Meet The Team
FROM STUNNING LANDSCAPES TO VIBRANT CULTURES,
OUR JOURNEYS HAVE IT ALL. MEET THE TEAM BEHIND IT ALL.
VALERIO FANTINELLI
Valerio was born in Pescara, Italy. Food was always an integral part of his culture, growing up with a strong connection to cooking traditions of his region. He started working as a pizza chef at age 15 in a few restaurants in his home region of Abruzzo. His search for new adventures took him to Australia in 1999, where he kept on building his experience between Perth and Sydney, where he catered for ABC Studios and Fox Studios. Valerio was part of the slow food committee in Perth, and a chef delegate for Terra Madre in 2012. Valerio worked in different venues and events, such as Kununurra Ord Valley Muster in 2015, Taste of Great Southern in 2018, Gascoyne Food Festival in 2021 and 2022, Taste of the Kimberley in 2022.
In 2015 his love for artisanal food making and cooking with fire came to fruition with Flour and Fire, his own business, where he focuses on bringing to the plate the flavours of his tradition using Ancient methods and equipment with the best of local seasonal produce.
He built a dining room using recycled and natural materials, where he hosts private dinners with menus seasonally designed to tell a story.
LUCA ROCCONI
Luca was born in Abruzzo, the greenest region of Europe in central Italy (just 150 km from Rome). From an early age he expressed his passion for travelling, reading and communicating.
His deep love for languages and oriental mysteries led him to study Mandarin Chinese at La Sapienza University of Rome, then in 2005 he applied and won a scholarship at Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanks to which he perfected his Chinese proficiency at Tongji University of Shanghai.
In the following 6 years Luca worked as a tour leader in China, exploring this amazing country together with many groups of Italian tourists; when he was in Italy, he worked as interpreter.
In 2012 Luca moved back to Italy and started working with foreign tourists in Rome as tour leader; in 2015 he achieved the qualification of official tourist guide of Rome and the Vatican City State. Luca’s secret is his passion for his work and his desire to pass on his knowledge to tourists and friends, and help them understand more about the history, culture and traditions of Italy and Rome.
Discover the world’s hidden gems
with our expertly planned journeys.
At Italy Tours, we believe that travel is not just about visiting new places; it’s about immersing yourself in the culture, history, and beauty of a destination. With over 20 years of experience in crafting unforgettable Italian experiences, we invite you to join us on a journey to discover the heart and soul of Italy.