Orient Express’ Hotly Anticipated Venice Hotel With a Noble Past to Open April 1

MILAN — Following the success of its first hotel in Rome, the Orient Express said Wednesday that it has begun taking reservations for its highly anticipated second hotel location in Venice. Luxury travelers can check into the aristocratic haven of Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli as soon as April 1, with superior rooms starting at 1,320 euros.

The romantic venue is situated at the heart of the centrally located Cannaregio district. Paris-based architect and designer Aline Asmar d’Amman spearheaded the modern revamp of the once noble residence built in 1436. Its original design was led by master architect Filippo Calendario, one of the visionaries responsible for the design of Palazzo Ducale, the ancient seat of the Venetian Republic (Doge’s Palace).

Palazzo Donà Giovannelli was originally built with hidden passageways and grand ballrooms and was home to the Donà and Giovannelli families.

Guests of the hotel will be privy to a rare Venetian welcome and will begin their journey by private boat and will enter the venue through a 15th-century Gothic portal on the canal or through a discreet doorway into the Santa Fosca secret garden.

“More than a hotel, Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli is a transformative voyage through centuries of splendor. Rooted in the poetic vision of Orient Express, this Venetian property embodies a heritage in motion where every stay becomes a passage through memory, art and emotion,” said Orient Express chief executive officer Gilda Perez-Alvarado. Orient Express opened its first hotel in Rome in the 17th-century La Minerva palazzo earlier this year, coinciding with the maiden voyage of the new Orient Express train.

The new location boasts defining characteristics like the octagonal staircase added to the site by 19th-century architect Giovanni Battista Meduna, famous for cultural landmarks like the Ca’ d’Oro and the city’s La Fenice theatre. It also houses the baroque Vittoria Ballroom, originally created for the 1548 wedding of Princess Vittoria Farnese, the Library of Cultures adorned gilded wood accented with lapis lazuli as well as a music room, frequented by generations of Venetian high society.

Palazzo Donà Giovannelli offers 47 guest rooms, apartments, and six signature suites.

The hotel’s culinary offerings feature an intimate fine dining restaurant with private boat access, an all-day dining space overlooking the lively courtyard and lush garden and the Wagon Bar, a tribute to the golden age of rail travel.