Las Vegas, Nevada
Every 30 minutes in the afternoon and every 15 minutes after dark, the 8.5-acre Lake Bellagio erupts into a choreographed spectacle of water, music, and light. More than 1,200 fountains shoot water 460 feet into the air, swaying in perfect synchronization to everyone from Frank Sinatra to Andrea Bocelli. The show is free, visible from anywhere along the lakefront, and remains the most beloved single attraction on the Las Vegas Strip.
The Bellagio Fountains were designed by WET Design, the same firm behind the Dubai Fountain. Each of the 1,214 water-emitting devices is individually controlled by computers that translate musical compositions into fluid choreography with sub-second precision.
Inspired by the town of Bellagio on Italy's Lake Como, the resort exudes Old World elegance. The lobby ceiling is adorned with Dale Chihuly's "Fiori di Como," a breathtaking installation of 2,000 hand-blown glass flowers spanning 2,000 square feet. Italian marble floors, frescoed ceilings, and a spectacular botanical conservatory that changes with the seasons round out the aesthetic.
The conservatory, refreshed five times per year, transforms from spring gardens to Christmas villages, each iteration requiring 100-plus horticulturists and thousands of live plants, trees, and flowers.
The Bellagio features 3,933 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites, many with sweeping views of the fountains and the Las Vegas Strip. The resort offers a world-class spa spanning 56,000 square feet, a botanical conservatory that transforms with the seasons, and a gallery of fine art featuring rotating exhibitions from Picasso to Monet. Fine dining options include restaurants from award-winning chefs such as Michael Mina, Julian Serrano, and Roy Ellamar.
No other resort in America offers a free outdoor spectacle that rivals a theme park show. The Bellagio Fountains have been featured in over two dozen films, from "Ocean's Eleven" to "The Hangover," and remain the iconic image of Las Vegas. Combined with Chihuly's glass sculpture, the fine art gallery, and the aquatic Cirque du Soleil show, the Bellagio represents the gold standard of resort-as-cultural-destination.