The Original & Best Tours
Who We Are
Leaders in innovative tours
since 1996, Florence-based travel/theater company Artviva has offered distinctive, original tours and experiences throughout Italy of the regions they know and love - Florence, Rome, Venice, Cinque Terre, Umbria, Pompeii and more.
Artviva The Original and Best Walking Tours is a fully licensed and bonded tour operator in accordance with European laws. License No. 516411. Insurance Policy Number is Unipol No. 065032357144.
Unique and Creative
Artviva's unique background - originally a theatre company - constantly informs the need to be innovative and truly creative, ensuring that you not only are enriched through your experience with us but also enjoy learning about a country that has so much to explore, from its world famous galleries and masterpieces to exquisite crafts and designs, stunning scenery, fabulous wines and delicious foods.
Over the years, our company has earned an international reputation for quality and innovation, outstanding services with integrity and great guides. We are proud to say we were the first in Italy to offer unique, entertaining and informative small-group tours for the public at reasonable prices.
Corporate Events Conference Planning
We can provide creative solutions for your incentive scheme. We have experience in planning unique programs to offer your employees.
High quality internationally acclaimed tours and services
Whether you need a prestigious palace, castle or villa, or a more intimate setting, we can provide very special solutions for gourmet experiences with famous chefs, special walks and talks with famous experts as well as entertainment.
Our expertise in Florence and Tuscany we will ensure we plan the perfect event while looking after all the logistics.
We are proud to say we have Florence and Tuscany's best guides, ensuring the highest quality with our most popular tours being conducted by English mother-tongue experts. No other company in Florence can guarantee this.
Artviva Exclusive Experiences
Artviva, as a world-first, has designed an exclusive selection of truly exceptional, inspirational and authentic travel experiences. Imagine experiencing Italy with world-renowned writers, celebrities, famous experts and aristocrats. We have blended their expertise with fascinating and fabulous locations to design truly unique experiences. All experiences can be tailored and are available on request, exclusively for you.
We invite you to see Italy from Artviva's point of view. Whether touring with us, looking online for a gift for a special occasion, doing a cooking class or having a bespoke perfume designed, we promise you will have a rich and unforgettable Italian experience.
We hope to see you soon in Italy!
Directors: Rose Magers and Pier Testa
Rose Magers
Commencing with a fine arts (film) and history degree, Rose Magers then continued on to complete a law degree, receiving upon graduation the United Nations University Medal for International Public Law. Law became freelance historical research through a masters program in Italy. Her love of history, the arts, creative innovation and all things Italian led to the founding of Artviva as a way to share Italy's astoundingly rich heritage. Rose is Australian.
Pier Testa
With extensive international experience in experimental theatre practice, he brings to Artviva well-attuned cultural management skills, enabling the Artviva team to produce sophisticated cultural travel experiences. Before becoming a Director of Artviva, Pier was a director and producer of a professional theatre company and an official consultant for a number of years for performances in museum spaces in Florence. Pier is Italian.
Proudly a fully licensed and insured tour operator.
Artviva The Original & Best Walking Tours - Offering World First Ultra-exclusive Experiences!
Critical Acclaim
See Reviews Of Our Tours and Services
Our extraordinary staff
Our talented tour guides
Smaller Groups
Beware of imitators
What people say about us:
Michael Palin
Actor/Presenter (Monty Python and a list of fabulous films too long to list here)
Lou Reed
Rockstar
Richard Kind
Actor (Mad about You, Spin City)
Alex Rodriguez
Baseball Star (In December of 2000 Rodriguez became the best-paid ballplayer of all time when he signed a $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers)
Mike Munro
One of Australia's finest investigative journalists and well known media personalities.
Bill Kurtis
Acclaimed documentary host and producer, network news anchor and multimedia production company .
Nat Young
World Surfing Champion
As recommended by:
Customers Reviews
On
2013/03/23
Elaine Lam said:
I took the Florence tour of Florence Artisans. It was amazing. It was the best tour !!!! Our Guide, Helen was fantastic. She took us to places we'd NEVER have been able to find on our own. She was friendly and very informative. In fact, local people were greeting us with such a warm reception which I can only attribute to the fact that she is a well known and liked friend to the city.
On
2013/02/24
Ingrid Rebelson said:
On
2013/01/22
Helen Campbell said:
Excellent
Nice size for a tour group – not too big. Excellent coverage of the main issues in Renaissance history. Wonderful details – really enjoyed it. Thanks so much.
On
2013/01/22
Ann Gregory said:
On
2013/01/22
Paul Edward Cook said:
Great tour
I just wanted to write and thank you and your staff for our wonderful and informative walking tour of Florence. The tour helped us fall even more in love with your wonderful city. Thanks again and we hope to return in the near future for some more tours. Paul
On
2012/12/30
Joyce Won Ha said:
Helen, The Florence Walking Tour & David
Great Tour! Had Helen as our guide for the tour. Lots of great spots shown throughout florence, things/places only a insider would know. Family loved the info & perspective she gave; as well considerate of breaks, walking speed, time, etc. Would recommend Helen and the tour for any first timers. - the ha family
On
2012/12/30
Joyce Won Ha said:
Elisabetta, Uffizi Private Tour
Elisabetta was great! She is so knowledgeable, honest and quite hilarious. She tailored the tour to exactly the amount we needed as any gallery can get overwhelming. We walked with a better understanding of art/influences. In addition, we had some spare time, so she showed a few spots nearby, recommendations on places to eat, etc. Would definitely consider Art Viva and Elisabetta again. - the ha family
On
2012/10/03
Michelle Purchase said:
Original Florence Walk & Uffizi Tour
Joined the Original Florence Walk (29 Sept 2012) and the Uffizi Tour (30 Sept 2012) after seeing reviews on Trip Advisor. Didn't disappoint. Learnt so much from enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides (sorry, can't remember names but english lady and american guy). Worth every penny. Thank you guys.
On
2012/10/01
Jackie Callahan Parente said:
Florence and The David
We took two tours with Brenda and she was terrific! We would definitely use Artviva again. Brenda was personable, very knowledgeable, and made the tours as fun as they were informative.Jackie and Bob in Glastonbury, Connecticut
On
2012/07/23
Pavla Jurikova said:
Firenze
Yesterday we joined a 3 hours tour in Firenze with a guide named Klaas (I am sorry if I misspelled his name). He was fantastic, we really enjoyed and learned a lot new facts. Great, great, great! I highly recommend to everybody!Thank you : )Sergio and Pavla
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