Driving Guide Tours was born from an idea of Mr. Paolo Fanti.

As a tour guide in Tuscany in the 1990’s he discovered that travellers, in addition to the main sights, also wanted to see, feel and touch the REAL ITALY. They wanted to experience places and sights not necessarily found in the guide books. They wanted true, genuine, off the beaten track experiences.

Having already a long record as chauffeur for a prestigious limousine company, Mr. Fanti was already a veteran chauffeur. In combining this long experience with that of a guide, in one step Mr. Fanti took the quality of this kind of service to a whole new level. The clients he guided and drove around the country are on record as "having a real blast", the feedback he got was incredible.

By 1997 the requests to give his special tours became so frequent, he decided to found an own company for it - Driving Guide Tours. He bought his first minivan and proudly promoted himself as the only tour guide in Tuscany who owned a fully licensed Chauffeur Driven Vehicle. He thus combined in one person the performance normally done by two.

In less than one year Mr. Fanti was in such demand as a Driving Guide that expansion was urgently called for. Amongst the few handpicked, excellent guides who joined his team, Mr. Francesco Bartalini excelled in particular. demonstrating all the right qualities. Once the mutual trust was consolidated, he was made partner in the company.

Spurred on by the consistent great reviews, a further expansion plan was implemented. More vehicles were acquired, while a strict personnel policy continued to ensure that the right people would continue to be the key ingredient to the overall success.

While always a Driver Guide at heart, Mr. Fanti in the meantime completed intensive business administration and management training. The “Knowledge and Competence” thus obtained, combined with his experience and an undying love for this work, helped Mr. Fanti to make the decisions and take the savvy actions which guaranteed a constant expansion to where Driving Guide Tours is today: in a leading position of prestige in the industry.