Tripology

Commercial Flight

Depart USA, boarding our overnight flight.

Benvenuti a Milano! We are pleased to offer complimentary transfers from the Milan airport to your hotel at 8:45am, 9:45am and 1:30pm. Your Perillo representative will be at the airport to greet you.

Hotel

There will be time to relax this afternoon before our evening's welcome drink and dinner with fine local wines at our hotel.

Sightseeing

Italy's magnificent lake region - Lugano & lake Como: 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 of the same name, lined with lovely villas.

Food and Dining

Tonight, fabulous food and wine at a classic Milanese restaurant.

Sightseeing

While Lugano is firmly in Switzerland, the beautiful alpine town still clings to its Italian roots. Her pristine lake, surrounded by the majestic Alps, have made Lugano a magnet for the rich and famous of Europe. This morning we'll enjoy a guided walking tour through the traffic-free historic center. Weather permitting, we'll enjoy a panoramic cruise on Lake Lugano.

Food and Dining

After a relaxing afternoon, we'll enjoy dinner out at a great local eatery.

Sightseeing

This morning, we explore fashionable Milan, beginning with a panoramic drive around the city and a visit to the impressive, gothic Duomo. We'll stroll through the spectacular glass-topped Galleria, the world's first shopping mall, and onto the famed La Scala Opera House.

Sightseeing

We bid farewell to Milan and our drive to Venice is delightfully interrupted by a visit to romantic Verona. We'll stand in the courtyard below Juliet's balcony where Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers professed their love. Then, Venice arrives to us as in a dream. Time stands still as massive gothic buildings float by in a shroud of mist. Gondolas drift along, not just for show, but to deliver the staples of everyday life.

Food and Dining

Tonight's dinner is easy and relaxed, right in our hotel.

Sightseeing

This morning we're off to Venice! But on the way, we'll enjoy a quick stop in romantic Verona. We'll stand in the courtyard below Juliet's balcony where Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers professed their love.

Sightseeing

Venice arrives to us as in a dream. Time stands still as massive gothic buildings float by in a shroud of mist. Gondolas drift along, not just for show, but to deliver the staples of everyday life.

Food and Dining

Tonight's dinner is easy and relaxed, right in our hotel.

Sightseeing

This morning 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 gothic art.

Sightseeing

This afternoon 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?"

Food and Dining

Tonight, we'll enjoy dinner out at one of our favorite Venetian restaurants with fine local wines.

Sightseeing

We're off to Florence today with an aspiring stop along the way. Visitors to Padua are often caught off-guard by a sense of deep spirituality. St. Anthony (patron saint of lost objects) is interred here and the Basilica holds the world's largest collection of Giotto's paintings.

Sightseeing

Next to Florence! Home of Dante, Boccaccio, Botticelli and da Vinci and some say, the best gelato in Italy!

Food and Dining

Tonight's dinner is easy and relaxed, right in our hotel.

Sightseeing

This morning our city sightseeing will include the breathtaking view 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.

Sightseeing

We follow the medieval streets to the most striking square in Florence, Piazza della Signoria and then to Santa Croce Church for an outside view of Michelangelo's final resting place.

Shopping

There's plenty of time to shop this afternoon.

Food and Dining

But be ready for dinner at one of our favorite Florentine restaurants with great local wines.

Sightseeing

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.

Relaxation

We'll return to Florence for an afternoon of leisure.

Food and Dining

Tonight we'll have dinner at one of the most well-known Florentine restaurants, complete with Savory Tuscan wines.

Sightseeing

Our journey to Sorrento takes us through the rolling hills, scenic vineyards and post-card perfect vistas of Umbria and Tuscany. Along the way, we'll comfortably travel by the beautiful Tiber River Valley and the medieval villages of Orvieto and Orte.

Sightseeing

Soon, we are in Sorrento, high on a beautiful plateau, greeted by the sapphire blue Gulf of Naples and majestic Mount Vesuvius.

Food and Dining

Tonight, after getting settled, a charming dinner with wine at our hotel.

Sightseeing

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 emperors and movie stars, you'll be equally captivated by the charms of Capri.

Food and Dining

Tonight, still glowing from the sun, we're off to a great Sorrento eatery for fine food and wine.

Sightseeing

Pompeii, 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.

Sightseeing

Late this morning, we continue on to Naples, birthplace of Caruso, Sophia Loren and our founder, Joseph Perillo. We enjoy a brief panoramic tour of this city.

Hotel

A few hours later, we enter the gates of Rome and settle into our hotel followed by dinner with fine wines. Salute!

Sightseeing

This morning 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, and Bernini's seven-story bronze canopy soaring high above the main altar.

Sightseeing

Next we'll 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.

Sightseeing

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

Food and Dining

This afternoon is at leisure, but leave time to 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 with your new friends. Salute! (Not included on departures between Jan 1 - Apr 5 and Nov 1 - Dec 31 2008, the Gala will be replaced by a dinner out at a local restaurant).

Food and Dining

Tonight, dinner and flowing wines at a great local Roman restaurant.

Museums

This morning we visit Vatican City, "headquarters" for more than 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 stories from the Bible and the "End of Times".

Sightseeing

Next we visit colossal St. Peter's Basilica, Home to Michelangelo's Pieta, Bernini's seven-story bronze altar canopy, astonishing mosaics and priceless sculptures.

Food and Dining

Tonight, dinner out and flowing wines at a great local Roman restaurant.

Food and Dining

Tonight we 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 with your new friends. Salute! (Not included on departures between Oct 31 2008 and Apr 4 2009, the Gala will be replaced by a dinner out at a local restaurant)

Commercial Flight

This morning we board our flight home. No tears. You'll exchange e-mails with your new friends and make plans for the future. How about we all meet again on a Perillo Tour to Hawaii!