Italy Travel Review: Rome & Florence, Horse & Carriage Ride, Architecture, Sites, History & the People

This is my second trip to Italy, and my wife's first.  I was looking for a service that would help facilitate the transportation, lodging, and museum reservations, while not micro-managing everything about our days in Rome and Florence.  I was looking for freedom to spontaniously do some things on our own when time permitted.  While the fatigue element of traveling has a way of denting one's free time, we really couldn't have asked for better support.  (There was only one occasion where we were unable to make a connection to a hotel shuttle at the Rome airport, but the travel company ended-up reimbursing us for a taxi.)
The benefit of the travel company was so much more than simply a collection of practical services, though.  Most of the museum guides we had were one-on-one, and their knowledge was extensive.  For Rome's Castel San Angelo and the Pantheon, for instance, my wife and I were paired with a lifelong resident of Rome, fluent in English, who was in the process of earning a doctorate in Roman history (or related field).  His knowledge and expertise made the walking tour so fascinating.  He even took a question from me on the mysterious disappearance of the Ninth Roman Legion beyond Hadrian's Wall in Roman Britain and was able to share new and exciting historical evidence on the matter.  It was more than a cultural or sightseeing experience; it was truly a learning experience.  This is exactly what we were looking for as well.
While one of the hotels was less than perfect--e.g. almost no hot water--by and large the accommodations were a delight.  The breakfast at the hotel in Rome was truly astonishing, greatly exceeding our expectations.  We were also pleasantly surprised that this same hotel's neighborhood within downtown Rome was so quiet after nightfall.  The local knowledge that connected us with this establishment in particular was greatly appreciated.