A lot of the Florence scenes in “Hannibal” were shot in the 15th Century Palazzo Capponi. That includes the Red Room, sometimes called the Blood Room, which the fictional Dr. Hannibal Lecter used as a study. You can arrange to take a 45-minute private tour of the Italian palace, led by Count Niccolo Capponi, who lives in the palace, plays a small role in the film and works as curator of Palazzo Capponi’s art collection–the same job Lecter applies for, and gets, in the Thomas Harris novel and Ridley Scott film. Each tour costs $890 for groups up to 10 people, and includes, coincidentally, a tasting of the Capponi family’s Villa Calcinaia labels, a “nice Chianti” among them. As a final twist of irony that Hannibal himself would relish, Wilmette-based Select Italy offers the tour as the newest in its series of private visits to Italian landmarks: the Connoisseur Collection. (847-853-1661; or at www.selectitaly.com)
SAINT IN SPADES
As if the beaches weren’t reason enough to visit St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, the Westin Resort will set up guests to really get into the place, literally. Travelers who are so inclined may volunteer for spade time on an archeological dig , helping scientists uncover ruins at Cinnamon Bay. Among past discoveries, they say, was a set of carved shells found by a 7-year-old child. The dig is operated by Friends of Virgin Islands National Park, independent of the Westin; and participation is free. However, as long as you’re in the neighborhood, you might as well know that the Westin Resort is set on 48 beachfront acres and offers such activities as Jeep rentals and hiking expeditions. When we checked prices, a family of four could stay for as little as $359 a night during the week of April 15-22–spring break week for Chicago Public Schools. Should that rate be booked up, the published rate is $559 a night. (For Westin: 800-WESTIN-1; or at www.westin.com. For the dig: 340-779-4940; www.friendsvinp.org)
BOTH HANDS FREE
You can leave your car behind, take train or plane, and still see all of Lincoln’s Springfield. The Historic Winter Getaway at the Carpenter Street Hotel will, for $75 a night, serve you continental breakfast and take you by courtesy van to the Lincoln sites and your choice of lunch or dinner–all for two people. You’ve got till the end of March to take them up on the deal. (217-789-9100)
FREE, AND ALMOST
Until the end of April, a series of lectures on topics intriguing to travelers is being held in the Florida Keys. For example, the one in Islamadora March 15 is about the history and tracking of hurricanes; the one in Marathon April 7 is on manatees and dolphins. Call for the calendar. (305-745-9936)…A check or money order in the amount of $3.50 will get you 224 color pages of info on legendary lodgings like the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Mich., the Greenbrier at White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., and the Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas. Send for the 2001 Membership Directory at National Trust Historic Hotels of America, P.O. Box 320, Washington, DC 20055-0320.
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Prices generally are per person double and depend upon availability.
