A cicerone is a person who introduces and educates others about different types of art and taste. The term was originally used to describe someone who led others on a tour of valuable items such as artwork or antiques. The term cicerone is now commonly used to refer to someone who introduces others to fine beers.
A docent serves as a cicerone in a museum or other historical setting, guiding visitors through art or antiquity exhibits. Some docents are paid by the organizations for which they work, while others are volunteers. This type of guide has excellent communication skills and can articulate the importance and relevance of art to her audience. She will be expected to answer questions from the general public, so she must be well-versed in her field. She must be able to present information effectively to small-to-medium-sized groups of people of various ages and genders.
Some cicerones may work in the field of architecture, guiding others through the backgrounds and forms of historical or progressive structures by pointing out construction features and their past, present, and future implications. This type of tour guide may provide historical information to customers and will most likely lead a tour of historical buildings. This cicerone will be well-versed in architectural forms and history, with a master’s degree or higher, allowing her to answer questions from tour groups.
A sightseeing cicerone also leads tours of a specific monument or geographical location for visitors. These cicerones are frequently found working for tour bus companies or sightseeing companies. This type of tour guide travels with a group, pointing out historical buildings along the way and sharing interesting anecdotes about the people who developed and built the structures or settled in a city or area.
An exhibitor also serves as a cicerone by overseeing a specific display and introducing visitors to products or other items of interest. This type of cicerone would work in the private sector to help with product or service sales. She provides clients or visitors with background information and product features.
In recent years, the term “cicerone” has come to refer to someone who is an expert at selecting fine beverages and who guides others through the process. A cicerone guides her clients through the selection of different types of beer, whereas a sommelier focuses on fine wines. This could include educational tours and historical tours of breweries all over the world.