When pushing through crowds of tourists and power shoppers on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, it’s hard to imagine that pure serenity hovers just eight floors above. But that’s just what you’ll find when you take the short elevator ride up to Cornelia Day Resort, a two-story, 22,000 “square foot urban oasis where the Upper East Side meets old world paradise.

The spa has created a unique mini-vacation in the city, flawlessly combining timeless elegance (Moroccan tiles, Venetian plaster, Florentine robes) with modern amenities (iPods available for loan, individual sound systems in each room).

Cornelia’s crowning glory is the second-story rooftop, which houses treatment rooms, a Watsu pool, cafƒ©, salon, and 3,000 “square foot outdoor garden “that overlooks the city.

Experience the best Cornelia has to offer with its Royal Romanian Mud Treatment.‚  It begins in a natural light “filled room that houses an infinity tub, overflowing with mud- and algae-infused water. Next it’s off to the treatment room for the invigorating body polish and the miracle mud wrap,  which will leave you feeling like melted clay. A few tranquil moments in the in-room shower and it’s back to the table for a coating of hydrating lotion. The treatment, according to a spa spokesperson, can help fatigue, joint problems, and inflammation.

Arrive early so you can enjoy the resort’s pre-treatment amenities like the rainfall showers and Relaxation Library, a quaint room with lounge chairs, reading materials, and snacks. By the end of your visit to Cornelia,‚  the hustle and bustle of the city below will be a far-off memory.

For more information call (866) 663-1700 or visit www.cornelia.com.

Deirdre Shevlin Bell

May/June 2007

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