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Newspaper Reviews
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A review from the business section of the national Italian newspaper, Saturday, September 15, 2001.
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Saturday, September 15, 2001
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Region Economy
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A New Way to Visit the World is Born on the Arno River.
With "The Cicerone" in Your Headphones.
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Monica Nocciolini
FLORENCE - The Cicerone is a novel character, like the genie in Aladdin's lamp. Except this time
there's no lamp. by simply pushing small button on your portable player, you will not only be
guided through various churches and museums, but also down the narrow back streets of Florence
following in the footsteps of such greats as Dante and Michelangelo. In Pisa, you will be lead
along the Arno River and over the Ponte di Mezzo bridge. Even the Washington Post has noted how
Cicerone's expertise can carry you through the cities of Lucca, Siena, Rome and Venice among the
many stops that he offers. Gone are the days of being herded around like sheep in a flock thanks
to The Cicerone miracle.
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The idea was created and the business founded nearly one year ago by Shelton Bellew, an
American living in Florence. The idea materialized while leading his mother, Virginia,
around the city in the torrid Tuscan sun. Packed in on either side by the swarm of tourists
lead by the wagging tongues of their tour guides - the business idea came about: there should
be a 90 minute cassette tape plus a map packaged together in what Shelton calls an audio guide.
The audiocassette tourism idea is now a product of Bellew's Tours Italia located in the small
town of Le Sieci outside of Florence. Since 2001 the portable Cicerones have increased their
army conquering the Italian capital and the romantic Venetian canals. The product can be found
on-line (www.bellewstours.com) for the potentially endless number of clients. Otherwise, the
audio guides can be bought within the city of interest, where you can get your full-time pocket
ready tour guide who upholds the company motto: A new way to visit the world. The cost is $ 16.95
US, which is about 35,000 ITL, (a little more than e 18)
Go and see the "Made in Tuscany" product. - Monica Nocciolini
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(Translated from the Italian)
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