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

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, you’ll meet your 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!

3. This morning, it’s a five-minute drive to another country—Vatican City! With your expert local guide you’ll tour the Vatican Museums, a massive collection of ancient Greek sculptures, medieval tapestries and Renaissance paintings.

Your visit culminates in the Sistine Chapel, the room where the Pope is elected. Next 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.)

Tonight, recount your explorations with good food, fine wine and new friends at a local restaurant.

4. You’ll enjoy 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 you’ll enter the Colosseum, reliving the brutal entertainment of the gladiators and the lions, refereed by the Emperor himself.

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

5. This morning, you’re off to Naples, birthplace of the Neapolitan pizza. You’ll stop along the way for a tour of Pompeii.

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.

Next, you’ll arrive in Naples, famous for its mix of Old-World character and modern charm. One of the oldest cities in Europe, Naples historic center (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is filled with art, architecture, and archeology, but the best part may be the wood-fired pizza. You’ll be staying at one of the best hotels in Naples – a well-known 4-star hotel on Naples seafront promenade, a lively spot right in front of Castel dell'Ovo, the Hotel Royal Continental.

Tonight, take a pizza-making class with a chef at the panoramic restaurant in your hotel. The best well-kept secrets to making Neapolitan pizza have been handed down for generations and tonight, our chef will share these secrets with you!  The authentic Neapolitan pizza needs four main ingredients: Tomatoes from San Marzano, buffalo mozzarella from the Campania region, 00 wheat flour, yeast, and salt. Tonight, you’ll transform these ingredients into one of the best pizzas you’ve ever tasted. You’ll get to enjoy the fruits of your labor, along with some amazing appetizers – a pizza party in Naples!

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

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

Later this afternoon, you’ll return to Naples and have some time to relax before heading out to a great Neapolitan restaurant for dinner.

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. You’ll depart from the hotel and head towards the Royal Palace.

It is a very beautiful walk, first along the sea, then crossing the Santa Lucia neighborhood up to Via Cesario Console, from where you will have a beautiful view of the Gulf of Naples and Vesuvius.

You’ll visit the courtyard of the Royal Palace, from where you can admire the internal staircase. Next, you’ll walk through the garden that leads to the Teatro Lirico San Carlo, the world’s oldest working opera house.

You’ll have some free time to walk around and perhaps stop at Gambrinus, the most famous café` in Naples and enjoy a local Neapolitan specialty: a sfogliatella or pastiera.

Once back on the bus, we will drive through the Spaccanapol, which is the street that splits Naples in two.

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

The remainder of the evening is yours to enjoy as you please.

8. This morning, you’ll board a train to Florence! You’ll arrive in this beautiful Renaissance city and after checking into your hotel, you’ll have the afternoon free to enjoy!

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

9. 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 you’ll get to see this famous tower, along with the beautiful Cathedral and Baptistery.

This afternoon you’ll visit a typical Tuscan winery, and you’ll get to meet our dear friend, Pierluigi Giachi, the world’s most enchanting sommelier to learn about the grape, the nose, food pairings and, most importantly—which glass to use! Enjoy a wine tasting with these special wines along with an early light dinner. Cin-Cin!

10. Florence—the fountainhead of the Renaissance, awaits us! Your 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.

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!

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

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. You’ll have some time to visit the Basilica and then some free time to explore yourselves.

Next stop – Venice! Gondolas glide past us with their gondoliers singing. Your arrival is by bus and then switching into water taxis to reach your hotel. You’ll have some time to settle into your hotel and relax or go for a walk in this magical city.

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

12. This morning you’ll meet your 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, you’ll board the mostoscafo (motorboat) to the beautiful island of Murano, where you will visit one of the oldest glassblowing factories. The talented glass masters will show you two different glassblowing techniques: the hand-blown 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.

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

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

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

Tonight, enjoy a Milanese dinner in your hotel.

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, you’ll get to visit Como, the charming town and pristine lake of the same name, lined with lovely villas.

Your last night together as a group will be at a fine Milanese restaurant.

No tears! You’ll exchange email addresses with your new friends and make plans for the future.

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 you say arrivederci to Italy, you’ll realize you’re taking a little piece of it back home with you.