I'm torn on writing is review. The Uffizi Gallery is a must see - over 10,000 pieces of Renaissance art in over 1,000 rooms. It is phenomenal and certainly not anything that can be seen in a few hours. It is magnificent. The reason for the three stars, however, was the tour guide. Without using names, he was a little tyrant on a forced march. We were told not to take photos -- that we could come back after he was done and take pictures then. If we spoke quietly among ourselves, we were reprimanded like schoolchildren to pay attention because he was speaking. I don't think he understood that he was working for us as opposed to being his forced audience. He certainly knew his material, but he was a bully in delivering it, and I don't like bullies. I think he got the message when several of us refused to follow his directions and he either let it go or just gave up on corralling us.

There was one other issue that really bothered me and my husband. I wanted a photo of the statue Diana, and it's a room you cannot enter. The door is wide enough for two people to stand and take photos. I had a rolling bag with me, so I ask our tour guide to please watch it for just a moment as I snapped a shot of Diana. In literally less than 60 seconds, I returned to gather my bag and he had passed it off to someone working with him. I went to get it from him and he would not return it to me. I know he was attempting to be helpful and accommodating, but my purse was inside that bag and I wanted it back. I've been robbed in Beijing and Barcelona so this is a big deal to me. I asked a second time and he refused a second time. My husband came over and asked where my bag was. I pointed to the man that had it and said he wouldn't return it. My husband then approached him and asked for the bag, and he was refused as well. We were dumbfounded. I know there was no ill intention, but this is totally unacceptable. I finally asked the third time by insisting he release my bag. I think I may have embarrassed or insulted him as he seemed like a very nice guy, but he needed to return my bag without such a hassle. He avoided us for the remainder of the tour. We will return to the Uffizi Gallery, but not with this tour.