A Look Inside : Orient Express Venezia, A 600-Year-Old Palazzo Finally Opens Its Doors
The legendary Orient Express, long synonymous with cinematic train journeys has officially expanded its Italian footprint, unveiling a stunning new hotel in Venice. The Orient Express Venezia is nestled in the city’s most peaceful corner, Cannaregio and takes up residence inside the magnificent Palazzo Donà Giovannelli.
The 15th-century Palazzo has been standing at the meeting point of two canals along the Rio di Noale since 1436, but this is the first time in nearly six centuries it has opened its doors as a hotel.
Architect and interior designer Aline Asmar d’Amman, known for her ability to weave heritage architecture with contemporary artistic expression, has taken this 15th-century masterpiece and done something extraordinary with it. The result is a restoration that respects every inch of the palazzo’s origins while feeling strikingly, unapologetically modern.
The Arrival at Orient Express Venezia
The arrival alone sets the tone for your stay at the Orient Express Venezia. Pull up by private boat through the Gothic watergate and you’re immediately met with one of the most unexpected and striking revelations of the entire transformation. Il Corte del Conte, the palazzo’s lobby, was once an open mineral cortile and has been elevated into something truly spectacular, a grand living room layered with sculpted boiserie, rich velvet, and showstopping bespoke Murano chandeliers that somehow balance the intimacy of a private home with the drama of a grand theatre.
Wander further and a gallery of rotating contemporary art leads to a secret garden, where antique gates open onto sophisticated tents glowing softly with Venetian lanterns. Every step deeper into Orient Express Venezia feels like a new scene unfolding.
The Rooms & Suites At Orient Express Venezia
Upstairs, 47 rooms, suites, and residences each tell their own story through restored murals, sculptural ceilings, and views of canals and gardens. The six Signature Suites spanning up to 1,560 square feet are where Orient Express Venezia truly shows off.
Meet the Orient Express Suite, Colori Persi Suite, Del Conte Suite, Teatro Suite, Cherubini Suite, and La Minerva Suite, each one a world of its own, where the palazzo’s most hidden treasures have been brought back to life. Think 19th-century frescoes dedicated to the goddess Minerva, gilded salons animated by dancing cherubs, monumental marble fireplaces adorned with mesmerizing sculptural shells, and tall windows that frame Venice’s canals.
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The Art of Dining at Orient Express Venezia
On the food and drink front, Orient Express Venezia is setting a new benchmark. The entire culinary vision is anchored by none other than three-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck, and his creative imprint is felt across every corner of the palazzo’s food and beverage universe.
Heinz Beck Venezia, his intimate gourmet concept, unfolds within the historic orangerie, offering a fine dining experience designed exclusively for the hotel that is as deeply sensorial as it is seriously impressive.
For something more relaxed, La Casati channels the theatrical, avant-garde spirit of Marchesa Luisa Casati, an all-day dining restaurant set around a rare private garden.
Then there’s the Wagon Bar, an Art Deco-inspired bar paying homage to the legendary lounge cars of the original Orient Express trains, where crafted cocktails and Venetian cicchetti are served with a side of mystery and nocturnal charm.
Rounding things out is a spa rooted in ancient Roman thermal rituals and a grand ballroom built for the kind of events people talk about for years.
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