DAY 1 Depart USA
Boarding our overnight flight, we’re off on an adventure that most can only dream about.
DAY 2 Arrive in Rome, Afternoon Free, Dinner Out
We can already feel the energy of the Eternal City as our jet touches down in Rome. We are pleased to offer complimentary airport transfers from Rome airport to your hotel at 10:00am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm. Your Perillo representative will be at the airport to greet you.This afternoon is free to wander, to shop, sip your first cappuccino, whetting our appetites for what’s to come. This evening we enjoy a welcome drink followed by dinner out at a typical Roman restaurant with great local wines.
Meals: D
DAY 3 Rome, Florence, Dinner Out
This morning, we’re off to Florence via the Highway of the Sun. As we traverse the hilly countryside to the capital of Tuscany, we’re reminded of the geniuses who traveled this very path long before us - Dante. DaVinci. Michelangelo. Galileo. Botticelli. It reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of brilliance. As we arrive, we can add our own names to the list, for who knows what ideas will be borne of our days here. After getting settled into our hotel, we enjoy dinner at a lovely local restaurant and toast our good fortunes with Tuscan wine.
Meals: BB, D
DAY 4 Florence, Excursion to Venice with Lunch, Florence
This morning we’re off for a day trip to Venice! New York has its Fifth Avenue, Paris its Champs Elysees, but Venice tops them all with its Grand Canal – the great water road filled with gondolas, motorboats and peppermint stick moorings. Your guide will show you all the sights – St. Mark’s Square, the Basilica and the Bridge of Sighs. We’ll enjoy a special lunch in Venice renowned for it’s seafood specialties.This evening we return to Florence for dinner on your own.
Meals: BB, L
DAY 5 Florence Sightseeing, Afternoon Leisure, Dinner in Hotel
Today we’ll enjoy a breathtaking panorama of Florence atop Piazzale Michelangelo, followed by a tour of the Academy of Fine Arts where Michelangelo’s proud "David" stands. We’ll see 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 and finally to Santa Croce Church for an outside view of Michelangelo’s final resting place. There’s plenty of time to shop this afternoon, followed by dinner at our hotel.
Meals: BB, D
DAY 6 Florence, Naples, Dinner in Hotel
Our relaxing drive to Naples takes us through the rolling hills, scenic vineyards and dreamy olive groves of Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio and Campania. Each view is more picturesque than the last. Along the way, we’ll pass the medieval villages of Orvieto and Orte and travel through the beautiful Tiber River Valley. At last, we see the sapphire seas of the Gulf of Napoli and the imposing presence of Vesuvius. We’ll enjoy a panoramic tour of Naples before settling into our hotel followed by dinner.
Meals: BB, D
DAY 7 Naples, Capri, Dinner Out
Naples at our stern, Capri at our bow, this morning we cross the Bay of Naples to the world’s most enchanting island. The vacation spot of Roman emperors and today’s movie stars, we promise you’ll be equally captivated by the charms of Capri. Later this afternoon we sail back to Naples for a great dinner out with our tour guide and new friends!
Meals: BB, D
DAY 8 Naples, Pompeii, Rome
This morning we’re off to Pompeii! 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 their children and dogs. Back to the present day, along the Highway of the Sun, we’re soon in Rome. Eight days in Italy? How’s your Italian? We hope you agree that - "Chi viaggia con Perillo, viaggia tranquillo!"Tonight, a relaxing dinner at our hotel.
Meals: BB, D
DAY 9 Rome, Full Day City Sightseeing, Gala Dinner Dance
Today we’ll visit the birthplace of two great pillars of Western civilization – the Roman Empire and Christianity. With our expert local guide we’ll tour the Vatican Museums, a treasure trove of ancient Greek sculptures, medieval tapestries and Renaissance paintings.Our visit culminates in the Sistine Chapel, the room where the Pope is elected. We enter in total silence, not wanting to disturb Michelangelo’s famed frescoes depicting stories from the Bible and the ‘End of Times.’ You’ll be fascinated by which of Michelangelo’s contemporaries he assigned to heaven, and which to hell.After a break for lunch on your own, we board our coach for a panoramic tour of Imperial Rome including Castel Sant’Angelo, the Roman Forum, Largo Argentina (where Caesar was stabbed by Brutus), the Jewish Ghetto and the Circus Maximus. Then we’ll enter the Colosseum, reliving the brutal entertainment of the gladiators and the lions, refereed by the Emperor himself.Tonight, get ready for our Gala Party at the Casina di Macchia Madama — an extravagant dinner with flowing wines and dancing to our own orchestra. A memorable night indeed. Salute! (Not included on departures Oct. 30 - Apr. 10, where the Gala will be replaced by dinner out at a local restaurant.)
Meals: BB, D
DAY 10 Flight Home
This morning we board our flight home, but we realize we’re taking a little piece of Italy back with us. Thanks for traveling with the Perillo family, and please return soon.
Meals: BB
NOTE: Please be advised that circumstances may change the day and/or sequence of scheduled activities, as well as the substitution of hotels, events, shows, sightseeing, itinerary, restaurants, hosts, etc.