Explore Venice, the floating city, where you will visit places like St. Mark's Square, the great Byzantine Basilica and the Bridge of Sighs. Then the "Islands of Venice", Murano, Burano and Torcello. We're off to Florence, the fountainhead of the Renaissance. Enjoy Capri and it's Blue Grotto. Marvel at Pompeii, the city of ruins dug out from the ashes rained on it by Vesuvius. Then sightsee Rome, the Eternal City, where you will visit places like the Vatican and the grandiose Colosseum.
Depart Rome for the USA after fourteen stupendous days in the lovely land of Italy!
 

• Perillo Tours is happy to arrange low cost flights priced as shown in Dates & Rates

• Airport transfers, provided you arrive and depart on scheduled tour dates and times

• Deluxe Hotels with Private Bath

• Hearty buffet breakfast daily

• One lunch serving pasta, choice of 2 entrees, vegetable, salad, dessert, coffee

• Lunch Beverages - Wine, mineral water, soda or beer

• All baggage handling, hotel taxes, hotel service charges

• All gratuities for hotel and restaurant personnel

• All sightseeing and excursions described featuring a visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel and Uffizi Gallery

• Wireless headsets to hear your guide clearly and distinctly in public places

• Deluxe inter-city motorcoaches with lavatory aboard

• Professional Tour Directors and licensed local guides

• Personalized, worry-free and fully escorted

Day 1
Cities Visited:
DEPART USA
You're off for the adventure of a lifetime.

Day 2
Cities Visited: Venice
ARRIVE IN VENICE
Benvenuti a Venezia! We are pleased to offer complimentary motorboat transfers from the Venice airport to your hotel at 11:00am and 1:00pm. Your Perillo representative will be at the airport to greet you. This afternoon is yours to explore, shop or just relax. Early this evening we'll have a welcome drink with your traveling companions. Your guide will gladly recommend some fine dining spots nearby.

Day 3
Cities Visited: Venice
EXPLORING VENICE
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 the Doge's Palace, one of the world's most stunning examples of gothic art.
Then we'll visit the opera house, the Fenice Theatre, which has been perfectly restored since burning to the ground in 1996. This afternoon is at your leisure. You'll have a chance to "get lost" in the city's labyrinth of canals, bridges and tiny piazzas. Fear not. Being a small island it's impossible to stray very far. But it won't hurt to master the phrase "Dov'e' piazza San Marco?" Your tour director will have several great ideas for your evening's nourishment. Buon appetito!

Day 4
Cities Visited: Venice
ISLANDS OF MURANO, BURANO AND TORCELLO
Today we steer our motorboat toward the charming "Islands of Venice"... Murano for glassworks, Burano for her colorful houses and lacework, and Hemingway's favorite, Torcello. We are pleased to invite you to an authentic Venetian lunch with the great wines of Veneto. Then we'll leisurely make our way back to the hotel for an evening on your own in Venice.

Day 5
Cities Visited: Florence
ANDIAMO A E40FIRENZE
After breakfast we'll board our First Class train to Florence. After a few short hours we'll settled into our new home in Florence, the Deluxe Villa Medici Hotel.

Day 6
Cities Visited: Florence
FLORENCE CITY TOUR & UFFIZI GALLERY
Let's explore Florence! We'll start with the breathtaking view atop Piazzale Michelangelo, followed by a tour of the world famous Uffizi Gallery. We'll visit the Academy of Fine Arts where Michelangelo's proud "David" stands. We'll see the majestic Cathedral 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 will be plenty of time to shop this afternoon for leather, gold and other Florentine treasures.

Day 7
Cities Visited: Florence
FREE DAY TO EXPLORE FLORENCE ON YOUR OWN
Florence is all yours today. You might want to visit a museum, bargain with the shopkeepers on the Ponte Vecchio, or make the arduous climb to the top of the Duomo. Personally, I love to just wander around town, fueled by gelato and awed by the fact that Leonardo walked these same streets. Remember to ask your tour guide for activities and restaurant ideas.

Day 8
Cities Visited: Capri
OFF TO CAPRI
This morning we board our train bound for Naples. A bit over four hours, this is a great time to read "Under the Tuscan Sun" or just daydream. Arriving in Naples, we board our hydrofoil to Capri. You'll just love the elegant Tiberio Palace Hotel.

Day 9
Cities Visited: Capri
CAPRI & THE BLUE GROTTO
After breakfast we have a beautiful day in store for you. A mini-cruise around Capri and then, transferring to little row boats, we visit the translucent Blue Grotto. This afternoon is yours to relax or take advantage of the hotel's spa treatments.

Day 10
Cities Visited: Capri
FREE DAY ON CAPRI
Sleep late, take a dip in the pool, today is all yours! How about some shopping? Try Canfora's for the world's fanciest sandals. Or, how about a breathtaking chairlift ride to the top of Mount Solaro. It's the highest point on Capri at almost 2000 feet.

Day 11
Cities Visited: Pompeii
CAPRI, POMPEII AND ROME
This morning we're off to Rome. But on the way let's stop off at Pompeii!
Imagine, an entire city perfectly preserved as it was on that fateful day almost 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! Next, we board our First Class train to Rome.

Day 12
Cities Visited: Rome
IMPERIAL ROME AND THE COLOSSEUM
Today we relive the days of the Roman Empire. Our panoramic tour includes Castel Sant'Angelo, the Roman Forum, Largo Argentina (where Caesar was stabbed by Brutus), the Jewish Ghetto and the Circus Maximus. Next we enter the Colosseum, reliving the brutal entertainment of gladiators versus lions, refereed by the Emperor himself. Back on our coach, we see the Roman Forum, Trajan's Column and the astonishing "Wedding Cake" monument to Victor Emmanuel in Piazza Venezia. Your tour guide will have excellent dining suggestions - from a charming family-run trattoria to the most sophisticated, white-gloved restaurant.

Day 13
Cities Visited: Rome
VISIT TO VATICAN CITY AND CHRISTIAN ROME
This morning we are going to visit Vatican City, "headquarters" for over a billion Catholics worldwide. We begin at the Vatican Museum, a treasure trove of sculptures, paintings and tapestries. 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.' Next we visit the Basilica itself - colossal St. Peter's. Home to Michelangelo's Pieta, Bernini's seven-story bronze altar canopy, astonishing mosaics, priceless sculptures, St. Peter's is simply overwhelming. Alas, this is our last night in Italy. Gather your friends up, stroll the cobblestone streets, have a pizza. Here's a toast to "La dolce vita!"

Day 14
Cities Visited:
FLIGHT HOME FROM ROME
We say 'arrivederci' to Italy. This morning we're transferred to the Rome airport to board our flight home, arriving in the USA the same day. Thanks for traveling with the Perillo family, and please return soon!