Simone L.

Ask for Simone Lanna. He was very personable, knowledgeable and made this tour a very memorable experience.

The entire tour was amazing. Our guide Simone was very friendly and went above and beyond for us. His extraordinary knowledge and familiarity took the tour to the next level. If you get the opportunity to book Simone as your guide you will not be disappointed.

Punctual, professional and very knowledgeable! Was easy to book. Our driver Massimo was punctual, friendly and shared many aspects about Rome. Our private guide, Benjamin was excellent. Very friendly, relaxed and knowledgeable. He has a very strong understanding of the Vatican and was very capable to educate us in both English and German. We highly recommend him and the company

We had a fabulous time with our expert guide Simone. He gives an imitate and educational tour of Caravaggio’s personal life and his amazing masterpieces featured in three churches of Rome. Simone is very personable, knowledgeable and his love of art is infectious. My favorite tour & guide in Rome.

We had the absolute pleasure of touring the Colosseum and Roman Forum with Simone, and it was an unforgettable experience. His deep archaeological knowledge and passion for history brought the ancient ruins to life in a way we could never have imagined on our own. Simone didn’t just share facts—he gave us insights into how Romans truly lived, worked, and entertained themselves, weaving together stories that made the stones and ruins feel vibrant and alive. What made the tour so exceptional was Simone’s ability to balance his profound expertise with an engaging, approachable style. He welcomed questions, tailored the pace to our interests, and ensured we didn’t just “see” the sites but actually understood their significance. His background in archaeology shone through at every stop, adding a depth and authenticity that set this experience apart from any typical tour. If you want to experience the Colosseum and Forum with fresh eyes and walk away with a genuine appreciation for their history, I cannot recommend Simone highly enough. Truly phenomenal.

Amazing experience from start to finish! Very easy to deal with at booking and answered all my questions. Simone was extremely knowledgeable and an excellent guide. I have been to the coliseum before two times but got so much more out of it with a tour.

Our tour of the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and the Colosseum with Simone was truly a top highlight from our Italian Vacation. Not only is Simone a kind and humorous person, he is also an archaeologist, which provided us with an especially unique and special experience as we explored these historic sites. I particularly loved that Eyes of Rome offers pickup from your hotel (within a certain range) to your tour, and that the tour is TRULY private. It was only the four of us in our family plus Simone, and I cannot express how nice it was not to be in just another 'cattle call' like most tours are. If we ever make it back to Rome, we would only tour with Eyes of Rome (and Simone!).

Our tour of the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and the Colosseum with Simone was truly a top highlight from our Italian Vacation. Not only is Simone a kind and humorous person, he is also an archaeologist, which provided us with an especially unique and special experience as we explored these historic sites. I particularly loved that Eyes of Rome offers pickup from your hotel (within a certain range) to your tour, and that the tour is TRULY private. It was only the four of us in our family plus Simone, and I cannot express how nice it was not to be in just another 'cattle call' like most tours are. If we ever make it back to Rome, we would only tour with Eyes of Rome (and Simone!).

Rome is overflowing with incredible history and world-famous landmarks, but one experience that truly stood out was touring its breathtaking churches with Eyes of Rome. These aren’t just places of worship—they're masterpieces of art, architecture, and deep spiritual significance. If you're Catholic, this tour is an absolute must-do. Rome is truly the spiritual capital of Western Christianity, and visiting these sacred sites brings the richness of our faith to life. The beauty, inspiration, and historical depth of each church were simply indescribable. Our guide, Simone, was absolutely wonderful—knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate. He brought each stop to life with fascinating insights and stories. The air-conditioned van was a huge bonus, especially in the Roman heat, making the experience both comfortable and enjoyable. I can’t recommend this tour highly enough—it was a highlight of our time in Rome!

Simon is a wonderful guide! Very knowledgeable and tells great stories about the Vatican and the Museums. The best guide we've had in Italy.

Perfect Day. Simon our guide was passionate, knowledgeable, interesting and funny. Best guide we have ever had. Left the day exhausted, happy, excited and smarter.

Our heads hurt :). Simone was one of a kind. Archeologist by trade - we came to understand some of the most important and influential parts of Rome in a whole new light. Worth every penny!

La compañía de nuestra guía ( Gio ), fue magnífica. Gracias a ella y a sus conocimientos amplisimos sobre la experiencia que contratamos, nos resultó muy interesante y a la vez, familiar. Magnífica en todos los sentidos.

Our tour guide, Simon was exceptional. He was on time to meet us, and was very pleasant and engaging. He is very knowledgeable on all aspects of Vatican history. He made sure to answer any questions we had and we were very happy with his guidance. I highly recommend all visitors to the Vatican meet with Simon as their tour guide. He was great and I hope to have him again as our Vatican tour guide!

This tour is expensive however our guide Simone made it worth the money. He was so knowledgeable and friendly. He happily answered any questions we had. He even gave us an excellent recommendation for gelato.???? It goes without saying but the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica are fabulous works of art. There is so much history and beauty. This tour was a definite winner. Simone, thank you!

Lorenzo nos dio un tour espectacular al coliseo, toda la familia lo disfrutamos muchísimo incluidos mis dos hijos 6 y 5 años. Lorenzo les hablo a su nivel y todos aprendimos mucho Sin dudarlo lo volvería a hacer

This tour was incredible. Katie our guide was exceptional knowledgeable and really customized the tour based on what we wanted to see. Pick up from the hotel was seamless. Massimo was early and after was willing to drop us off anywhere in Rome! He even recommended a restaurant, drove by to show us where it was and made us a reservation! Here's to exceptional service.

Unser Guide Simona war super nett , freundlich und extrem Kompetent - sie konnte alles perfekt erklären und erläutern ohne zu langweilen oder zu überfrachten- wir können diese Tour und insbesondere Simona als Guide nur weiter empfehlen

In 2 weeks touring central/northern Italy, the tour of Castel Gandolfo with Denis was easily the most spectacular. And not just because of the unique and recent opportunity to tour Castel Gandolfo and its gardens privately and by golf cart, but because of the fantastic transportation from Massimo, and the delightful tasting menu that followed the tour -- the best we had. Denis was as widely knowledgeable about all things Castel Gandolfo, as he was helpful and outgoing. I would consider myself lucky to have such a pleasant tour and guide again.

Esperienza molto bella ed interessante… Marco una grande guida!! Consigliatissimo!!! Persona molto piacevole e competente è stato come rivivere l’antica Roma!

We first contacted Eyes of Rome in 2019 when we began planning our 2020 trip to Italy and wanted to have professional, certified guides for our tours of Rome. From the beginning, communication via email was easy, replies were prompt and proposed itineraries worked well with our schedule. With a teenager and tween in tow, we wanted early morning or late evening tours to avoid the Italian summer heat and Vacation crowds, and Eyes of Rome was happy to help. Our hotel was located on Monte Mario, a bit further from Ancient Rome, and Eyes of Rome coordinated transportation to all three of our tours. When we had to reschedule our trip for 2021, Eyes of Rome applied our deposit to our new itinerary without issue and was very accommodating helping us reschedule. Massimo was our driver for all three tours, greeting us our first morning in Rome with a friendly face and a comfortable, air conditioned Mercedes van. He provided interesting and fun information about the neighborhoods we passed through along the way to our destinations, including a stop at Fontana dell'Acqua Paola for a photo op. Denis guided us on our Saturday morning tour of the Forum and Colosseum; he helped bring to life Ancient Rome through stories and pictures he carried in a book. Denis provided just the right amount of history while keeping a nice pace through the Forum and Colosseum, and taking us to fantastic family picture spots. At the end of the tour, while filling our water bottles just outside the Colosseum and willing the online reservation system to work on my mobile, Denis offered to help by calling the restaurant to secure our lunch reservations. So nice! Marta was our guide on our Sunday evening walking tour of the sites, as well as our morning tour of Vatican city. We first met Marta at a very interesting ancient site beneath Capitoline Hill and she immediately held our attention with the history and stories she told. Although our teenager was less than enthusiastic about the evening’s itinerary, she begrudgingly admitted to enjoying the tour. We met Marta for our final tour of Vatican city early Tuesday morning. Though rules prohibit our guide speaking to us in the Basilica, Marta pointed out things we should be sure to see before entering, and answered our questions immediately after. Unfortunately, the short cut from the Vatican Museums to the Basilica is closed due to the pandemic. After the long walk up the hill and entering the museum, Marta escorted us to a beautiful terrace where, with the aid of her iPad, she walked us through details we would soon see. She prepared us in advance for our time inside the Sistine Chapel with backstories and details to focus on, given the rule of silence while inside the chapel. Our girls faded quickly and Marta adjusted the itinerary so as not to draw out the morning. She helped us navigate quickly to the sites we wanted to see, and avoided unnecessary delays. Our Eyes of Rome guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating. They helped make our trip excellent.

Fue un total acierto contratar este tour privado con Francesco quien, de un modo ameno, divertido e implicando mucho a las niñas, nos fue contando lo más destacado de los Foros y luego, del Coliseo. Nos recogió y dejó en el hotel. En la primera parte, a pesar del calor que hacía, nos fuimos refugiando en sombras y Francesco nos contaba qué estábamos contemplando, y anécdotas sobre la vida romana en esa época. Ya en el Coliseo, al que accedimos sin hacer cola, pudimos conocer con más detalle sus rincones, y hacernos las fotos que quisimos. Visita muy recomendada si vais en familia y, sobre todo, con niños.

Simone was the best tour guide we could have asked for. He gave us plenty of information and tailored it to our own interests. He is Italian but speaks perfect English and is extremely easy to talk to. I recommend him very highly.

Another splendid tour provided by Eyes of Rome. My husband and I highly recommend our lecturer/guide Simone. His prompt and congenial welcome and deep knowledge of his subject made our limited time in the Borghese Gallery both entertaining and educational. It was 2 1/2 hours very well spent. We have used this company in the past and I cannot recommend them enough. While the ease of booking and excellent communication is a point in favor for Eyes of Rome, their greatest assets are the tour guides who work for them. In the end, they are the face of Rome for a visitor. Thank you, Simone, for putting such a handsome and memorable face on the Eternal City.

Simone was amazing,!!!!!!!I could never say enough positive things about his tour, through the Vatcan. I highly recomend the tour and if you are lucky Simone.

Excellent tour. Thanks to our tour guide Simone Lana. His historical knowledge and passion surpassed all expectations. We were escorted from our hotel by Simone and the tour began. He explained the history of Rome and various locations we passed along the way to the Vatican. Will definitely request Simone on our next tour.

Simone picked up us on time at our hotel and in the cab briefed us as to what and how we would seeing the Vatican and surrounding sights. Entry went quickly and smoothly and we were off on our tour eager to see and live in the life and times of the Vatican et al. Simone had a way of being able to relay facts in a storytelling way. We were glued to his every word. He was able to thread through certain facts that would pop up in a different sight and also teach us why and how. He is very calming and able to navigate the crowds easily and professionally. Having his iPad to back up facts with photos and able to look back and compare was an added bonus to the tour. We wish we could have taken him on the rest of our tours while in Rome. He deserves 10 stars - not just 5.

Simone picked up us on time at our hotel and in the cab briefed us as to what and how we would seeing the Vatican and surrounding sights. Entry went quickly and smoothly and we were off on our tour eager to see and live in the life and times of the Vatican et al. Simone had a way of being able to relay facts in a storytelling way. We were glued to his every word. He was able to thread through certain facts that would pop up in a different sight and also teach us why and how. He is very calming and able to navigate the crowds easily and professionally. Having his iPad to back up facts with photos and able to look back and compare was an added bonus to the tour. We wish we could have taken him on the rest of our tours while in Rome. He deserves 10 stars - not just 5

Simone offered an outstanding experience with the tour. His depth of knowledge and willingness to explain to a greater level of detail was appreciated. He did not rush us and ensured we received a full experience. Thank you and we will book again when we return to Rome.

Simone had such a great wealth of knowledge and expertise. He gave the tour great context. His personal care (navigating crowds, steps, terrain, etc.) was very much appreciated by my wife and me. He definitely understood us as well as his cultural, architectural history.

My adult son and I went on the "Private Colosseum Undergrounds and Roman Forum Tour + 3 hour Golf Cart Tour extension" with Simone Lanna. Simone grew up in Rome and has a formal education in archeology and was a great guide, host, and educator. Five stars. Outstanding. We had 1.5 days in Rome and we did this tour on one full day and then did the "Prime early bird Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica tour" the next morning before catching a train out of Roma Termini at 13:00. This was excellent as well. For the limited time we had in Rome we saw an enormous number and variety of sites. Do not hesitate to consider Eyes of Rome.

My family spent a wonderful afternoon with Simone, the incredible guide from Eyes of Rome, when we had only 1 1/2 days to tour the city. Because we had just come off a 7 day cruise of the Western Mediterranean, in which we were on daily excursions of 50 people, having a private guide for the 3 of us in Rome was perfect. Through a miscommunication of arrangements made by our cruise line, we ended up staying at the Rome airport hotel, 1 hour away from the city center. Upon hearing of our predicament, Eyes of Rome arranged private transfers and picked us up even though we were far outside the city, which was not usually included in their normal transfer policy. Massimo, our driver, was prompt and made the long drive very enjoyable! Simone met us at the very busy Vatican entrance and started the day with a marvelous private tour of the side galleries, pointing out incredible facts as well as making reflections of the history and building of the Vatican itself. His higher education (a PHD from Oxford, no less!) in archaeology was evident in his passion and wealth of knowledge. He was obviously very prepared and showed us pictures from his Ipad to support his explanations, which were extremely helpful. The pacing was great, and he gave us time to take in things of importance, yet kept us moving so that we could see as much as possible in the time we had. Before entering the Sistine Chapel, Simone pointed out amazing things to focus on, providing a full description and explanation so we would not miss a thing. His patience and interest in all of our questions made for a truly incredible time. At the conclusion of the tour, he gave personal suggestions for places to have dinner near the Vatican, creating the perfect day. My family feels this was truly a "gem" of an experience!!!

Simone Lanna gave my husband and I an excellent tour of the Colosseum and the Forum, full of details. His deep understanding of the history of Rome comes from his work as an archaeologist and historian; he told stories in a compelling manner. It was a very relaxing tour in spite of the late afternoon heat. Taking the private tour was fantastic as we were able to skip the long lines and have all of our many questions fully answered. His English is excellent and he has a wonderful sense of humor. We felt we really lucked out getting Simone as our guide and would highly recommend him to anyone!!

Yes, a private tour is expensive, but the amount of knowledge and stories you'll hear customized to your interest vs. trying to simply visit on your own is night and day. Not to mention the time you'll save gliding past long lines. Our tour guide, Simone, is an archaeologist and was a perfect fit for my Roman history nerd husband who has always dreamed of traveling to Rome and seeing the sites in an in-depth way. Simone kept our 12 year old engaged for three hours as well (though she was pretty tired after three hours in the sun). My one bit of advice if traveling during the summer is bring water. Both gift shops were sold out when we were there so we bought from the illegal vendors outside (with kind warning from our guide that we might be ticketed if we do so). The only constructive feedback I have for Viator is that this should not be a pick-up/drop off tour for groups of more than 3 now that Uber is nearly gone from Rome. We spent the first 15 minutes trying to find a cab that would take 5 (and finally gave up and took two cabs). Just tell us to meet you at X point and our group of 4 can fit into one cab and get there on our own.

We had a private tour of the Vatican with Simone. Our guide was knowledgeable and able to answer all of our questions. It was also a fun day where we got to spend as much time as we wanted at any of the fabulous treasures of the Vatican. Highly recommended

Loved how Simone helped us to become part of the Forum as it existed. I highly recommend him. Choose Simone if you can.

My wife and I had the pleasure of meeting with Serena and Simona for the morning debrief on the Vatican museum and Sistine chapel. They were informative, friendly, and down to earth. We were fast tracked right into the Vatican museum when everyone else was stuck waiting in an extremely long line. In the afternoon we had a private tour with Simone - a native Roman. He is an archeologist who has spent years digging at the forum and in Egypt. His history knowledge was extensive, and he vividly explained the different layers of history found in Rome and at the colosseum in particular. The whole tour was impressive and we could have easily spent 3 more hours exploring Rome with Simone. I would recommend Eyes of Rome to anyone and can easily see why it’s rated so highly

Simone Lanna was by far the most knowledgable tour guide I have ever encountered. We toured the forum and collesium. Every question I asked (and there were a lot) Simone answered with precise detail. He was able to span years of Roman history and tie them all together. I was most interested in how the Coliseum operated and how the population participated. Simone explained it all as if we were there. Would suggest, if possible, book him. You will not be disappointed if you truly want the real deal.

Simone was our tour guide. He was incredibly knowledgeable, with a background in archaeology and experience with excavation in the Forum. He was also very personable and charming, just a fun person to spend 3+ hours with. The skipping the line claim is absolutely true, and even in December the line at the Colosseum was very long. Unfortunately there is no skipping the security/metal detector lines which are very unorganized but Simone helped us navigate that mess. He knew so much about the Colosseum and the shows there, but what I really liked was how he gave us the perspective of the gladiators. He then took us to the Roman Forum, and told us stories of Julius Caesar, Marc Antony, etc. It was an unforgettable tour, and I'm so glad we went with Eyes of Rome and Simone who is the absolute best.

Our guide Simone was exceptional!. Extremely knowledgeable, but also very easy to understand. Spent as much time in each area and on our questions as needed. I would highly recommend Simone he has a very friendly/kind demeanor. We really enjoyed our tour and learned a lot. 10 out of 10!

Simone gave one of the best tours of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. He is an archaeologist who understands history and explains this story with great illustration. I've been to the Colosseum several times is the best ever!

Simone gave one of the best tours of the Colosseum and Roman Forum. He is an archaeologist that understands the history and explains that history with great illustration. I have been to the Colosseum several times and he is the best by far!!

Our family took a tour with Eyes of Rome to the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Our tour guide Simone Leanna was actually a trained archaeologist and his enthusiasm and knowledge made the tour so much more informative and enjoyable. Many thanks to Simone and to Eyes of Rome. Grazie!

Our Colosseum and Roman Forum tour with Simone was absolutely spectacular. He was a wealth of knowledge in regards to the tour and not only spoke intelligently about the subject but challenged us with questions about what we learned. He did a great job with our two kids, 18 and 16, challenging them with questions and teaching them about the time period. If you are looking for a real learning experience about this tour he is your guy. He was also awesome about how the tour went. When our daughter was having some issues with the sun and a previous injury he totally took care of the situation by getting her a coke and some cold water. A great experience all the way around!

Simone was our guide for the Vatican and hidden gems tour. What a day! There was so much to see, we were able to skip several lines and with his expert guidance we breezed through the most hectic crowds. If you are even just thinking of doing this kind of tour, do not hesitate. You will not be disappointed. The time, effort and knowledge went a long way. When we left we all knew more of Roman history. The thing that really blew us away was the attention to detail that we would have missed, like what was in the paintings and why, mosaics, statues and so much morel

Grazie Marco per la competente e simpatica guida durante la visita al Vaticano. Speriamo di riuscire ad incontrarci in un‘altra occasione. Per ora cari saluti ed auguri per il prossimo viaggio Franziska e Luigi

Simone spent half the day with us touring the beautiful Colosseum and Forum in May 2018. His knowledge, energy, and love of Rome engaged all five our our family (two adults and three teenagers). Simone was on time, went the perfect pace, gave us a plethora of suggestions for the rest of the day regarding restaurants and other walkable sites. Our whole family spent the day discussing everything we learned from Simone and our drive to get back to Rome to learn and experience more. We highly recommend Simone and this tour.

Simone spent half the day with us touring the beautiful Colosseum and Forum in May 2018. His knowledge, energy, and love of Rome engaged all five our our family (two adults and three teenagers). Simone was on time, went the perfect pace, gave us a plethora of suggestions for the rest of the day regarding restaurants and other walkable sites. Our whole family spent a lot of the rest of the day discussing everything we learned from Simone and our drive to get back to Rome to learn and experience more. We highly recommend Simone and this tour.

We had a very disappointing experience with Eyes on Rome when our Private Vatican tour, that had been booked >2 months in advance, ended up with a No Show Guide. When we contacted them they did immediately refund our fee - however, it was now too late to get Skip the Line tickets and we spent hours in line to see St Peter’s and the Sistine chapel. Not how we planned to spend precious vacation time. Follow up on this tour was initiated by us by submitting a 1 star review, after which we received a quick response from the Operator apologizing and offering a free replacement tour. We were no longer in Rome, however, they did arrange for a replacement tour in Venice. The Venice tour with Simona was very good and we thoroughly enjoyed it. That tour deserves a 5 star rating. Therefore, I have adjusted the overall rating to 3 star. Eyes of Rome did react well, once contacted, and provided a knowledgeable and pleasant tour guide. However, m it would not be truthful to give a 4 or 5 Star overall as the situation did impact our vacation dealing with the logistics. Thank you Eyes of Rome for the Venice tour. We would not avoid booking with Eyes of Rome if we ever return to Italy, as they have proven that they can provide a tour as booked.