
Melanie Rapuano
My name is Melanie and I'm a Travel Specialist based here in Italy! I'm half Italian and half British and I come from a city just off the Amalfi Coast!
I've always loved creating travel plans for myself and for family and friends, even for places I'd never been to.
When arranging a trip I love mixing sightseeing with local experiences, experiences which really talk about the country, the people, the tastes, the smells and which you can take back home with you not only in a photo, but as a feeling too!
As a mum of 2 small children I also try my best to help with family trips, because we all know the saying happy children, happy parents, especially on holiday!!
I like to think of myself as your friend in Italy, the one who helps you plan your trips from a local point of view, just as if you were asking a friend about her beautiful country!
I've traveled ever since I can remember and I've always loved calling a place a ''home'' even if just for a few days and this is what I hope I can share with you about my part of the world!
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"I specialize in the whole of Italy, there isn't a corner we haven't discovered!
Our experiences vary from sightseeing private and group tours to limoncello making in a local lemon grove, to a cooking class in a Tuscan farm to private boat trips on the Amalfi Coast!Truffle hunting in Piemonte or a jeep experience on Mt Etna? We have it all covered with English speaking, professionals who can't wait to share their unique stories with you!
And if you are travelling with children, we make sure it's completely child friendly with a glass of wine for the grown ups!"
How did you get involved in travel?
"I guess I've always been involved in travel! Being half British I've always helped friends and family come to Italy and enjoy our everyday life! By the time I was 12 I think I'd been to Pompeii 15 times already not to mention the fact the Amalfi Coast is on my doorstep which made everyone want to come and visit me even more!
It's in my DNA!"
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"When travelling around Norway I stopped off to take some pictures in what seemed the middle of nowhere and I naturally took out my bottle of water and a snack. I was stopped by a Norwegian lady on a bike, she asked me why I was drinking bottled water. She told me Norwegians don't believe in buying water and went on about giving me some ''storytelling'' about how Norwegians lived. It was a random moment but it was so special, she took her time to talk to me about her beautiful country and share with me parts of everyday life which I would have never known!"
Melanie's favorite itineraries and travel advice
Top itineraries and travel advice

This 12-day trip perfectly combines the cultural and historic aspects of Italy's most notable cities with laidback relaxation on the Mediterranean sea. Admire the stunning Duomo...

This tour starts along the Amalfi Coast, exploring picturesque hillside villages, the famous Path of the Gods hiking trail, the lively city of Naples, and the islands of Ischia...

Active travelers will get a full dose of sea and countryside views as they bike their way through southern Italy. Begin in the prehistoric town of Matera, then pick up your...
Favorite experiences
Pizza Cooking Class in Naples
Learn what makes authentic Neapolitan pizza the best pizza in the world with a family-friendly cooking class. Uncover all the secrets of this great Italian wonder in the exclusive company of a pizza chef. To start, your guide will lead you to the restaurant of one of the oldest families of...
Toddler-Friendly Family Walking Tour in Venice
Get your bearings and enjoy a fun, family-friendly orientation walking tour of beautiful Venice. Designed specifically for younger kids (toddlers and preschoolers), you’ll enjoy an exciting scavenger hunt filled with games and coloring.Oh no, kids! Poor Marco, the lion, is so worried—his friends...
Family Food Tour & Cooking in Rome
In this family-friendly tour of Rome’s food culture, you’ll first enjoy the city’s markets and then learn how to make traditional pizza on your own. Kids and families love this experience, as it offers lifetime memories and teaches new skills. You’ll visit Rome's most beautiful and ancient...
Chianti Wine Tasting & Farm Lunch
Absorb Chianti’s scenic countryside with a driving and winetasting tour. You’ll twist and turn along panoramic roads, tour wine cellars, learn about the history of growing Chianti grapes, and savor a traditional lunch of local products on a family farm. As you set off for Chianti, enjoy the...
Cinque Terre Sea Kayaking Tour
Enjoy Cinque Terre from a different perspective with a morning or sunset sea kayak tour. You’ll paddle from Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza, discovering cliffs and caves and swimming in the crystalline water. Kayaking allows you to explore otherwise inaccessible coastlines. Enjoy this special...
Sunset e-Bike Wine Tour in Cinque Terre
Discover the picturesque vineyards of Ca’du Ferrà on an exciting e-bike tour. Starting in Levanto, you’ll pedal up into the hill and reach the scenic vineyards, which stand at over 1,000 feet (350 m) above sea level. Stop here to visit a vineyard and enjoy a wine tasting in the cellar with some...
Recent trip reviews for Melanie
We just returned from our 13-day family adventure to Italy with six different stops and it was outstanding. Kimkim and Melanie in Italy are the best.
Italy
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Jun 17 - Jun 28, 2025


thank you so much for leaving your review! Of course thanks to whatsapp we were in touch daily. I'm sorry about the guides and if they seemed overworked, as you can imagine the summer, the heat, the crowds (especially this year with the Jubilee) is really taking a toll on them, but in no way is this an excuse, so thank you for acknowledging that and understanding. I'm pleased you enjoyed the Hotels, Le Clarisse is definitely a favourite of ours too, being in such a large busy... Read more
Melanie was fantastic, a dream to work with. ...
Italy
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Jun 3 - Jun 18, 2025


thank you so much for taking the time to leave your lovely review.
Helping you plan your family trip was fun from the first email, it felt like we were always on the same track and we definitely worked on this together. I'm so pleased it worked out and you all had a fantastic holiday!
Regarding the Florence artisan tour our guide informed us that there weren't any real artisans open during the tour and instead of going to the ''fake ones'' which are just tourist traps, she... Read more
We used Melanie for our family with 2 teenage...
Italy
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Jun 6 - Jun 18, 2025

thank you so much for your lovely review.
As I mentioned in our messages, it was a real pleasure to have you as guests. It really did feel as though it was family visiting!
It's so important to get a better understanding of those travelling simply because it allows me to really customise the trip, just as if it were family. So you mentioning that same thing, is the best compliment ever, as I'm fullfilling my job and designing YOUR trips; not standard trips, not catalogue trips,... Read more
We had an amazing two weeks in Italy (June202...
Italy
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Jun 3 - Jun 15, 2025
We visited Rome Florence and Sorrento with many small cities in between. Melanie planned an amazing itinerary that covered many tourist sites. Having everything taken care of made the trip enjoyable for all. We had an amazing family vacation and made memories for a life time. Thanks to Melanie and the KimKim team. Read more

And thank you so much for the notes on the hotels too, this is always very important to us.
Next time we will sure to select a hotel in the center of Sorrento, it's not always easy to find rooms but we will definitely find a better location for you. I agree about Florence, it's so compact that just walking around is nice and relaxing, maybe next time we will make the tour less about sights and more about relaxing... Read more
Great decision
Italy
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Jun 3 - Jun 15, 2025

Hi Harry,
I feel even more honoured now knowing you don't usually write reviews!
Thank you for being the perfect guests. Thank you for trusting me with your trip and thank you for taking part in the trip planning too; it's always the best way to build a trip!
I'm pleased it all went smoothly and I'm even more happy I helped make those special family memories.
I look forward to your next trip to Italy and I will pass on your message to Alex.
Thanks again!
Melanie
Wonderful trip to Italy with SUPER nice and friendly specialist, Melanie
Italy
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May 31 - Jun 12, 2025


thank you so much for your lovely review and as I was with you every step of your trip, you know how sorry myself and the team were about the problems with the hotels especially regarding the one in Florence which we have now removed from our list of hotels. I'm really pleased you had a fantastic holiday and the kids were so good discovering a new part of the world, maybe the historical sites will be appreciated more when it's not so hot and when they are a little older, I'm... Read more
We are still basking in the afterglow of an a...
Italy
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May 14 - May 28, 2025


Brynn’s Italy - Cinque Terre, Amalfi, Florence & Rome
Italy
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May 25 - Jun 7, 2025

thank you so much for your review and for letting us know how your trip went. Sounds like you all had a lovely holiday and Brynn had a lovely birthday trip to remember.
Although I was in the backgroud the convierge always kept me up to date with your trip and I'm pleased Giovanna helped resolve a couple of issues you had during your stay. Due to the holiday here in Italy we had to change the lemon tour and cooking class venue and it definitely sounds like we picked the perfect... Read more
Kimkim made our Italy trip (honeymoon) wonderful.
Italy
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May 24 - Jun 3, 2025

The tour in Venice (Ganna our guide) were knowledgeable and a joy to know. Daniele was our guide in Lake Como, he took us on an unforgettable tour through the backlands of the lake, up to a Grotto for lunch that was absolutely... Read more

Again I'm so sorry for the inconvenience in Venice and we were so pleased to be able to arrange Gianni for a last minute private tour instead (some things are just meant to be!). The Lake Como tour sounds lovely so pleased you enjoyed it; Thank you fo listening to my suggestions and for trusting me with some an important holiday, I know I say it all the time, but every single trip really... Read more
I have to tell you that I have never had such...
Italy
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May 15 - May 28, 2025


what lovely words. Thank you so much. From the first day right up until the end of your trip, you were the perfect guests. I remember your doubts before booking and I remember thinking how special this trip must be to your both, so reading your words and seeing more of your beautiful pictures (thank you for sharing them along the way too) just proves what a fabulous holiday you both had, and here at ItalyCharme and Kimkim we are delighted to have been part of such beautiful... Read more