About Our Guides
Experience the ultimate cultural immersion in Italy with our team of expert tour guides. Their in-depth knowledge and passion for these beautiful cities bring to life the stories and secrets of Italy's most famous landmarks in a way no other tour can.
OUR VENICE GUIDE - CINZIA MAESTRINI
Hi! My name is Cinzia and I love my job. After attending a Foreign Language High School, I graduated from the Venetian University "Ca' Foscari" with a degree in Chinese Language and Literature.
I studied in England and lived and worked as an interpreter in China in order to improve English and Chinese.
Being a Tour Assistant, I worked for several years with Chinese delegations and American groups, travelling with them both in Italy and in Europe. Yet, this was not enough for me. My love for the Arts and History of Venice had grown so much, that I decided to study for the specific exam to become a Professional Tour Guide in Venice.
I really love travelling; it allows me to get in touch with different cultures, traditions and religions. While working, I meet people from all over the world: it is thanks to you that I have the chance of "travelling" every day, although remaining in my town.
I will then be waiting for you with my enthusiasm to move with you the first steps into the maze of this contradictory, romantic, mysterious and yet simple city: Venice.
Here I am!
OUR FLORENCE GUIDE - Fabrizio Ricciardelli, Ph.D.
Fabrizio Ricciardelli was appointed Director of the Kent State University Florence Center in 2012 after serving in leadership and teaching roles at Georgetown University at Villa Le Balze. Ricciardelli joined Georgetown University in 2004 and served for six years as Professor of History. Between 2010-2012, he was also selected as Academic Director and in 2010 he became the chairman of the scientific committee “Villa Le Balze Studies.” His academic experience includes journal articles, conference presentations, and several reviews. He has authored and co-authored numerous books on institutional and political history. His main field of study is Italian city-states in the social, economic, political, and cultural landscape of Medieval Europe. Some of his publications are: The Politics of Exclusion in Early Renaissance Italy (2007); I luoghi del sacro. Il sacro e la città tra Medioevo ed Età moderna (2008); The Culture of Violence in Renaissance Italy (2012); Umanesimo e università in Toscana (1400-1600) (2012); Late Medieval and Early Modern Ritual. Studies in Italian Urban Culture (2013), and Emotions, Passions, and Power in Renaissance Italy (2015), The Myth of Republicanism in Renaissance Italy (2015), A Tale of Two Cities: Florence and Rome from the Grand Tour to Study Abroad (2017), A Short History of Florence (2019). His latest work is The Medici. The Power of a Dynasty has been published in 2021. Ricciardelli has recently embarked upon the study of The Emotional Language of Justice in Renaissance Europe to investigate the separation between legal and moral norms, between crime and sin. Ricciardelli worked for National Geographic on The Secrets of Florence in 2009. In 2021 Ricciardelli was elected President of AACUPI, the Association of American College and University Programs in Italy. A native of Florence, Fabrizio Ricciardelli earned his undergraduate degree in Medieval History at the University of Florence and his Ph.D. at the University of Warwick in England.
OUR FLORENCE GUIDE - Laura Visentin
Laura Visentin earned her undergraduate degree in Classics, with specialization in Archaeology, at the University of Florence in 1997. Her thesis was written after an academic year spent at Royal Holloway, University of London and working in cooperation with the Museum of London. She earned a three years Master in Archaeology. Since 2002 she has been an adjunct professor at FUA (Florence University of the Arts). Starting in 2014, Dr Visentin joined Kent State University Florence. Her main field of study is the historical and archaeological transformation of towns from Roman times to the Early Middle Ages. She has digging experiences in Italy (i.e. Medieval Castles in Tuscany - 1995-1999, the Benedictine monastery of San Vincenzo al Volturno, excavations directed by British school at Rome - 1995, and the Roman villa of Passo Lombardo in Rome - 1997) and abroad (the Byzantine city of Halutza and excavations directed by the university in Beer-Sheva, Israel - 2000).
Our Mission Statement
The mission of Mike Graves Tours is to provide our customers with an immersive experience into the heart and soul of Italy.
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While the primary focus will be on architecture and urban design history, our clients will see, feel and taste first-hand the art, food, and culture.
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Our tour guides are local and highly experienced academics.
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Satisfaction and extraordinary service is our aim.