About us

Working as a tourist guide may appear simple and full of fun to an external observer. Actually, it requires not only great cultural and linguistic knowledge, but also human and psychological qualities. In Italy, possessing theprofessional qualification as a guide is mandatory to legally operate.

This profession is safeguarded from illegal practice by national and regional laws. Already in the times previous to Italian Unity, in the State of the Church the first, real law concerning tourism was created, mainly oriented towards the protection of the users, easy preys, today and then, of not always qualified, if not well-intentioned, individuals.

The edict of the Cardinal Pacca constituted the first example of laws concerning tourism in Italy. The roman authorized guides are proud to belong to a well recognized professional category that may boast to be the oldest in Europe (the edict is dated 1816).

After the Unity of Italy, tourist legislation was issued with great care, with the Laws of 1888 and 1902.

In the Thirties, the first National Tourist Guides Trade Union was instituted, that, after the war, joined the CISL and, in the Eighties, the Fisascat-CISL of Rome and Latium.