The opening of the Bellagio has been anxiously awaited since construction began in 1995. Steve Wynn, who already runs some of Las Vegas’ most renown casinos like the Mirage and Golden Nugget promised that the Bellagio would exceed any standard set in Las Vegas for glamour, luxury and service. He was not wrong.

Inspired by the Italian village of Bellagio that overlooks Lake Como, the Bellagio casino features the gardens and red tiled roofs of a lakeside Italian Villa. Lakeside? That’s right. The Mirage Volcano has nothing on the 9-acre manmade lake that is part of the Bellagio’s frontage. A $30 million water and fountain show periodically takes place in the lake, accompanied by lights and music. (vocals are provided by such artists as Luciano Pavarotti and the late Frank Sinatra).

Wynn spared no expense for the Bellagio; besides the marvelous design and attractions like the fountain show, the casino features one of the greatest collections of European and American masterpieces in the country. Original paintings from such artists as Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Cezanne, Matisse, Picasso and Renoir are on display ($10 admission fee).

As you might expect, the Bellagio also features some of the finest dining in Las Vegas. Wynn recruited the famous Maccioni family, the acclaimed restaurateuring family responsible for New York’s Le Circe. They opened a branch of this legendary French restaurant in the Bellagio as well as a Tuscan restaurant called Circo, featuring fine food and an excellent view of the fountains.

An Old World porte cochere leads the way to an elegant shopping promenade with an unrivaled collection of fine fashion boutiques. Steve Wynn, Chairman of the Board of Mirage Resorts, says: "The sophisticated, gracious style of the boutiques reflects the overall ambiance of Bellagio."

A free monorail runs from the Bellagio to the Monte Carlo.