Venice is a city to be savored. Let a gondolier serenade you as you glide past graceful palazzos.
Dine by candlelight beside the Grand Canal. Shop for carnival masks and Murano glass on the Rialto Bridge. Wander through the quiet backstreets of the Dorsoduro. Enjoy a gelato on Piazza San Marco, and experience the Doge’s Palace, which once held legendary lover Casanova.
I am one who believes, everyone should go to Venice at least once in their lifetime. Avoiding the inevitable crowds is key to enjoying your stay. Getting off the standard touristy pathways and venturing into the smaller neighborhoods is what makes Venice a treasure trove.
Giudecca Island
Size: 94 rooms and suites
Style: Classic Contemporary Luxury
Year Opened: 1958
Most Recent Renovation/Update: 2024
Hands down my favorite Hotel in Venice, this is a must for your first-time in the city.
Hotel Cipriani, a Belmond hotel, Venice is set amid lush gardens and vineyards on peaceful Giudecca Island, just five minutes from Saint Mark’s Square via the private courtesy launch. The sumptuous accommodations capture the essence of Venice with Murano glass, antique mirrors, and fabrics by Fortuny and Rubelli. Dine on the wooden terrace of the Cip’s Club restaurant, facing the Doge’s Palace, or in the stunning Michelin-starred Oro Restaurant. Swim in the Olympic-size pool or enjoy a massage in the Casanova Wellness Centre; children love the Kids’ Club, with its special activities and a dedicated mini pool.
I AM A BELMOND PREFERRED PARTNER
You get additional Amenities when I manage your reservation.
• A-la-carte breakfast for 2 daily
• Complimentary WI-FI access
• $100usd (€ 90) per room or junior suite per stay
• $220usd (€ 200) per suite per stay
• VIP welcome treats with a local taste
• Complimentary upgrade based on availability at time of check-in
• A $500usd gift voucher for bookings over $5,000usd with Belmond
and more
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Size: 25 rooms and suites
Style: Contemporary
Year Opened: 2013
Most Recent Renovation/Update: ongoing
Designer/Architect: Jean-Michel Gathy
My time at Aman Venice I must admit… I was much more impressed than I was expecting by the care of the restoration and beauty of the hotel. Jean-Michel Gathy’s interior work superbly subdued and highlighted the original grandeur of this monumental Grand Palazzo. Service & hospitality was impeccable.
Built on water and synonymous with romance, Venice is famed for its canals, the largest of which – the Grand Canal – winds its way through the heart of the city. Lining this historic thoroughfare are more than 170 gracious buildings, including the regal 16th-century palazzo in which Aman Venice is housed. Presenting 24 guestrooms and suites, many with picturesque views of the Grand Canal, and a breathtaking piano nobile, the hotel also offers two private gardens – an unusual feature in this floating city. Unique architectural and artistic details by masters such as Tiepolo and Sansovino showcase the palazzo’s storied past.
2023 #14
I AM AN AMAN PREFERRED PARTNER
A VIRTUOSO PREFERRED PARTNER
Saint Mark’s Basin
Size: 91 rooms and suites
Style: Contemporary Luxury
Upon arriving at Baglioni Hotel Luna, take time to enjoy the view of Saint Mark’s Basin and the lagoon surrounding you. A romantic ambience continues inside this refurbished hotel, brimming with Murano chandeliers and elegant, fabric-covered walls. Choose a suite for its period furniture, objets d’art, and fantastic panoramas of the city; several suites, like the San Giorgio Suite and the Giorgione Suite, offer a private terrace, a sublime spot for a romantic dinner by candlelight. Try the award-winning Canova restaurant for its Venetian and international specialties; there is the opportunity to dine alfresco during the good season.
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Private Island 10 minutes from St. Mark’s Plaza
Size: 196 rooms and suites
Style: Classic Venetian Italian
Ideal for family gatherings and those that do not want to be in the center of Venice.
Set on a private island only ten minutes away by complimentary boat ride from Saint Mark’s Square, San Clemente Palace Kempinski is your exclusive retreat in Venice. Lush gardens, antique courtyards, and the historic church of San Clemente – a former monastery – take guests on a journey in time. The hotel’s spacious 196 rooms and suites overlook either the lagoon or the centuries-old park, while the three restaurants and three bars serve culinary delights – perfectly in line with the traditions of Italian and Venetian cuisine.
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Grand Canal
A labor of love in restoration of a gem of a building from the Dazzo family.
A true gem of a Boutique Hotel in a wonderful neighborhood just a short walk to the main attractions. All the rooms are unique, restored wonderfully with all the modern touches you would hope to find. Roberto and his staff are wonderful. A perfectly enjoyable stay at a rather reasonable cost. Sells-out quickly, I would suggest having me book this as far in advance as possible.
PART OF MY CREATIVE DESTINATIONS PORTFOLIO
Location: Venetian lagoon
Bedrooms: 9
Maximum Occupants: 15
One of the most historic and beautiful islands in the Venetian lagoon, Isola Santa Cristina was once part of an archipelago known as Ammiana and, according to legend, named after Saint Christina whose body was secretly transported from Constantinople in 1325. The island, a 30-minute boat ride from the city, has been owned by the Swarovski family for many years and one of its younger members, René Deutsch, an Austrian businessman, and his wife Sandra recently opened it as an eco-friendly private hideaway and yoga retreat. The 30-hectare island is home to organic apricot, plum and fig orchards, fish farms and vineyards. In the nine-bedroom villa, filled with the couple’s private art collection, larch-wood floors with white walls and chalky colours give it a smart, almost beach-house vibe and the bedrooms, with lofty larch ceilings, are peaceful spaces. There’s an outdoor fireplace and pool terrace, shady gazebos and a rooftop altana with views of the island’s private lake and the lagoon beyond. From here it’s a 10-minute boat ride to Burano and its famous lace-making museum, or to Torcello with its Byzantine cathedral. For a night out, go to Venissa, the restaurant on Mazzorbo, for mazzancolle, or Da Celeste on Pellestrina for its fried catch of the day.
PART OF MY SPECIAL PLACES PORTFOLIO
The 60th International Art Exhibition will take place from Saturday 20 April to Sunday 24 November, 2024 (pre-opening on April 17, 18 and 19), curated by Adriano Pedrosa. “I am honored and humbled by this prestigious appointment, especially as the first Latin American to curate the International Art Exhibition, and in fact the first one based in the Southern Hemisphere”, Pedrosa commented.
GO TO WEBSITE BIENNALE ARTE 2024
My Virtuoso Venice Italy Information Page
Here is a good place to start for some additional information on quality Hotels, Water Adventures and Activities.
WIKIVOYAGE: Venice Italy Page
A great resource for all the basic information you may want for Venice Italy.
Tuscany General Information Page
Italy General Information Page
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page updated: February 2024
images courtesy: Wikimedia Commons, Venice Tourism Board
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