Experience The Romance Of Italy In Las Vegas
By Winston D. Munnings
2 May 2008
I have always wanted to visit Venice (Italy) frequently referred to as the City of Water. Never quite got there, however, until this past weekend on a visit to Las Vegas, Nevada with my wife and daughters. It's called the Venetian Hotel, and just as the Italian city of Venice is constantly evolving, according to the travel experts, so too is its namesake resort in Las Vegas.
According to a travel trade leader, ORBITZ, "...The Venetian Hotel is the first all-suites hotel on the "Las Vegas Strip" with 4,027 suites, a gaming facility of 120,000 square feet, and The Venetian Congress Center of 500,000 square feet - all connected to the existing Sands Expo and Convention Center. "The Grand Canal Shoppes," the indoor mall area, features a one-quarter mile Venetian streetscape and a "Grand Canal" running in length with functional gondolas, singing gondoliers and waterside cafes by authentically styled Venetian bridges. The first ever stateside Madame Tussaud's wax museum, a 65,000 square foot Spa Club by Canyon Ranch, and 18 restaurants, including many choices for fine dining... "
At The Venetian, my favorite restaurant is Zeffirino which was a dining encounter succeeding none that I've experienced after three visits to Las Vegas within the last year. In fact, the late Luciano Pavarotti once dined here and there is a conspicuously framed photograph of the Opera Impresario mounted on the wall in the foyer for ALL to see. Moreover, and as I recall from news clips, the Great Luciano really knew (well) how to enjoy good food and since he had dined here, I knew I was in good company.
At the Venetian complex, you really have the feeling of being in Europe on some kind of a romantic pleasure outing. The Gondolas with the singing Gondoliers really did it for me and captured the moment reminding me of that 1962 movie sensation: Rome Adventure starring Troy Donahue and Angie Dickerson. What a story that was. In fact, that motion picture (alone) triggered a tremendous interest in Italy as a holiday destination.
Anyway, these few images taken at the Venetian compound does not do this photo essay complete justice but, hopefully, will wet the desire of the adventurer in you to experience (first hand) the romance of Italy in the heart of a small desert town on the Las Vegas Strip.
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