Day 1: Boarding your overnight flight, you’re off on the adventure of a lifetime.

Day 2: Benvenuti a Roma! Your Perillo representative will be at the airport to greet you. We are pleased to offer complimentary transfers from the Rome airport to your hotel at scheduled times.

You’ll have some time to settle into your hotel with the remainder of the day at leisure to discover this magical city.

Tonight, we’ll meet our tour leader for a brief orientation and welcome drink. After orientation, you’ll be free for the remainder of the evening. Be sure to ask your tour leader for restaurant recommendations – so many wonderful places to eat in this amazing city!

Day 3: Hail Caesar! All aboard our chariot for a relaxing, panoramic driving tour of Imperial Rome including the Roman Forum, downtown ancient Rome, the Circus Maximus, and the Great Synagogue, built in the heart of the Jewish quarter.

Then we’ll enter the Colosseum, reliving the brutal entertainment of the gladiators and the lions, refereed by the Emperor himself.

Tonight, we’ll recount our explorations with good food, fine wine and new friends at a local restaurant.

*Colosseum entrance subject to ticket availability*

Day 4: This morning, it’s a five-minute drive 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, the room 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, as well as Bernini’s seven-story bronze canopy located above the main altar.

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

You’ll have lunch on your own followed by a free afternoon in Rome.

Tonight we thought you’d enjoy a dinner on your own. Ask your tour guide for a recommendation!

Day 5: This morning we head to Pompeii, approaching the view of the Bay of Naples on the way.

Imagine... a city perfectly preserved as it was on that fateful day 2,000-years-ago, when ash and lava literally stopped it in its tracks. You’ll see the tragic fossils of people attempting to escape along with children and dogs.

Tonight we enjoy dinner in our hotel with fine wines from Campania region.

Day 6: This morning you’ll be taken to Capri, the world’s most enchanting island. Upon arrival, we take a private boat for a tour of the island (weather permitting). We cruise around the magnificent Faraglioni, Capri’s most iconic sight. These mythical towering rock formations, which juts out from the Mediterranean just off the island’s coast, were formed over the years by erosion from ocean waves.

Next, we visit one of the lesser-known but equally beautiful sea caves, the Grotta Bianca. Once we arrive back on Capri, we have free time to explore the island on our own or take advantage of a special optional excursion with your tour leader.

Later this afternoon, we sail back and have some time to relax before heading out to a great Neapolitan restaurant for dinner.

Day 7: Naples is the most authentic Italian city and certainly a world of its own. To enjoy and better understand this wonderful, yet complex, city you will be accompanied by a local guide, born and raised in Napoli.

Your guide will lead you to the main places of interest such as Piazza del Gesù and the famous Spaccanapoli street, full of excellent pizza places and pastry shops, but will also introduce you to this multicultural and lively city through the eyes of a true Neapolitan.

This afternoon, we will visit Sorrento, known for its beautiful coastline, good weather, and stunning views of Mount Vesuvius. You’ll have some free time to sightsee or shop before returning to Naples.

The remainder of the evening is yours to enjoy as you please. Be sure to ask your tour leader for restaurant recommendations.

Day 8: Departing Sorrento, our deluxe motorcoach navigates the rolling hills, scenic vineyards and postcard perfect vistas of Umbria and Tuscany. Along the way, we’ll travel by the beautiful Tiber River Valley and the medieval villages of Orvieto and Orte.

This evening’s dinner features fine local wines at our hotel.

Day 9: Florence—the fountainhead of the Renaissance, awaits us! Our day of sightseeing includes the majestic Duomo Complex 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.

“Breathtaking” is the only word to describe one’s first view of Michelangelo’s David. Yes, it’s quite large and detailed. But the real magic is in how Michelangelo transformed a lifeless rock into a man—full of pride, wary of his adversary, yet quietly confident. All with just a hammer and chisel!

Tonight, we’ll take you to our favorite local restaurant for a typical Tuscan dinner.

Day 10: The bell tower of Pisa is among the most instantly recognizable structures on earth. Architects say it would be world famous even if it were perfectly straight. This morning we’ll see for ourselves, along with the beautiful Cathedral and Baptistery.

This afternoon we’ll visit a typical Tuscan winery to learn about the grape, the nose, food pairings and, most importantly—which glass to use! We’ll enjoy a wine tasting with these special wines along with an early light dinner. Cin-Cin!

Day 11: Visitors to Padua are often surprised by a sense of deep spirituality. St. Anthony (patron Saint of lost objects) is interred here in the serene Basilica, which dates back to the 1200s. We’ll have some time to visit the Basilica and then some free time to explore ourselves and get some lunch.

Venice arrives to us as in a dream. Gondolas glide past us with their gondoliers singing. Our arrival is by bus and then switching into water taxis to reach our hotel. We’ll have some time to settle into our hotel and relax or go for a walk in this magical city.

Tonight we’ll recount our explorations over dinner in our hotel. Good food, good wine, and great friends! Now that’s Italian!

Day 12: This morning we’ll meet our expert local guide for a walking tour of St. Mark’s Square, the great Byzantine Basilica, the Bridge of Sighs and an inside visit of the Doge’s Palace. Next, we’ll board our mostoscafi to the beautiful island of Murano, where we will visit one of the oldest glass-blowing factories. Our glass masters will show us two different glass blowing techniques: the handblown glass technique creating a small vase and the carved glass technique, creating a small sculpture like a glass horse, fish or cat.

This afternoon you’ll have a chance to get lost in the city’s labyrinth of canals, bridges and tiny piazzas. Being a small island, it’s impossible to stray very far. But it won’t hurt to master the phrase Dov’è Piazza San Marco?

Dinner is on your own tonight. When in Venice, do as the Venetians do! Enjoy Cicchetti, Venetian style tapas, served in various pubs all over Venice.

Day 13: On the way to Milan, we stop at one of the most popular sights on Lake Garda – the peninsula of Sirmione. Crossing the drawbridge, we enter a peaceful world of hot springs, the Medieval castles and phenomenal views of the Dolomites.

Soon we’re in fashionable Milan where we begin with a panoramic drive around the city. Next, we visit the Piazza del Duomo (“Cathedral Square”), the main piazza of Milan named after, and dominated by the impressive Milan Cathedral.

We’ll stroll through the spectacular glass-topped Galleria, the world’s first shopping mall and on to the famed La Scala Opera House.

Tonight, we enjoy a Milanese dinner at our hotel.

Day 14: This morning’s visit to Lugano is actually in Switzerland, but this Alpine paradise clings to its Italian roots. The natural beauty is accompanied by great shops filled with Swiss specialties— like clocks, watches and, of course, chocolate!

Next we visit Como, the charming town and pristine lake, lined with lovely villas.

Our last night together will be at a fine Milanese restaurant.

No tears! You’ll exchange email addresses with your new friends and make plans for the future. How about we all meet again on another Perillo tour—to Hawaii or Spain!

Day 15: This morning you board your flight home, arriving in the USA the same day. Unless, of course, you have decided to extend your stay and let this unforgettable journey continue a little longer! While we say arrivederci to Italy, we realize we’re taking a little piece of it back home with us.

Thanks for traveling with the Perillo family, and please return soon.