In April, I went with Lori Evans and my best friend from college, on a Perillo Tour to Rome. It was fabulous!
We stayed at a charming boutique hotel, the Rose Garden, right by the Via Veneto. The stately pines of Villa Borghese, the Spanish Steps, the elegant shops on Via Condotti, the fashionable bars on Via Veneto, the Trevi Fountain and Tritone Fountain, baroque churches and the masterpieces of the Borghese Gallery are all in walking distance.
During the day, we had a marvelous tour guide who led us through the Colosseum and Vatican, past all of the crowds waiting to enter. Seeing these major tourist destinations with a tour guide is a must, not only because we learned so much. But otherwise, you've got quite a wait--the groups go in seperately. And our guide was hilarious, so he made it lots of fun!
At night, we got together with our group for some wonderful italian meals and lots of flowing red wine!
On our own, we visited the Pantheon, had a delightful lunch in the Piazza Navonna, threw a coin in the Trevi Fountain, and walked the Spanish Steps. And of course, made time to shop for leather gloves!
One of the more macabre experiences I've had: we went to the Capuchin Crypt beneath the Capuchin Church of the Immaculate Conception (1645), located on Via Veneto.. The bones in the six-room crypt represent over 4,000 individual monks. It is said monks fled the French Revolution (1793-94) and took refuge at the Church in Roma. The bones are arranged in decorative patterns: cross, floral, arch, triangle and circle, as well as forming objects. Truly bizarre, but definitely memorable.
Call me for more details and I'd love to help you with your great trip!
Sue Michailidis
213-784-6158
