By Aline Asmar d’Amman
Venice has no shortage of grand hotels, but this opening feels different. Orient Express Venezia has taken over Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, a 15th-century palazzo in Cannaregio, now transformed into a hotel for the first time in its history. The property marks the brand’s second hotel, following La Minerva in Rome.
Its real power lies in the palazzo itself. The building still carries the drama of its past, from Gothic and Baroque flourishes to the remarkable octagonal staircase that has already become its defining image. The restoration was led by Aline Asmar d’Amman, who spent eight years bringing the palazzo back to life, preserving its sense of history while introducing interiors rich in marble, Murano glass, velvet and decorative detail.
The hotel offers 47 rooms, suites, and residences, with interiors shaped by frescoes, mosaic floors, ornate ceilings and canal views. One of the most striking spaces is the lobby, once an open cortile and now reimagined as a grand living room with sculpted boiserie and bespoke Murano chandeliers. Arrival is by boat through a Gothic water gate, which feels exactly right for a brand built on ceremony and old-world glamour.
In a city so rich in atmosphere, this opening feels especially well judged. It is grand, of course, but also deeply evocative in a way that feels genuinely Venetian. Less fantasy, more faded beauty. Exactly the balance you would hope for from Orient Express in Venice.
For more information and bookings visit: orient-express.com
