At ExpertoItaly, I show you the real Italy, the one beyond the tick-box sights and the follow-the-crowd itineraries. I create tailormade Italian travel plans based on your own interests, and with inside information and authentic experiences you won’t get from off-the-shelf Italian travel packages.

I grew up in Italy and have been crafting Italian trips for customers (many of whom are now friends) for more than a decade. I’ve travelled all over my country, from the mountains in the north, to the islands in the south, and all the major cities in between.

As an Italian travel agent, I’ve carefully selected the best and most interesting places. I’ll send you to the charming city hotels where you’ll be treated like a member of the family and to villages where you’ll be on first-name terms with the café owner in a matter of minutes.

Whether it’s your first or 10th Italian vacation, I can show you where to go in Italy to see a side of country that most visitors rarely experience – while also giving you the inside scoop on how to do the unmissable sights the right way and where to go for the off-the-beaten-track experiences you can only get in Italy.

I don’t just create an itinerary and leave you to it. From the moment you book with ExpertoItaly, I handle whatever you need. Just think of me as your personal Italian travel guide.

After we finalise your itinerary, I can book your flights, hotels, car, trains and other essential elements. Plus, I can act as your concierge, booking tickets to sights, operas, festivals and events, and making your restaurant and winery reservations.

When you arrive, if you need help with anything while you’re there, I’m at the end of the phone, text, WhatsApp or email. It’s always helpful to have someone you know available if you need urgent assistance with the unexpected, whether it’s dealing with the local police over a parking ticket or advice on how to get into a famous museum without waiting in the hour-long line.

Because you’re a guest of ExpertoItaly, you’ll discover that hotel and restaurant owners will give you special attention, too, and will share their Italian travel tips.

Born in Turin in northern Italy, I grew up right by the Alps and developed a love of mountain life early on. After finishing school, I worked in ski chalets in the winter, Italian beach resorts in summer, and travelled the world – and my home country – in between. Apart from Italy, I’ve also spent a great deal of time in the USA and Japan.

After working for travel companies for a decade, I developed ExpertoItaly as a specialist Italian travel agent in 2011. My goal is to help clients experience the best of Italy through the eyes of a local.

I now divide my time between Italy – mainly Turin – and London, where I live with my daughter. And every time I go back to Italy, I’m reminded of just how special my country is. It packs such a variety of landscapes, cultural heritage and gastronomic experiences into a relatively compact area. No wonder it’s one of the most popular travel destinations on earth.

I still love nothing more than creating a trip that I know will give a customer not only what they want, but will also delight them with unexpected discoveries along the way.

My secret escape

“I adore the seaside village of Pisciotta on the Cilento coast in southern Italy. It’s packed with wonderful restaurants, has magnificent beaches, a unique hotel – Marulivo, which was created from a converted monastery – and the most charming locals. Stay a week and you’ll be adopted by the villagers as one of their own.”

As a professional photographer, I’m always travelling around Italy photographing hotels, restaurants, towns and villages. You might have seen my pictures in Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic and The Times.

Italy is full of so many special places that it seems like there’s always somewhere new to discover. I grew up in Milan and Naples, but now my home is in the beautiful coastal town of Livorno in Tuscany.

The Tuscan landscape is incredible, like poetry, and the people put a lot of effort into maintaining it. Of course, that’s true of so many places in Italy, and I love exploring all of it, from the Alps right down to the Amalfi Coast and out to the islands.

On my travels, when I find places I think Antonio’s customers will love – whether it’s a charming family-run hotel or a medieval hilltop village – I let him know. I see myself as his second pair of eyes on the ground.

My job also takes me around the world and you can follow all my travels on www.vittoriosciosia.com

My favourite photography trick

”No matter which camera you use – even if it’s just your phone – the right lighting will improve your image. And the good news is that you don’t need expensive equipment. You just need to time it right.

We get such gloriously strong sunlight in Italy, which makes our landscapes look so vibrant in real life, but can make photographs look harsh or washed out.

But the light we get for the hour around sunrise and around sunset is ideal. It gives a wonderfully atmospheric image, with the light casting a soft glow and the shadows providing a gentle contrast, so you get a perfect shot, whether you’re taking a picture of coasts, mountains, countryside or cities.”