CITIRAMA DVC TOUR OF THE LOUVRE
Even if you are not a Da Vinci Code fan, the Louvre is a must. The museum � formerly the residence of French kings -- is now one of the largest museums in the world. It houses over 35,000 works of art, and is more than 8 miles long. The outside of the building is a work of art too. You could literally spend weeks inside, yet still not see everything. But who has time for that? Instead sign up for the Cityrama "Da Vinci Code" tour of the Louvre. It's two and a half hours long, and your guide will know everything about both the Louvre and the book. Tours start at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays only. Cityrama "Da Vinci Code" tour of the Louvre, adult: � 39.00; child: � 19.50.

THE LOUVRE
The Louvre plays an important role in the book and movie. The movie filmed here for three weeks (at night). That's a big deal, because they were the first foreign filmmakers allowed to shoot inside the Louvre. Museum curator Jacques Sauni�re was murdered in the Grande Galerie. The Louvre is also where Sophie takes a black light to the Mona Lisa, and discovers the phrase "So dark the con of man." She realizes this translates to "Madonna of the Rocks" (the painting she threatens to put her knee through). BTW: That painting was done on wood, so it would be difficult to put one's knee through it. Before Sauni�re is murdered, he pulls a Caravaggio painting off the wall. The idea is to set off the alarm, so iron gates would come down. Notice, however, there are no iron gates -- and all of Caravaggio's paintings are difficult for anyone to lift. Especially difficult is "La Mort de la Vierge," the painting our guide believes is the one Dan Brown wrote about. The painting is roughly 9 feet wide and 15 feet high, with a heavy wood frame. Also check out the bathroom where Sophie throws Langdon's GPS tracker from the window -- you'll see there are no windows. Another inaccuracy: Dan Brown wrote there are 666 panes in I.M. Pei's glass pyramid (the main entrance). Brown may have gotten that inaccurate number from the 1999 edition of Let's Go Paris. No one knows exactly how many panes there are. The Louvre's website claims 698, while the museum's information desk says 630. My guide counted 674. Pei's office gives the number as 673. One thing is for sure: There probably are not 666, because that number is the sign of the devil. But no matter; this place is fun to retrace the steps of the characters, and also marvel at Leonard da Vinci's masterpieces. The Louvre: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., except Tuesdays. Cost: 8.50 �. For more click HERE.