Tuscany
 

 

 

Something about me

I am 39 years old and I live in Siena, a beautiful medieval town about one hour south of Florence.
Geology is my background (Ph.D.) but to me life is about more than an academic degree.
Music, cooking and photographing are my passions.
I consider myself lucky to be able to combine all my passions into my guiding business.

 

 
Gianni guiding

Guiding

I have been a certified guide for nature walks since 1999. When I started my business, guiding was just a part-time job, pretty much enjoyable, but still part time. As time went by I realized how much I was feeling in my shoes when guiding groups.
I think that guests mostly like my flexible and easy-going personality.

As a geologist I understand how difficult is to communicate science in an easy and enjoyable way. My goal is to make your vacation an unforgettable one where history, nature and culture really go together very well with enjoyment and laughter.

 
 

Geology

In the course of my academic studies I came into touch with mapping, mineralogy and waste management. In my most recent I investigated the "Bottini", a 15 miles long underground aqueduct beneath Siena. Siena is an hill top town with no direct natural access to water. The Sienese excavated the "Bottini" in the 13th century to bring water into town, and it's still working today, supplying water to Fonte Gaia (the Happy Fountain), located in the main square of the town.
A tour of the many public fountains in Siena is an interesting walk through history and technology.

Gianni geology

 
This text will be replaced

Music
Music has always been an important part of my life. I was the only member of my family who was not forced to study music, and I am the only one who is still playing! Still playing the flute and guitar in jazz and classical ensembles and still learning (I started studying piano 2 years ago). It's not big money but it's big fun!
Listen to some excerpts from my performances.

 

Cooking

My doctor said: "You need to stick to a vegetarian diet!". I thought this meant lettuce and beans. Thank god I was wrong, I discovered how many delicious but healthy recipes I could cook on my own and I would love to share some of them with you. Watch the pasta making video. Yummy!

 

 
 

Photography

Ok. I admit it. Maybe I have a musical sensibility but drawing and painting have always been something I really cannot do.
Photography helped me to express from a visual point of view too.

Everything started by looking at the pictures taken by some friends of mine. They all looked so much  better than mine. I tried to learn what the difference could have been. As I was more and more into digital photography I took a course to learn the basics.

Today, I bring my Nikon D40 everywhere I go. And I enjoy.

I shot the majority of pictures and videos you can watch in this web site.

Photo of a sunset

 

 

My friends and colleagues

So the company is just me, myself and I!

Riccardo or Marzia are going to substitute me in case that I am not available due to some other previous guest's booking or other problems that may arise in the meanwhile.
 

Riccardo is a professional guide as well. We share the same passion for walking, so when we have free time we do some hiking together. He has a natural science background; he is very passionate about the history and traditions of this region. He is also a very good cook.

Marzia
was born in Pisa and grown up in a small village of Tuscan countryside at the border of Florence, Pisa and Siena provinces (Lajatico, which is hometown to Andrea Bocelli, the singer). She has a University degree in linguistics, French and English literature. She lived in London for few years where she taught Italian culture in a College. She's been working as a professional nature guide for many years.
 

 

 

Riccardo Giamello

<Riccardo  
Marzia>
 
 
 


 

IN THE PILGRIMS' FOOTSTEPS
WINE: THE SPIRIT AND TASTE OF A COUNTRY
WALKING THE MEDIEVAL TRAILS
SIENA UPSIDE DOWN: A GEOLOGICAL TOUR
 NATURE'S TREASURES WALKS

 

 

San Gimignano
Monteriggioni Siena
Chianti Elba Island
FLORENCE Montalcino
Pienza  Maremma

VAL D'ORCIA


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
  get in touch with me before leaving... useful links thanks to