A 15th-century palazzo reborn: Orient Express opens in Venice with Aline Asmar d’Amman’s design, 47 rooms, gardens, and a cinematic Wagon Bar
A palazzo, a legend, and a love letter to Venice
Some hotel openings arrive with a whisper. This one enters like a masked guest at a ball—gliding across centuries with effortless poise. The legendary Orient Express chooses the 15th-century Palazzo Donà Giovannelli for its new Venetian chapter, with architect and interior designer Aline Asmar d’Amman entrusted to reimagine the spaces. The result promises theatrical volumes, romantic gardens, and that ineffable Orient Express mood: couture detail with traveler’s ease.
Heritage, reimagined
Venice’s history was written in layers—and this palazzo wears them all beautifully. Gothic bones meet Neo-Gothic flourishes; Baroque and Neoclassical gestures converse over frescoes, mosaics, stucco, and Murano shimmer. At the heart of it all, an octagonal staircase by Meduna spirals upward like a sketch of light. Step inside and you’re leafing through time: vaulted domes, painterly ceilings, and secretive corridors that open onto a rare Venetian luxury—a lush, private garden.
Rooms & suites at Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli: 47 windows onto a private Venice
The hotel counts 47 rooms and suites, many overlooking canals or the garden. On the piano nobile, monumental suites bask in museum-grade light: soaring ceilings, frescoed salons, and a hush that feels tailor-made for handwritten postcards and late-night conversations.
The art of arrival
This address is an island within an island. Approach from the Strada Nova through the garden entrance for a quietly grand arrival—or glide along Rio di Noale by boat and admire the neo-Gothic façades as they appear like a stage set. If you’re traveling on the La Dolce Vita Orient Express train, you can disembark at Venezia Santa Lucia and reach the palazzo by foot or boat. Romance, uninterrupted.
Eating & drinking (with a dash of rail-car glamour) at Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli
Mornings begin beneath historic frescoes in the ballroom, where breakfast feels like a private fête. Days meander into all-day dining by the courtyard; nights belong to an intimate fine-dining restaurant with private boat access (the most Venetian of entrances). And then there’s the Wagon Bar—a polished ode to the golden age of rail, custom-built for lingering.
The Hotel Trotter View: Who will love it
Design devotees will come for Asmar d’Amman’s erudite layering of eras; romantics will claim the gardens and those moonlit boat arrivals; culture hunters will adore the Cannaregio address—close to Venice’s icons, yet blissfully removed after dusk. This is Venice at its most intimate: historic, yes, but never museum-piece still.
Insider Tips (save & screenshot)
The suite to request: A piano nobile suite for frescoes, ceiling height, and that “private gallery” glow.
Golden hour ritual: Aperitivo at the Wagon Bar, then slip out via the boat entrance for dinner—pure cinema.
Morning strategy: Explore Cannaregio before 9 a.m. The neighborhood wakes slowly; you’ll have the bridges almost to yourself.
Art & artisans: Pair the palazzo with nearby hidden churches and small ateliers—lace, paper marbling, and mask-makers thrive here.
Garden moments: On breezy afternoons, choose the courtyard seats for an “I live here now” cappuccino.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When does Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli open?
The hotel is slated to open with bookings aligning to the brand’s phased roll-out; timelines may evolve as final restorations complete. (We’ll update this page with any changes.)
How many rooms are there?
47 rooms and suites, including grand accommodations on the piano nobile.
Where exactly is it?
In Cannaregio, with façades on Rio di Noale, near Strada Nova, reachable on foot or by boat from Venezia Santa Lucia.
Can guests arrive via the La Dolce Vita Orient Express train?
Yes. Disembark at Santa Lucia and continue by foot or by boat for a wonderfully cinematic transfer.
What about dining?
Expect all-day dining, an intimate fine-dining restaurant with private boat access, and the signature Wagon Bar.
Is there outdoor space?
Yes—courtyard and garden areas, a rarity in Venice and a defining pleasure of the property.
Key details (at a glance)
Rooms & suites: 47
Signature spaces: Frescoed ballroom on the piano nobile, octagonal Meduna staircase, courtyard & gardens
Access: Foot or boat; convenient to Venezia Santa Lucia
Neighbourhood: Cannaregio—cultural, local, quietly elegant
See also:
A Roman Affair: The Glamorous Arrival of Orient Express La Minerva in 2025
TheHotelTrotter.com is curated by greek journalist and fanatic hotel lover Eleni Stasinopoulou. With the eye of a fashion and lifestyle editor, Eleni hopes to inspire all connoisseurs of traveling, focusing on stylish hotel moments around the globe.
