The Runaway Italian
Custom travel planning and tours to secret Italy
As featured in …
GPSmyCity: Self-guided walking tours in 1,000+ cities worldwide
Check out my article on Italy underground: 2,000 years of buried history in Lecce
Also check out another article of mine on Trani: Jewel of the Adriatic in Puglia
Hear me talk about ‘Sustainable travel, accommodation and food’ for a special experience on the ‘Grounded in Maine’ podcast hosted by Amy Fagan:
Why me?
Do you love to travel to Italy but don’t want a ‘one size fits all’ experience?
You might feel overwhelmed at the thought of planning a visit or a special holiday all by yourself or simply you don’t have the time and really need the help of a native who can make it all go smoothly and happen quickly. You are also after more than a guide, but a friendly and knowledgeable Italian with unique insight in the local areas.
I am Nicla Marinelli, an Italian originally from Rome and I am a freelance Tour Manager and Travel Adviser with extensive experience of travelling all around Italy off the beaten track. I am also the creator of inspiring and unforgettable tours and travel guides to secret Italy.
I can help you by crafting custom made advice and planning tailored exactly to your needs, passions and interests. My travel services will provide memorable experiences that connect you to local culture like no other, as well as reconnecting you to self-care and creativity.
I am passionate about restoring your well-being through sustainable travel that respects local traditions and helps the local economy thrive. The experiences I will suggest for you and that I will lead you on will fulfil your dreams and create special memories that will get talked about for years to come!
OUR VALUES:
CONNECTION – We connect our customers to secret Italy while also reconnecting them to their passions, creativity and well-being for an outstanding experience
AUTHENTICITY – We are only interested in helping you enjoy authentic Italian culture in all of its aspects
SUSTAINABILITY – We support local traditions and promote practises that help the local economy and environment thrive
Here at the Runaway Italian our mission is to help you plan and enjoy custom travel experiences to secret Italy in tune with your needs, the culture and the environment you wish to explore. We are also committed to connect you to local culture and experience the Italy only locals know.
Travel Services
My customised travel services will:
save you time, overwhelm and stress
give you tailor-made and specific advice suited entirely to your needs
provide you with invaluable insider know-how from a friendly and expert native
enhance your experience in secret Italy tenfold and make your trip a memorable one
Travel Planning Taster
This package offers:
A personalised report full of ideas and information on how to make the most of your short stay
a selection of inspiring locations off the tourist trail to suit your needs and much more!
Magica Italia Package
This comprehensive package offers:
In-depth guidance and suggestions for your overall itinerary with ideas to craft your ideal day
A personalised itinerary unique to you and much more!
Honeymoon Suite Package
This very special service offers:
Comprehensive guidance totally dedicated to plan and organise your special celebration
A beautifully illustrated report full of essential information to take away with you and much more!
Private City Tour of Lecce & Salento, Puglia
This custom made package offers:
A tour of the captivating city of Lecce & scenic Salento in Puglia to suit your needs and passions. Led by an expert native with fantastic local knowledge and insider know-how!
Traveller Success Stories
Experience of a lifetime!
Buongiorno, I’m sure I will think of other things in my reflections when I’m back home, but I wanted to capture the essence of my Dream Revival Experience before I leave here. First the accommodations were amazing, surprising comfort! The service by the staff was exceptional and having my own room was the best ever. Having my father’s dream come to me the first night I slept in that room made everything special. If only walls could talk! My favorites were all of the artisans and their mastery and the hands on special workshops, and the visits to the museums that were translated by you Nicla. And then it got better! Being invited into your home and sharing meals with your family and friends was exceptional. Noelle, the overall format of the dream revival experience and the work that went into creating the program for us to follow, had a tremendous flow to it for me. I feel that I was able to go deeper into my soul, into my dream state, into my wonder about what to do with all the experiences that were put on my plate during the week. It gave me time to pause in the middle of sightseeing and stimulation and reflect into my heart, into my pain, into my joy and I have finished the week with a tremendously large smile that resonates from my heart to yours. For all of this, I am grateful to you Noelle and to you Nicla.
Joan Blanchard, Interior Designer
Local Knowledge
Nicla took great care and delight in all aspects of planning our trip to Puglia to celebrate a significant birthday - from the friendly, in-depth Skype chat to the finished report. She provided us with a personalised itinerary including suggestions and recommendations of where to go, what to see and what to do, as well as lots of useful tips and information. Tapping Nicla's local knowledge and experience has undoubtedly saved an awful lot of time and quite a few headaches in helping make this special trip a memorable one. In fact, it represents great value for money, especially as we won't be wasting any time or money while we are there - or indeed missing out on all the wonderful things we might not have done otherwise.
-Helen Crossley, Publisher
Florence Enthusiasm
I have been thinking about visiting Florence for about 5 years, but never quite got round to organising it. I had signed up to 'The Runaway Italian', a travel blog with a difference over a year ago and follow Nicla's blog with enthusiasm, as she talks about Italy in such a passionate way and so it made sense to ask her to help me plan this long awaited trip to Florence. Within 24 hours of contacting her, Nicla emailed me a report with all the information I needed and much more as it also contained a suggested itinerary based on the length of our stay and interests and some lesser known sights that she recommended from personal experience. I cannot recommend the Runaway Italian Travel Planning Taster enough! As a busy professional, I found that this bespoke, efficient, personal service was fantastic. I will be looking to Nicla to plan my next holiday to Italy without a doubt!
-Jayne Granville, Physiotherapist
Expertise and Passion
As a female solo traveller I normally have to do a lot of research to find quiet, safe, places within sometimes remote locations, and Nicla took care of all of that for me, as well as providing all the logistical info to help me know how to get from place to place. Usually that kind of research can take up hours of my time that I don't have. She writes so artfully I almost feel as I'm already enjoying a fine meal along a stunning riveria. Although the end product is a lovely detailed report filled with enticing photographs and all the information you would need, what you are paying for is her expertise and knowledge as a native Italian who is passionate about her country, combined with her innate ability to tune into your specific needs and preferences to design the trip of your dreams.
-Ruth Lopez, Marketing Consultant