DEPART USA - ROME
THURSDAY: Boarding your overnight flights, you’re off to Italy on the adventure of a lifetime!

ARRIVE IN ROME - AFTERNOON FREE - DINNER OUT
FRIDAY: Benvenuti a Roma, the Eternal City! We are pleased to offer complimentary transfers from the Rome airport to your hotel at scheduled times. Your Perillo representative will be waiting for you at the airport to greet you.

There will be time to relax this afternoon before a welcome drink/orientation in the hotel, followed by a dinner out at a local restaurant.

VATICAN MUSEUM & SISTINE CHAPEL - ST. PETER'S BASILICA
SATURDAY: This morning, after breakfast, it’s a 10 minute bus ride over to another country – Vatican City. With our expert local guide, we’ll tour the Vatican Museums, a massive collection of ancient Greek sculptures, medieval tapestries and Renaissance paintings

Our visit culminates in the Sistine Chapel, renowned for its Renaissance art, especially the ceiling which was painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. This room, which attracts more than five million visitors each year, is also where the Pope is elected. Next, we visit St. Peter’s Basilica, by far the largest church in Christendom. We’ll see Michelangelo’s Pietà, sculpted when he was just 24 years old, as well as Bernini’s seven story bronze canopy located above the main altar.

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy! Take a stroll along the ancient streets of Rome, enjoy a gelato or go shopping!

Tonight, we thought you’d enjoy a dinner on your own. Ask your tour guide for a recommendation or venture out and explore the local restaurants in Rome! Be sure to try a “Supplì,” a Roman delicacy: A fried ball of rice filled with tomato sauce, meat and melted mozzarella.

(Please note that the visit of St. Peter’s Basilica is subject to availability based on the events planned by the Pope.)

ROME - AFTERNOON RENAISSANCE WALKING TOUR OF ROME - DINNER OUT
SUNDAY: This morning you’ll be free to enjoy some time on your own in this amazing city.

Later this afternoon, we’ll set out on a WALKING Tour of Rome – be sure to wear comfy shoes! We’ll visit the famous Trevi Fountain (be sure to throw a coin over your shoulder to ensure your return to Italy); next we’ll see the Pantheon – a true architectural wonder! Built between 25 and 27 B.C, it was originally a small temple dedicated to all Roman gods.

We’ll visit San Luigi dei Francesi, home to three Caravaggio paintings (entry subject to availability).

We’ll also visit Piazza Navona a large, historical square in the center of Rome, famous for several art masterpieces by well-known artists such as Bernini and Borromini. Also included in today’s walking tour will be Campo dei Fiori – a Piazza with the most famous market in the old center of Rome.

Finally, we will stop to see the grand Palazzo Farnese, one of the most important High Renaissance palaces in Rome. Owned by the Italian Republic, it was given to the French government in 1936 and currently serves as the French embassy in Italy. (No entry.)

After all this walking, we’ll be exhausted! Luckily our bus will pick us up and dop us off close to the hotel. You’ll have some free time to freshen up before dinner out at a local restaurant.

ROME - SIENA CITY TOUR - FLORENCE - DINNER IN HOTEL
MONDAY: After a hearty breakfast, we’ll enjoy a ride through the Tuscan countryside. We will arrive in Siena for guided tour accompanied by your private guide, you will stroll through the old city which looks like a fascinating maze of alleys that rise and fall and intersect with super picturesque squares allowing you to experience something truly unique.

The guide will show you the oldest bank in the world, the network of medieval alleys and many hidden treasures and will enchant you with an unforgettable visit to the Duomo with its refined Gothic architecture, treasures, and masterpieces.

The Cathedral of Siena is one of the greatest examples of Italian Romanesque-Gothic architecture and it is said that the great composer Richard Wagner, seeing the Cathedral of Siena for the first time, was moved to tears.

Once inside, you will be overwhelmed by the amount of art and beauty hidden within this treasure chest as well as its wonderful marble floor which is a unique example in the history of art. Than we will proceed for Florence known as the “Cradle of the Renaissance,” and for good reason. The city was home to some of the most important artists, thinkers, and patrons of the Renaissance, including Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Botticelli.

Tonight, we’ll enjoy dinner in our hotel. A toast (un brindisi) to Florence and new friends!

FLORENCE - CITY TOUR - GREVE IN CHIANTI - OLIVE OIL TASTING
TUESDAY: This morning, we’ll head out on a city tour of Florence. We will visit the famed Accademia Gallery, best known as the home of Michelangelo’s sculpture: the David, but also home to other sculptures by Michelangelo. Our sightseeing today includes the majestic Duomo built in 1296, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery with its renowned “Gates of Paradise” doors.

We follow the medieval streets to the most striking square in Florence, Piazza della Signoria, home of Santa Croce Church, Michelangelo’s final resting place.

This afternoon, we take a ride to Greve in Chianti, a medieval town with a famous triangular-shape piazza which for centuries, has been the location for the Saturday market. Just a few minutes from the center, this countryside is full of vineyards and olive groves , lined with small medieval villages and castles.

Next, we’ll visit one of Tuscany’s top producers of olive oil, Pruneti. Five generations of the Pruneti family have been farming in these hills for over 150 years and today their focus is olive oil production. We’ll enjoy an olive oil tasting and learn about the process of producing olive oil.

Tonight, you’ll be able to enjoy dinner on your own. Make sure to try “Pappa al Pomodoro”, a rustic Tuscan soup made with tomatoes, garlic, onions, and of course Tuscan bread.

FLORENCE - SAN GIMIGNANO - TRUFFLE HUNT - OLIVE OIL & WINE TASTING - COOKING CLASS & DINNER
WEDNESDAY: Today, we will drive through the beautiful rolling hills of Chianti for a most unique winery visit. You’ll get to meet our dear friend, Pierluigi Giachi, the world’s most enchanting and entertaining sommelier. First, we’ll start with a truffle hunt: accompanied by a guide with his trained dogs you’ll watch as they skillfully use their noses to find these delicacies.

Next, we’ll enjoy an olive oil and wine tasting while taking a fun, hands-on cooking class with a chef. I hope this meal tastes good because it will be served to you for dinner! This will be a truly fun day.

FLORENCE - RENAISSANCE WALKING TOUR - DINNER OUT
THURSDAY: This morning, after breakfast, we’ll uncover the secrets of Florence on a guided walking tour.

We’ll be transported back in time as we learn about one of the most powerful dynasties of all times, the Medici family. We’ll see Piazza di San Lorenzo where you can see the distinct mixture of Renaissance and Romanesque architecture. Your local guide will share fun facts about how Florence gave birth to the Renaissance.

We’ll visit Piazza Ognissanti, originally built in the 13th century to accommodate the large crowds that would gather for sermons and was remodeled in the 19th century and now has a neo-Renaissance style. We’ll also see the Palazzo Strozzi, a Renaissance palace built between 1489 and 1538 and is one of the most important examples of Renaissance architecture in Florence and considered to be one of the most beautiful palaces in the world. Also included in our tour is the Ponte Vecchio – a medieval stone bridge that crosses the Arno River, and Piazza San Firenze, a small square in the historic center of Florence, located behind the Palazzo Vecchio.

This afternoon you’ll have free time to enjoy on your own…perhaps some last-minute shopping?

Tonight, we’ll enjoy our final dinner together in a restaurant with a special “Renaissance menu.” Be sure to exchange contact info with your new friends! Maybe you’ll all meet again on another Perillo Tour one day!

FLIGHT HOME - FLORENCE - USA
FRIDAY: This morning you board your flight home arriving in the USA the same day. Grazie mille for traveling with the Perillo family!