We are pleased to offer complimentary transfers from the Rome airport to your hotel at scheduled times. Your Perillo representative will be at the airport to greet you.

There will be time to relax this afternoon before we enjoy dinner at our hotel with some fine local wines. D

With our expert local guide we'll 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.

Hail Caesar! All aboard our chariot for a panoramic tour of Imperial Rome including 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 recount our explorations at a great local restaurant. Good food, good wine and great friends - now that's Italian! BB, D

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."

There are plenty of great restaurants and pizzerias in the neighborhood of our hotel. Your tour guide will be happy to make suggestions according to your taste. BB

Next, we travel back to 97 A.D. to the town of Pompeii. A city perfectly preserved by the ash that rained down from Mt. Vesuvius, you'll see the tragic fossils of the people attempting to escape with their children and dogs. And many of the streets, homes and stores are perfectly intact.

Tonight, we'll enjoy a relaxing dinner in our hotel overlooking the bay of Naples. BB, D

Later this afternoon, we sail back in time for dinner at a great Neopolitan restaurant with fine wines of the Campania region. BB, D

Tonight, we'll relax with our friends for dinner and wine at our hotel. BB, D

There is no normal life in Venice. Here, everything and everyone floats. One floats luxuriously with such a sense of freedom, never tormented by traffic or even the sound of a horn. Your guide will show you all the sights - St. Mark's Square, the Basilica and the Bridge of Sighs.

Just around the corner from St. Mark's Square, we'll enjoy a special lunch in a town renowned for its seafood specialties.

This evening we return to Florence for dinner on our own. BB, L

Our morning of sightseeing includes 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, home of Santa Croce Church, Michelangelo's final resting place.

"Breathtaking" is the only word to describe one's first view of Michelangelo's David. Yes, it's quite large and detailed. But the real magic is in how Michelangelo transformed a lifeless rock into a man - full of pride, wary of his adversary, yet quietly confident. All with just a hammer and chisel!

Our last night together will be at a popular Florentine restaurant with great Tuscan wines. No tears! You'll exchange email addresses with your new friends and make plans for the future. How about we all meet again on another Perillo Tour to Hawaii! BB, D

Prices are land-only and do not include airfare.
For more information on airfares check out the "Air Information" section of this page.

TO ROME, RETURN FROM FLORENCE
Depart USA Friday - Return Sunday

NOTE: Rates are per person and include roundtrip airport transfers in Italy at scheduled times. Airfare available from your hometown.

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.