Published on Thursday, November 15, 2018 by Kathy McCabe Save $500 Per Couple On Any Italy or Hawaii Tour* Your calendar is surely marked for Black Friday this year. But the big savings is at Perillo Tours. On Black Friday only, Perillo Tours, a leader in escorted travel to Italy for more than 70 years, is offering $500 off per couple ($250 per person) on all 2019 Italy and Hawaii escorted tours. You must use code: Bl...

Published on Saturday, November 10, 2018 by Kathy McCabe History tells us that the city of Pompeii was destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted on August 22, 79 AD – or was it two months later? Experts now believe that could be the case, as an inscription written in charcoal on the wall of a newly excavated home in Pompeii may indicate that Vesuvius erupted on October 17, 79. According to historians, the inscription, whic...

Published on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 by Kathy McCabe This month, Turismo Culturale Italiano is inviting visitors into 73 of palaces in Rome for guided tours during its sixth annual Porte Aperte event. Many of these residential palaces, built between the Renaissance and the 20th century, are privately owned and not usually open to the public, so this is an exclusive chance to visit these elegant and historic buildings...

Published on Saturday, November 3, 2018 by Kathy McCabe Travelers flying to Milan next summer will need to plan ahead or take an alternate route, as Milan’s Linate Airport will be closed from July 27 to October 27, 2019 for renovations, including repaving the runway. The fifth-busiest airport in Italy, Linate sees more than 9 million passengers annually. Instead, passengers can fly through Milan Malpensa Airport, whic...

Published on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 by Kathy McCabe Halloween in Italy has grown more popular over the past 10 years or so, especially with children excited to dress up and eat sweets. While Halloween still isn’t as big of a celebration as it is in the U.S., it is now not uncommon to hear children walking through shops and neighborhoods saying Dolcetto o scherzetto? (Trick or treat?). Refreshingly, Halloween in It...

Published on Thursday, October 25, 2018 by Kathy McCabe No one knows Italy better than Steve Perillo. In his Steve's Travel Tips videos, Steve shares the reasons why Italy is the perfect destination for your kids and grandkids. Children are worshiped in Italy! In this video, he shares some of the truly unique experiences children can enjoy in Italy and how Perillo Tours and Italy Vacations can help your family plan the ...

Published on Sunday, October 14, 2018 by Kathy McCabe Archaeologists have unearthed another ancient tomb in the town of Cumae, a Greek settlement near Naples. The newly discovered tomb dates to the 2nd century BC and is decorated with murals, unlike most other Cumaean tombs at the time, which were simply painted red and white without images. ( The murals are believed to illustrate a banquet scene, as well as an image of ...

Published on Friday, October 5, 2018 by Kathy McCabe Starbucks’ first Italian location, which opened in early September in Milan, is switching up its menu to appeal to a country with an unrivaled coffee culture. Gone are the Frappuccinos, the green-and-white to-go cups, and the American-style donuts and pastries, replaced with a focus on more classic coffee drinks and food that appeals to Italians’ palate. The up...

Published on Sunday, September 30, 2018 by Kathy McCabe The latest in a series of bans aimed at tourists comes from Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, who has proposed a fine of up to €500 for sitting down in undesignated spots throughout the city. According to CNN Travel, the Venice city council is currently discussing the text of the proposed ban. There is already a ban in place preventing people from sitting down in St. Mar...

Published on Thursday, September 20, 2018 by Kathy McCabe Following favorable weather patterns this summer, Italian winemakers are experiencing a productive Prosecco harvest this year. A warm, dry summer followed by cooler weather and rain has created almost ideal growing conditions for Glera grapes, which are used to make Prosecco DOC. Stefano Zanette, president of the DOC council, said, “the [recent] rain and the lowe...