Da Vinci De Coded: Travelocity Uncovers Must See Summer Sights for Da Vinci Fans
April 27 2006 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
As the May 19 release of The Da Vinci Code(a) movie approaches, the
buzz surrounding the tale has turned from enthusiastic to
fanatical. Whether it's the religious controversy created by Dan
Brown's insanely-popular novel or the A-list actors starring in the
film (Tom Hanks and French phenom Audrey Tautou), The Code has
generated more than pop-culture hype. It has spawned a devoted
following of da Vinci "Codies". Codies and curious travelers alike
are flocking to true-life sites - like the famed Denon Wing of the
Louvre in Paris where the Mona Lisa gazes past admirers as well as
the gardens of the pope's summer home outside of Rome.
Travelocity's editors reveal a wealth of ideas for enthusiasts,
from the quintessential hotspots to the lesser known American
highlights. There's something for everyone - even on a shoe-string.
"For those who want to immerse themselves in the intrigue of The
Code this summer, you can go on an international adventure or stick
close to home," said Travelocity editor Natasha Carvell. "You don't
even have to own a passport to schedule a private viewing of da
Vinci's sketches at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, or check out
the only da Vinci painting in the Western hemisphere in DC." The Da
Vinci Code Essentials: Paris, France - From the famous opening
museum murder scene to our hero's night at the famed Ritz Paris
hotel, the car chase down the Champs Elysees to the villain albino
monk's surreptitious search of Saint-Sulpice, the City of Light
plays a major role in both the dramatic plot of The Code and the
creative legacy of the artist. If the Mona Lisa is a mob scene at
the Louvre, sneak away to see other da Vinci works, including
Madonna of the Rocks, Bacchus, Virgin and Child with St. Anne, and
St. John the Baptist. London, England - Can you find the Holy Grail
in London's Temple Church? Not likely. But, tracking down da
Vinci's Virgin of the Rocks in the National Gallery shouldn't be
nearly as perplexing. Pay additional homage to The Code at Sir
Isaac Newton's grave in Westminster Abbey and with a stroll through
leafy St. James Park. Italy - Learn about The Code's religious
backdrop in Vatican City and relive the book's intense moments in
the shadows of Castel Gandolfo, the papal retreat outside of Rome.
For more Leonardo da Vinci artwork, travel to Milan where the
book's centerpiece work, The Last Supper, is on display in the
refectory at Convent of Santa Maria Delle Grazie. Visit Florence
where da Vinci completed his first solo painting, and his Adoration
of the Magi, Annunciation, and Baptism of Christ are on display in
the world-famous Uffizi Gallery. Da Vinci In America: Washington,
DC - The National Gallery of Art is home to the only painting by
Leonardo da Vinci on display in the Western Hemisphere. Ginevra
de'Benci is the artist's oil-on-wood portrait of a young Florentine
noblewoman around the time of her wedding. In the spirit of
intrigue, there has long been controversy about whether Leonardo
actually painted the work or not (it is now widely accepted that he
did), and the reverse side of the piece has an illustration of a
juniper spring surrounded by a palm and laurel wreath with the
phrase "Beauty Adorns Virtue" in Latin. Could there be another
secret message here? The nation's capital is also likely to figure
prominently in Dan Brown's forthcoming novel, The Solomon Key.
Learn more about the city's secrets at the International Spy Museum
in downtown DC. New York, NY - At 243 Lexington Avenue at 34th
Street in Manhattan, you'll find the unmarked, 17-story, 133,000
square foot headquarters of Opus Dei, the controversially devout
Catholic sect which figures prominently in The Da Vinci Code. After
admiring the building's handiwork and gathering some anti-Code
leaflets, head to the Metropolitan Museum of Art where you can make
an appointment with the Drawings Department to see the da Vinci
sketches held in the museum's permanent, but not-on-display
collection. Or get even more into the super-sleuth act on one of
Watson Adventures' Murder at the Met Scavenger Hunts. Warning -
these Da Vinci Code-like public hunts sell out fast! Grand Rapids,
MI - A quiet admiration of Leonardo da Vinci turned into proactive
recreation of his work when Charlie Dent, a pilot and avid art
collector, read a 1977 article about Leonardo's doomed 1482 attempt
to sculpt a 24-foot bronze horse, commissioned by the Duke of
Milan. Dent decided to finish the job. After assembling data from
Leonardo's sketches, and working with Renaissance scholars to match
the design of the horse to the great artist's intent, he began
work. While Dent died five years before its completion, the work
was finished by celebrated sculptor Nina Akamu and installed in
Milan in 1999. A second cast of Da Vinci's Horse, appropriately
titled The American Horse, was also made to majestically hold court
at the Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. More Da Vinci
Destinations: Beyond the famous da Vinci sites or those here at
home, make Dan Brown proud and go on an international adventure to
cities you won't find included on the standard Code tour itinerary.
Munich, Germany - The Alte (Old) Pinakothek art museum in Munich is
home to The Madonna with the Carnation, also known as The Virgin
with Flowers, which was once attributed to Leonardo's tutor. It is
now widely-accepted as one his first independent works. Krakow,
Poland - The Duke of Milan was one of Leonardo's greatest patrons
and the charming Lady with an Ermine depicts his young mistress.
The work now hangs in Krakow's Czartoryski Museum after being
seized by the Nazis during WWII, and rediscovered by Allied troops
in Bavaria. Budapest, Hungary - A highlight of Budapest's Museum of
Fine Arts' antique sculpture collection is da Vinci's bronze
Equestrian Statue, sometimes considered one of the last works
completed by the great artist (1516-19). St. Petersburg, Russia -
The Benois Madonna, also known as Madonna and Child with Flowers
has earned special notice and popularity for its animated depiction
of Mary and her child. Long considered one of Leonardo's lost
works, it was revealed by a private owner in 1909, and entered St.
Petersburg's Imperial Hermitage Museum in 1914. Find great
last-minute deals to da Vinci-inspired places at
www.travelocity.com/davinci. (a) "The Da Vinci Code" is a trademark
of its owner. "The Da Vinci Code" book and motion picture are
copyrighted works of their respective owners. Such trademark and
copyright owners have not endorsed, sponsored, or affiliated with
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