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The 11,000-square-foot, two-story Bellissima Day Spa is housed in an historic building in downtown Escondido. The renovation won an award from Escondido's Downtown Business Association. A sense of European elegance permeates the premises, with Romanesque arches, columns and statuary. Trompe l'oeil murals in treatment rooms take guests on sightseeing journeys as

they enjoy the luxuries of hydro therapy tubs and massages.

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The focus at Bellissima is on therapeutic stress-reduction treatments, using marine and botanical ingredients, such as sea salts, seaweed, algae, plankton, essential oils and

herbal extracts. The spa's boutique offers European skin-care products, custom-blended cosmetics and spa-

related items.

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Bellissima offers five packages for women and one for men (men's night is Thursday). The spa's Ultimate Day of Rejuvenation includes a complimentary herbal steam, followed by an anti-stress body envelopment, aromatherapy massage and facial. Then it's lunchtime, with a healthy spa lunch from one of Escondido's finest gourmet restaurants featuring soup du jour and a choice of entrees: Caesar salad with or without chicken, Greek salad, vegetarian sandwich, vegetable salad and fruit platter with cottage cheese and sorbet. Lunch is served

in the bright and cheerful garden room on the second floor. Then it's on to the afternoon treatments: glycolic rejuvenation hand treatment including manicure, French spa pedicure, scalp treatment, hair set and blow dry (located downstairs, away from treatment rooms) and

makeup application, a total of eight hours at $397.

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