
To mark the 200th Anniversary of Napoleon's death on 5th May, Ariodante Travel has created the ultimate journey of enlightenment for those interested in history and discovering more about the great military leader and emperor. Whether clients wish to embark on a trip over several days, a month, or even longer, Ariodante can create a bespoke itinerary that will provide exclusive access to places never open to the public, objects that belonged to the emperor, and meetings with handpicked experts and descendants – something that has never been offered before.
Guests will travel in the height of luxury by private jet and can choose to explore locations where Napoleon lived such as Corsica, Paris, Nice, Italy, Spain, Austria, Poland, Russia, Belgium, England and even Saint Helena, where Napoleon was exiled and later died.
Key highlights:
Paris
Napoleon rapidly rose through the ranks of the military during the French Revolution (1789 – 1799). He seized political power in France in a 1799 coup d'état and crowned himself emperor in 1804.
Ariodante's trip in Paris will take guests through the events that led to the French Revolution, which shaped Napoleon and gave him the opportunity to rise to power.
Among others, Ariodante can secure exclusive access to Ecole Militaire where Napoleon attended military school, and to the French National Archives where guests will be shown original battle maps. There they will also see the original Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, as well as its drafts, which is a fundamental document of the French Revolution written in 1789, never on display to the public.
Guests will learn about Napoleon's ascension to power and get private access to Les Invalides where they will see areas never open to the public while accompanied by one of the highest ranked generals in France. They will be shown the keys to Napoleon's tomb - arguably one of France's most sacred artefacts that is never on display - and will uncover Les Invalides' tunnels where the government kept its weapons during the Revolution, which was ransacked on 14th July by the people of Paris before they marched on to Bastille.
Ariodante can secure private access to Fontainebleau and Malmaison - where Napoleon resided with Josephine – and the Napoleon Foundation's private collection. Scarcely known to anyone, guests will be shown artefacts by the foundation's president including a series of sketches by artist Jacques-Louis David that were commissioned by the emperor for his coronation in 1804.
Ariodante has created close ties with a direct descendant of Napoleon, who will invite guests into their home and show their family's collection of Napoleon items. Guests can also opt to dine with the Prince of Essling, a direct descendant of one of Napoleon's generals and an expert of the military leader and emperor. These are the voices that bring the stories and locations to life – something that is simply not offered by other travel concierge services.
While in Paris, guests can stay in the City's finest hotel suites with options including the Belle Etoile suite at the Meurice Hotel, or for something truly spectacular can stay on top of the Arc de Triomphe. Priced at £1.6 million for the privilege, Ariodante can create a hotel suite made from glass at the top of the national treasure, which was commissioned by Napoleon. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that has never been done before and elevates luxury travel to previously unimagined heights.
North of Italy
Napoleon was a skilled military strategist, who successfully waged war against various coalitions of European nations and expanded his empire. Guests will travel by helicopter and even hot air balloon to see the battlefields along Napoleon's Italian Campaign while accompanied by an expert in military strategy. In addition, guests will get the extremely rare opportunity to visit Bosco dell'Adelasia, a nature reserve spread across 450 hectares, where Napoleon's armies fought. The area is very well preserved and still has original trenches.
Guests will stay in the Presidential Suite at Hotel Principe di Savoia, considered one of the world's most luxurious suites. During their days, guests will also enjoy exclusive visits to the Lascaris Palace, The Forum Bonaparte, the Museo del Risorgimento and the Serbelloni Palace, where Napoleon lived.
Saint Helena
Clients looking for something truly exceptional can visit Saint Helena, a tiny remote tropical island in the South Atlantic Ocean, 1,200 miles west of Angola, and 2,500 east of Rio de Janeiro. One of the most isolated islands in the world, it was historically used as a place of exile for key prisoners, including Napoleon, who died on Saint Helena. Guests will exclusively stay at Longwood House museum, where Napoleon lived during his exile dictating his memoirs, which has never been open for guests to privately stay in before. This is such a privileged opportunity that authorisation needs to be obtained from the governments of two countries. Guests will travel back in time, sleep in historical beds and dine at Napoleon's table. The House has been preserved with its original furniture from 1821 and is complemented with over 900 artifacts.
Each Ariodante Travel experience is curated by a team of up to 10 people and can take up to five months to plan. Ariodante recognize that its clients' time is precious, so after an initial discussion to understand a client's interests, they will create a fully bespoke trip and take care of all the logistics, utilizing its local knowledge on a global scale. For Ariodante no request is too big, too complicated, or too expensive to arrange for its clients.
Ariodante will arrange dinner reservations in the most exclusive restaurants throughout their trips, as well as fly in the world's best chefs and arrange private dining experiences in some of the most exclusive locations including museums, galleries and UNESCO World Heritage sites.
An important aspect of each experience is that a percentage of the fee helps to support restoration and conservation projects, and to date, Ariodante has contributed more than $1 million to various projects.
Ariodante's Napoleon trip starts from £100,000
For more information visit www.ariodantetravel.com or contact Tel: +44 (0)7985146633
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About Ariodante Travel
Founded by famed Colombian composer and conductor, Ricardo Araujo, Ariodante Travel is more than a luxury travel agent. It is a unique travel concierge service that specializes in arts, culture, and history from around the world. Utilizing its unrivalled book of contacts, Ariodante create custom itineraries and experiences, affording a privileged few with access to destinations, monuments and historic sites often inaccessible to the public. From an overnight stay atop the Arc de Triomphe, a private concert with the Pope in the Sistine Chapel, an experiential tour following in the footsteps of a famous artist or even a spacewalk off the International Space Station – these seemingly impossible feats are just a few of the incredible dreams Ariodante tuns into reality for its ultra-discerning members.