Perillo knows Italy, and we specialize in unfolding its amazing facets just for you! Of course, Italy is rich in Art & History, and famous for its Food & Wine , while the canals of Venice guaranty it to be the most Romantic country on earth! But did you know that Shopping in Rome, Florence and Sorrento is also an art if not a science? Yet there is also another side of Italia, the quaint hillside small towns & villages, which is possibly the countryside of your Family Roots, the churches and cathedrals that are part of the romance as well as the Religion. Planning a First Trip to Italy, or a travel veteran, Perillo Tours is your best way to go!

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• Hosted Tour
• First Class Hotel
• Buffet Breakfast Daily
• All Gratuities for hotel and restaurant personnel

Itinerary:

Day 1 DEPART USA
Boarding our overnight flight, we're off to the Eternal City.

Day 2 - Cities Visited: Rome  BENVENUTI A ROMA!
We can already feel the energy of Rome as our plane touches down. Benvenuti a Roma! We are pleased to offer complimentary transfers from the Rome airport to your hotel at 8:45am, 11:30am and 12:30pm. Your Perillo representative will be at the airport to greet you.

Day 3 - Cities Visited: Rome ROME SIGHTSEEING
The best way to begin exploring such a fabulous city is with an experienced guide. Our morning begins with an enlightening visit to the largest church in Christendom, St. Peter's Basilica. Here, we admire the work and enduring talent of Michelangelo, as well as Bernini's amazing bronze canopy. Aboard our coach, we tour the city, admire the architecture and stop to view Largo Argentina, where Julius Caesar met his fate at the hands of Brutus. We'll also see the most important of the seven hills of Rome, the Capitoline, home of Jupiter, Marcello's Theater and then the Jewish Ghetto.

Then, back on foot, we check out some of the best-preserved Roman structures, including the Forum. You'll gasp as we enter the Colosseum, reliving the brutal entertainment of the gladiators and the lions, refereed by the Emperor himself.

With the morning introduction to Rome complete, we're on our own for the afternoon, preparing for the next phase of the journey, that which we create ourselves.

Day 4 - Cities Visited: Rome  FULL DAY OF LEISURE
One of my favorite things to do in Rome is simply wander the streets, from fountain-to-fountain, amazed at what's around the next corner. The beauty of this 'hosted' vacation is that you have four days to experience Rome as you like. Additionally, your host will be on hand to help you plan your adventures and offer day trips to Florence, Pompeii and other optional excursions at a reasonable cost.

Day 5 - Cities Visited: Rome  FULL DAY OF LEISURE

Day 6 - Cities Visited: Rome FULL DAY OF LEISURE

Day 7 - Cities Visited: Rome  FULL DAY OF LEISURE

Day 8 - Cities Visited: FLIGHT HOME
This morning we board our flight home, arriving in the USA the same day. After our very own "Roman Holiday", our minds, cameras and journals are filled with the Rome we discovered ourselves. As we travel back to the United States, we're already planning the stories we'll share with friends, and, perhaps, where our next adventure takes us. We're honored you spent your holiday with us.

2008 Dates & Rates:

• Gala Dinner Dance at the Casina di Macchia Madama (April-Oct2008 only)
• Worry-Free & Fully Escorted
• First Class Hotels
• Buffet Breakfast & Dinner Daily with Wines
• All Gratuities (hotel & restaurant)

Itinerary:

Day 1 - Cities Visited: DEPART FROM USA
Boarding our overnight flight, we're off on the adventure that most can only dream about.

Day 2 - Cities Visited: Rome  AWAKEN IN ROME!
Benvenuti a Roma! Starting November 2007, we are pleased to offer complimentary transfers from the Rome airport to your hotel at 8:45am, 11:30am and 12:30pm. Your Perillo representative will be at the airport to greet you. This afternoon is free to wander, to shop, to sip at a cafe, whetting our appetites for what's to come. This evening we enjoy a welcome drink followed by dinner with fine local wines.

Day 3 - Cities Visited: Florence OVER THE HILLS TO FLORENCE
This morning, we're off to Florence via the Highway of the Sun. As we traverse the hilly countryside to this capital of Tuscany, we're reminded of the exceptional talents 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 born of our days here. After getting settled into our hotel, we meet for dinner at a lovely local restaurant and toast our good fortunes with Tuscan wine.

Day 4 - Cities Visited: Venice LET'S GO TO VENICE!
This morning, we board our first-class train to Venice. We'll arrive in time for a great Venetian style luch with wines of the Veneto region.

After lunch, we'll meet our local expert for a walking tour, seeing St. Mark's Square, the great Byzantine Basilica, and inside the Doge's Palace, one of the world's most stunning examples of gothis art.

This evening we return to Florence for dinner on your own.

Day 5 - Cities Visited: Florence FLORENCE -- BIRTHPLACE OF THE RENAISSANCE AND A SHOPPER'S PARADISE
Today we'll enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the town 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 then to Santa Croce Church. There's plenty of time to shop this afternoon, followed by dinner at our hotel.

Day 6 - Cities Visited: Naples THE ROAD TO NAPLES
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. Home in Naples, we go on a panoramic tour before we nestle in for dinner at our hotel.

Day 7 - Cities Visited: Naples THE ISLE OF CAPRI
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, I 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 new found friends.

Day 8 - Cities Visited: Pompeii TO ROME, VIA ANCIENT POMPEII & GALA DINNER DANCE
This morning it's 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. You'll also see the 'secret room'. But I'll say no more about that - you'll just have to take the tour!

Back to the present day, along the Highway of the Sun, we're soon in Rome. Eight days in Italy? How's your Italian? "Chi viaggia con Perillo, viaggia tranquillo!"

Tonight get ready for our Gala Party at the Casina di Macchia Madama - an extravagant dinner with flowing wines and dancing to our won orchestra. A memorable night with your new friends. Salute! (Not included on departures between Jan 1 - Apr 13 and Nov 1 - Dec 28, the Gala will be replaced by dinner out at a local restaurant)

Day 9 - Cities Visited: Rome EXPERIENCING COLOSSAL ROME - CHRISTIAN AND IMPERIAL ERAS
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 the 'End of Times'. You'll be fascinated by which of Michelangelo's contemporaries he assigned to heaven, and which to hell!

Next we visit St. Peter's Basilica, by far the largest church in Christendom. We'll see Michelangelo's Pieta, sculpted when he was just 24, as well as Bernini's seven-story bronze canopy located above the main altar.

After a break for lunch, we board our coach for a panoramic tour of Imperial Rome including Castel St. 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 we'll enjoy dinner at our hotel (dinner out in Rome starting Nov. 2007). No tears, you'll meet your new friends again. Why not plan a reunion party back home?

Day 10 - Cities Visited:  FLIGHT HOME
This morning we board our flight home, but we realize we're taking a little piece of Italy back home with us. Thanks for traveling with the Perillo family, and please return soon!

2008 Dates & Rates: