Published on Tuesday, January 7, 2014 by Steve I’m Steve Perillo of Perillo Tours. Our television commercials, which my father Mario first pioneered, have become quite famous over the years. Each television season, we brainstorm new ideas to present Perillo Tours to the public. This season I'm putting my musical talents (I'm also a composer)  to good use by playing the piano in our new commercial. I'm playin...

Published on Saturday, January 4, 2014 by Kathy McCabe While Americans and others around the world enjoy shopping sales at many points during the year, Italian retailers put their items "on sale" mostly during two times during the year - July and January. Items are generally discounted between 30 and 75% making these sales periods a time when Italians and vacationers alike shop till they drop. 17 of Italy's 20 regions ...

Published on Thursday, January 2, 2014 by Kathy McCabe Scaffolding is now up around part's of Rome's iconic Colosseum, as part of a $33 million repair project funded by the private Italian leather goods company Tod's. Amid economic hardship and deteriorating ruins, private companies have stepped in to help save some of Italy's treasures. Tod's chairman Diego della Valle told CBS News, “I am very proud to be Italian....

Published on Sunday, December 22, 2013 by Steve I know everyone is running around like crazy this week. Buying last-minute Christmas presents. (What should I get for Uncle Bob?) Planning holiday meals. (Is Cousin Laura still lactose intolerant?) Figuring out exactly when Santa will be leaving his presents. (What do you mean you want to stay up to see Santa come down the chimney?) But there is life after the holi...

Published on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 by Kathy McCabe The most popular Christmas dessert in Italy is panettone, a tall cake made from flour, sugar, milk, eggs, fruit and raisins. You will see these for sale in every food shop in Italy throughout the holiday season. One type of panettone you won't find everywhere is a gold-and-diamond version commissioned by a Russian businessman. Pastry chef Dario Hartvig, owner of th...

Published on Monday, December 2, 2013 by Steve Around the office they're saying I've lost my mind offering discounts this deep. But I've been telling everyone here at Perillo Tours, you can buy a TV or a coat for a great price on Cyber Monday, what about a tour to Italy? And what about extending that savings for a whole month!? SAVE $300 PER PERSON ON THESE DEPARTURES WHEN YOU BOOK BY DECEMBER 25TH! 14-Day ...

Published on Sunday, November 24, 2013 by Kathy McCabe Want to get into the spirit of Christmas in Italy, right here at home? If you're in New York or San Diego this holiday season, you can enjoy Cristina Fontanelli's  Christmas in Italy, a program of Italy’s best-loved songs, arias, Neapolitan and Christmas classics. Award-winning singer Fontanelli is the PBS/WNET host for Andrea Bocelli “Live From Central Park” a...

Published on Thursday, November 21, 2013 by Kathy McCabe The Catacombs of Priscilla in Rome, eight miles of tunnels off the Via Salaria, reopened to the public this week after years of restoration. Catacombs were used for Christian burial in Rome from the late 2nd century to the 4th century.  These series of burial chambers, carved out of tufo (volcanic rock), were found outside the city walls as Roman law prohibite...

Published on Friday, November 15, 2013 by Kathy McCabe The Italy Mix is a post about the most interesting Italy and Italy travel news and human interest stories around the Web each week. Here are our top picks for this week: Venice: Google Street View: How did Google captures the alleys of Venice without cars? Employees carrying backpack-mounted cameras. (The Guardian) St. Peter's Bones: For the first time in hist...

Published on Tuesday, November 5, 2013 by Kathy McCabe Italy is the largest consumer of bottled water. This is something you might notice when you are traveling in Italy; you're almost never offered tap water. This is a left over from many years ago when Italian tap water was considered unsafe. It is perfectly safe - all over the country, but is particularly pure and tasty in  Rome. In the Eternal City, the best wa...