planned activity. At the outset, we had a few discussions with her about what we wanted from the trip and, after that, we were happy to leave most of the details in her capable hands. Our goal was to explore mid-to-northern Italy and everything—from the hotels and tours to the free time and transportation—was beautifully organized.

Our 11-night trip started in Milan and ended in Florence, with overnight stays in Milan (one night), Lake Como (three nights), Venice (three nights), and Florence (four nights). Initially, I was hesitant about staying at Lake Como for three nights, but our agent encouraged me to do a little research. I’m so glad she did, as it turned out to be incredible. We had more self-guided time at Lake Como, which was perfect as we adjusted to the time change. In Venice, our itinerary became more structured, but we still had plenty of time for our own explorations. By the time we reached Florence, we had activities and tours planned for every day, which was just what we wanted.

A highlight for my family was a full-day trip into Tuscany, where we visited San Gimignano, an organic vineyard in Chianti, and finished with a tour of Siena. Our day trip to Rome allowed us to see the main attractions and we concluded the journey with a tour of Florence and the Accademia Gallery. Every tour our agent arranged was spot on.

Throughout our trip, she was wonderfully communicative—always available when we had questions, but never intrusive. She even helped us with a couple of last-minute requests: booking a hotel in Milan for one night and arranging train tickets to Verona for an impromptu visit to Juliet’s balcony. Whenever we needed something, she was there.

When we return to explore the mid-to-southern part of Italy, there’s no question that we’ll be asking her to plan our trip again. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a seamless, thoughtfully curated Italian adventure.