Depart USA - Rome
You will board your overnight flight to Rome, off to Italy on the adventure of a lifetime!
Arrive in Rome - Afternoon Free
Benvenuti a Roma, the Eternal City! We are pleased to offer complimentary transfers from the Rome airport to your hotel at scheduled times. Your Perillo representative will be waiting for you at the airport to greet you.
There will be time to relax in the afternoon before dinner with fine local wines at your hotel.
Colosseum
In the morning, you’ll get to experience a delicious Italian breakfast, complete with cappuccinos, fresh juices, croissants, fresh breads along with salami, cheeses and of course bacon and eggs!
Next, you will board a bus for a panoramic tour of Imperial Rome, including the Roman Forum, the Circus Maximus, and the Great Synagogue built in the heart of the Jewish quarter. After your tour, you will experience the Colosseum, reliving the brutal entertainment of the gladiators and the lions, judged by the Emperor himself.
The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy as you please.
In the evening you may enjoy a dinner on your own. Ask your tour leader for a recommendation or venture out and explore the local restaurants in Rome! Be sure to try a “Suppli’”, a Roman delicacy, which is a fried ball of rice filled with tomato sauce, meat, and melted mozzarella.
Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel - St. Peter's Basilica - Dinner Out
In the morning, you will take a short drive to the smallest country in the world—Vatican City! With our expert local guide you’ll tour the Vatican Museums, a massive collection of ancient Greek sculptures, medieval tapestries, and Renaissance paintings.
Your visit starts in the Sistine Chapel, renowned for its Renaissance art, especially the ceiling, which was painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. This room, which attracts more than five million visitors each year, is also where the Pope is elected.
Next, you will visit St. Peter’s Basilica, by far the largest church in Christendom. You will see Michelangelo’s Pieta’, sculpted when he was just 24 years old, as well as Bernini’s seven story bronze canopy located above the main altar. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy! Take a stroll along the ancient streets of Rome, enjoy a gelato, or go shopping!
In the evening, you’ll get a taste of real Italian cuisine at a family-style restaurant in the characteristic district of Trastevere. This lively area is just what one imagines Italy to be like, with tiny cobblestone streets and music-filled trattorias at every corner.
Rome - Pompeii - Sorrento - Dinner in Hotel
In the morning, you are off to Sorrento. You’ll stop along the way for a tour of Pompeii.
Imagine...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 children and dogs.
After visiting Pompeii, you’ll continue to Sorrento and you’ll have some free time to enjoy before dinner in your hotel tonight.
Capri - Sorrento - Dinner Out
In the morning, you will take a ferry to the world’s most enchanting island, Capri. You will enjoy a private boat tour around the island (weather permitting). We’ll cruise by the magnificent Faraglioni, Capri’s iconic rock formations which tower above the Mediterranean Sea.
Later, you will visit one of the lesser known but equally beautiful sea caves, the Grotta Bianca. Following this visit, you’ll have free time to explore the island on your own or take advantage of a special optional excursion with your tour leader.
In the afternoon you return to Sorrento where you can relax before heading out for dinner at a local restaurant.
Sorrento - Matera - Bari - Dinner Out
In the morning, you will leave Sorrento by bus and head over to Bari, the capital of the beautiful region of Puglia and the heel of the “Italian boot”. First, you will stop in Matera, a city like no other and one of the oldest in the world. Discovering Matera is like living in the past – you’ll feel like you’re stepping into a nativity scene; for this reason, it is also known as “the second Bethlehem” and was the setting for Mel Gibson's “The Passion of the Christ”. Known for its unique architecture, which is characterized by cave dwellings carved into the sides of a ravine, Matera was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, and it is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy. You’ll have some free time on your own to explore and have lunch.
In the afternoon, you will continue your journey to Bari and check into your hotel and this evening, you will enjoy dinner out in a local restaurant with fine wines.
*Please be sure to wear comfortable sneakers today as there will be uneven surfaces and many steps*
Bari - City Sightseeing
In the morning, you will explore the city of Bari. Your tour starts from the Swabian Castle (outside visit), and continues towards the famous “Orecchiette Street”, where guests will be able to enjoy watching ladies making homemade pasta.
Next, you will have a quick visit to the Cathedral and then the Basilica of St Nicholas, built over the tomb of Saint Nicholas.
In the afternoon, you will have a little taste of a specialty of Bari – focaccia: a specialty bread with ancient origins. After your tour, you’ll have some free time to enjoy a drink or coffee on your own.
In the evening, you’ll be able to enjoy a dinner on your own – be sure to try the orecchiette pasta with broccoli rabe, a specialty in the Puglia Region.
Bari - Alberobello - City Sightseeing - Lecce - Dinner Out
This morning, you’ll say goodbye to Bari and travel to Lecce but first you’ll stop in one of the most unique cities in Italy: Alberobello. This town is known for its distinctive small conical houses made from dry stone, called “Trulli” and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its unique architecture and cultural significance.
Alberobello is divided into two districts: Aia Piccola, where every Trullo is still a home, and Rione Monti, where every Trullo is a souvenir shop. Your guided tour will take place in Aia Piccola, where guests will be able to explore the inhabited district, and to visit one of the biggest Trulli (today a museum) called Trullo Sovrano.
Next, you’ll climb the hill in Rione Monti, to visit the Trullo-shaped church dedicated to St. Antonio, and from there you’ll have some time to shop.
Next stop will be Lecce, also known as the “Florence of the South.” This charming town in Puglia is known for its baroque buildings, churches, palaces, and museums.
Tonight, you’ll enjoy a dinner out at a local restaurant.
Lecce City Tour
Today you’ll enjoy a tour of this charming city. The tour will begin in front of one of the gates of the city, “Porta Napoli”. Then you’ll visit the Duomo Square, the most beautiful square in the city. Acting as the religious center of town, Piazza Duomo is home to some of the most ornately decorated Baroque buildings in Lecce.
You’ll continue to the Basilica of Santa Croce, the most important symbol of the Baroque city, and end in the main square where the Roman Age Amphitheater is located (Piazza Sant’Oronzo).
You’ll have some free time to explore – be sure to try the local pastry called “Pasticciotto” (a shortcrust pastry from Puglia filled with a silky, lemon-scented custard) or the renowned “Caffè Leccese” (iced coffee with almond liqueur).
This afternoon and evening will be free for you to enjoy as you please. This amazing city has many options – be sure to ask your tour leader for some restaurant recommendations.
Lecce - Otranto - Olive Oil Tasting
In the morning, you will venture to another charming town in Puglia – Otranto. This town is situated on the Adriatic coast and offers stunning views of the sea and the surrounding countryside. Otranto is famous for its beautiful beaches, historic architecture, and amazing cuisine.
You will walk around the Otranto Ancient Walls, which were built in the 13th century and are a popular tourist destination and offer stunning views of the city and the Adriatic Sea.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Cathedral, dedicated to the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, with a stunning mosaic floor dating back to the 12th century. You’ll have some free time to explore and enjoy a gelato.
On your way back to Lecce, you will stop at a farm for an olive oil tasting, and the region of Puglia is widely known for its high-quality olive oil. You will have a brief introduction to the different types of olive oil and then you will learn how to properly taste the olive oil.
This evening is yours to enjoy dinner on your own.
Flight Home - Brindisi - Rome - USA
In the morning, you will head to Brindisi airport for your flight home.
While you say “arrivederci” to Italy, you will surely be taking home a piece of it with you....and maybe some wine too! Arrivederci Italia!
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