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It's
easy to forgive Venice for its eternal preoccupation with its own
beauty. All the picture books in the world won't prepare you for the
city's exotic landmarks, among them the Basilica di San Marco and the
Palazzo Ducale, rising like mirages from the lagoon. With sumptuous
palaces and romantic waterways, Venice is straight out of an
18th-century Canaletto masterpiece. Venice is called La Serenissima (the
"most serene" one), a reference to the monstrous power, majesty, and
wisdom of this city that was for centuries the unrivaled mistress of
trade between Europe and the Orient and the bulwark of Christendom
against the tides of Turkish expansion. The most serene also refers to
the way in which those visiting have looked upon Venice, a miraculous
city imperturbably floating on its calm, blue lagoon.
Entirely built on water by men who dared defy the sea, Venice is unlike
any other town. No matter how many times you have seen it in movies or
TV commercials, the real thing is more surreal and dreamlike than you
ever imagined. Its landmarks, the Basilica di San Marco and the Palazzo
Ducale, seem hardly Italian: delightfully idiosyncratic, they are exotic
mélanges of Byzantine, Gothic, and Renaissance styles. Sunlight shimmers
and silvery mist softens every perspective here, a city renowned in the
Renaissance for its artists' rendering of color. It is full of secrets,
ineffably romantic, and -- at times -- given over entirely to pleasure.
Learn more about Italy.
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Our
customized luxury travel experiences are perfect for singles, couples, and families,
and they include the following:
-
Select
accommodations
in the best Luxury hotels and resorts in
select
destinations
-
A choice of one
destination or multiple destinations
-
Daily
Spa treatments and participation in all
classes (depending on hotel selected)
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Daily breakfast
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Sightseeing tours in
each city
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Local dining
experiences or optional cooking classes (our
culinary tours)
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Cultural performances
/ dinner shows or theatrical performances
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Optional shopping tours
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Click here to review
our itineraries.
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Click here to request
assistance
We are
offering the following European destinations for 2008:
We invite you
to call us at
1-757-753-8944 to reserve your Essence of
Luxury getaway package today.
Request immediate assistance. |