SINGAPORE — When you’re a tour director leading visitors through one of Europe’s most romantic countries, watching relationships blossom is all in a day’s work. “It’s such a joy for me, helping my guests plan marriage proposals or seeing them make friends — and many have even fallen in love while on the tour!” revealed Trafalgar’s Italy-based travel director Giacomo Giamboi. And yes, if you’re planning to pop the question, he highly recommends Venice at night. “All the crowds would have emptied out, the city feels very quiet and magical, and you can even hear the (sound of) water (lapping) at the canals. Pick a little bridge or any square because it’s all about the atmosphere,” he urged.

Q: Besides Venice, where are Italy’s other romantic spots?

A: The Cinque Terre is another beautiful spot. A drive through the Amalfi Coast will make you fall in love again and I personally love Taormina in Sicily. Go to Taormina Square, where you can see the dramatic Mount Etna in the background. It’s capped with snow yet there’s smoke coming out (at its peak).

Q: What’s the one thing you do before visiting a country?

A: I always read a book (about the place) to better understand the culture, evolution and people. While you will not know everything, it’s a good way to grasp what the country is like. For Italy, I recommend Italian Dynasties: The Great Families Of Italy From The Renaissance To The Present Day. Different Italian cities were controlled by different families. In Florence, it was the Medici, in Milan it was the Visconti, in Rome the Borghese — and they have all shaped the cities differently. If you prefer movies, Tea With Mussolini is one of my favourites and one of the best films about Italy.

Q: Speaking of tea, where is the best place for the best Italian food?

A: If you want sweets and desserts, I recommend Sicily. Sicily has a heavy Arabic influence, and the Arabs created a lot of sweets. For gelato, I usually bring my guests to Vivoli in Florence and Gelateria Dondoli in San Gimignano, which has won in the Gelato World Championships. Different regions specialise in different things — Umbria for pasta, Tuscany for the best meats, Milan for the best risotto. In fact, Trafalgar is introducing a new food-centric tour this year called Secrets Of Italy which is tailored for guests who want a great food and wine experience. We’re concentrating the tour in the region of Pietmont and Turin, where the slow food movement was born and where the best Barolo wine is from. The scenery is also fantastic.

Q: You’ve conducted tours for eight years. What’s the worst kind of travellers you’ve met?

A: The kind who aren’t open. The ones you can’t please no matter how hard you try because they impose what they are used to in their country. Every country is different. Italy is disorganised, chaotic, noisy — you can’t expect for things to work the same way (as in your country). I think the best way to enjoy a tour is really to sit back, relax, and trust your tour director. Serene Lim