Orient Express has opened its second hotel, Orient Express Venezia, in the Cannaregio district, transforming a 15th-century palazzo to a hotel for the first time in nearly six centuries.
Built in 1400, the palace was once home to the Duke of Urbino, and the Donà and Giovannelli families, and has now become a 47-room and suite hotel.
The luxurious property pays homage to its heritage everywhere, starting when you enter into a grand living room to elaborate carved wood panelling and bespoke Murano chandeliers, while the garden has fountains, antique gates and Venetian lanterns.
Each of the rooms and suites includes restored murals, sculptured ceilings and views to gardens and canals, while dining is helmed by three Michelin-starred Heinz Beck.
La Casati is the all-day dining venue with a private garden, while The Wagon Bar is an Art Deco-inspired space which pays homage to the lounge cars of the original Orient Express trains.
The spa draws inspiration from “ancient Roman thermal heritage, Venice’s maritime power, and the enveloping rituals of Ottoman hammams, revealing itself as a precious sanctuary of timeless wellbeing”.
Orient Express Venezia General Manager Bartolomeo Fusco says the hotel is a destination where timeless elegance meets contemporary luxury.
“This magnificent project is not only a milestone but a heartfelt tribute to Venice’s unique heritage and spirit of hospitality.
“I look forward to personally welcoming guests from around the world to share in an experience that is both authentic and unforgettable.”
Architect and Interior Designer Aline Asmar D’Amman says she imagined the transformation as a “theatrical sequence of wonders, a tribute to the whimsical mysteries of Venice and marvels of the 15th-century architectural jewel”.
“In this eight-year creative, transformative journey, the walls speak, revealing layers of enchantment magnified by the dialogue with contemporary creation.
“Embracing the duality of legacy and reinvention, I find inspiration in the unique position of Venice as a gateway between East and West, amplified by its exceptional tapestry of artistry and modern vitality.”
Mid-last year, Orient Express opened its first hotel in the heart of Rome in a 17th-century palazzo on Piazza della Minerva, steps from the Pantheon.
Orient Express La Minerva has 93 rooms and 36 suites, all paying homage to the golden age of travel with bespoke bedside trunks, wooden detailing, and bedding by Rivolta Carmignani – the same linens once gracing Orient Express sleeper cars.
For more information, visit Orient Express.
