Meet Sandra Laville,
founder of Époque Travel

Sandra Laville is a professional guide and art historian specialising in European history and art. She founded Époque Travel out of a passion for sharing art, history and the incredible places they're attached to with travelers in the world at large. Originally from Canada, where she got an undergraduate degree in French and Spanish Language & Civilisation, she relocated to Europe afterwards and has been living here ever since. Sandra has a Master's degree in Art History from the prestigious Université La Sorbonne in Paris, where she did her thesis on Italian Renaissance Painting. She also has a Master's degree in Education and more than 25 years of experience as a guide and educator at museums and historical monuments in Paris, Rome, Florence and Madrid, collaborating with the industry's top agents and tour operators including Context Travel, CiaoBambino!, Presto Tours, Walks of Italy and Trufflepig.

Private Tours in Rome - Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

" I've lived in Italy, France, and Spain for over 25 years and have been passionate about travel for as long as I can remember. It began with my first trip overseas at age 16 : a summer stay with a family in Paris and a whole week visiting the châteaux in the Loire Valley. It was a dream come true and the start of a whole new life full of travel, art and history. I am truly grateful for having experienced so many life-changing moments while living and traveling in incredible places across the globe. What I love about giving tours and curating travel experiences is sharing the inspiration with my clients and helping them create unforgettable memories of their own."

- Sandra, Époque Travel

I've lived for 12 years in Rome (where I became a guide), 10 years in Paris (where I did my Master's in Art History), and 8 years in Spain. Spain was the first European country I fell in love with and moved to from Canada.

I've been in the Sistine Chapel over 300 times, mostly as a guide and sometimes twice a day. Even after 10 years it was still the best part of my day - one of those things that just never wears off.

My favourite hidden spot in Paris : the 2nd arrondissement, near Place des Victoires, where I did my Master's in Art History. The Jardin du Palais-Royal is like a dream and the BnF on rue Richeliue, is astonishing - 19th century wooden furniture and iron lamps, bookcases lining the oval walls as high as the eye can see - this is where I did my thesis. I love this whole neighbourhood, and it's just full of fond memories., from the Place des Victoires to the Jardin du Palais-Royal, and the Gallerie Vivienne.

My favourite hidden treasure in Madrid is the Thyssen-Bornemisza. Most people go to the Prado, but the Thyssen is much smaller and has just as many masterpieces - it's like an immersion in nothing but masterpieces, one after the other - like nothing else.

02.

Describe the key features of the service and how users can benefit from it.

· Our Team ·

YOUR TRAVEL EXPERTS

We work with a dedicated and passionate team of guides and travel suppliers to ensure that your trip is seamless, extraordinary and unforgettable.

Our private guides are all art history experts, and will bring your destination alive, crafting a personalized tour that fits exactly what interests you most.

Our hotel suppliers, chauffeurs, and other service providers are highly-trained professionals seasoned in luxury travel and provide us with the ultimate in carefully-vetted accommodation and high quality travel services.

Our Passion

WELL-TRAVELED & PASSIONATE

Travel is a way of life... Sandra and her team of guides, in addition to being experts in history & art, are all well-traveled and have lived in many countries all over the world, including :

France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal

Monaco & Monte Carlo, Andorra, Malta

Austria, Switzerland, Scotland, Ireland, Wales

Belgium, The Netherlands, England,

Croatia, Germany, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania

Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan,

India, Dubai, Oman...

...and counting