The Sicilian Guide is…
Who is The Sicilian Guide?
The Sicilian Guide is a Sicilian who is an expert and official guide, passionate, informal and flexible.
My name is Ivana Grimaldi, founder of the company with a lifelong dream of how to realise and share my idea of tourism. Travelling for me has always been the best way to study, all the while enjoying myself.
Let me tell you how this all began.
My first real family holiday (I am from Trapani) was when I was 14 years old. Armed with my encylopedia not long given to me as a present from my parents (these are back in the days pre-Wikipedia!), I was overwhelmed with curiosity about the history of this island. We began at Tindari and exiting my first archaeological digs, it was enough to make me realise that I wanted to study archaeology and become a guide.
Today, I have brought about both: I am a fully licensed and qualified guide since 2011 and I have gained invaluable experience by taking part in excavations at the Colosseum in Rome, and more particularly the sewers which run beneath this area. Quite ghastly you may think but for an archaeologist, it was an amazing experience! I have studied Lombardic skeletons in Arezzo, ancient mortar in Selinunte and participated in many digs on the island of Mozia and Pantelleria.
Approximately 7 years ago, I began working as guide in Sicily after several years in Rome and I occasionally do tours also in Naples and at the beautiful yet tragic, ancient Roman city of Pompeii.
I have the same enthusiasm and excitement I felt that very first day in Tindari. As a tour guide, I have the opportunity to share my knowledge accumulated over the last 14 years and with a vivid imagination, I bring to life a past which in many cases has left us with very few traces.
My fun side often hears me recounting unusual stories, gathered from ancient texts, folklore, local and traditional sayings. Not only, but I am a foodie and love nothing more than to share my passion for good food with my guests.
Sicily is where all my emotions and interests first came to pass and combine: archaeology, history, cuisine, nature and ancient local traditions which I continue to pursue, explore, study and share with others.
Per le nostre visite ed attività ci avvaliamo solo di professionisti esperti:
La nostra filosofia
Le nostre attività sono rivolte ai viaggiatori, ai locali e ai curiosi, che vogliono conoscere meglio la Sicilia e godersela in tutti i suoi aspetti più affascinanti.
Condividiamo con i viaggiatori ciò che sappiamo sulla Storia, l’Archeologia, la Cultura gastronomica e il folklore; non vogliamo proporci come professori, ma piuttosto cerchiamo di rendere semplice la comprensione attraverso ricostruzioni, racconti e spiegazioni alla portata di tutti, anche dei bambini.
Piuttosto che fare elenchi di date e informazioni, amiamo raccontare la storia attraverso leggende e curiosità; adoriamo condividere le storie delle persone, le tradizioni popolari del territorio e le abitudini dei locali.
Portiamo i viaggiatori ad immergersi nella realtà locale, per sentirsi non solo turisti, ma come parte di una comunità. Per questo evitiamo i posti “boutique” creati apposta per i turisti, ma andiamo piuttosto dove i locali normalmente e quotidianamente vanno.
Abbiamo un approccio molto amichevole e disponibile, proprio perché siamo Siciliani! Ci piace divertirci insieme ai nostri ospiti, quindi proviamo insieme a loro le degustazioni e le esperienze, gli sport e anche un po’ di relax, ad esempio dopo un bel tour davanti ad una vista mozzafiato.