Palazzo Donà Giovannelli has long embodied the spirit of Venice as a crossroad of culture and imagination. In the mid19th century, Count Andrea Giovannelli commissioned architect Giovanni Battista Meduna, celebrated for restoring the neighboring Ca’ d’Oro, to reimagine its interiors with neogothic galore, Baroque flourishes, and the Palazzo’s iconic octagonal staircase crowned by a celestial vault. 

During the Ninth Congress of Italian Scientists in 1847, the Palazzo reopened as a stage for salons, debates, and grand receptions. In these historical spaces, intellect and imagination thrived. Over the years, the Palazzo grew through love and noble alliances, as reflected in the Salone Vittoria, a setting befitting royalty. 

Today, Orient Express Venezia rekindles that spirit. As day shifts into night, The Grand Transformation subtly alters the mood, lights soften, candles flicker, and the Palazzo becomes a theatre of shadows, reflections, and whispered intrigue. A handpicked Cast of Characters guides guests through curated experiences, immersing them in a world where every moment is an act in a larger narrative.

The 47 rooms, suites, and residences reveal the intimate elegance of Venetian life, each space gently shaped by the architectural layers of centuries past. Restored murals, sculptural ceilings, and views opening onto gardens and canals create a rare and immersive sense of place.

History comes alive in the six Signature Suites, each telling a different story: Orient Express Suite, Colori Persi Suite, Del Conte Suite, Teatro Suite, Cherubini Suite and La Minerva Suite. 

Exclusive spaces ranging up to 145 sqm reveal the hotel’s most hidden treasures: 19th-century frescoes dedicated to the goddess Minerva and mythical flying figures that evoke the grandeur of a bygone era, gilded salons animated by dancing cherubs, monumental marble fireplaces with mesmerizing sculptural shells, all flanked with tall windows opening onto some of the most coveted views over Venice’s canals. Each suite is a unique experience, where artistic heritage meets contemporary luxury.

Salone Vittoria, located at the first noble floor of the hotel, embodies the splendor and historical memory of a venue once dedicated to the wedding of Princess Vittoria Farnese. A treasure trove of extraordinary architectural and artistic beauty, it preserves centuries of elegance and ceremonial glamour, re-imagined to host the most solemn moments in the heart of Venice.
Guests may arrive directly by boat through the Gothic water gate, a dramatic and evocative gesture that recalls the timeless romance of travel between East and West and sets the tone for a stay that interlaces heritage, culture, and culinary excellence. Beyond the palazzo’s interiors, guests are invited to experience Venice through the lens of Orient Express, exploring the surrounding streets of Cannaregio, or discovering the city’s storied craftsmanship and artistic traditions.

Aline Asmar d’Amman’s aesthetic vision unveils the Palazzo through a refined interplay of contrasts and memories, intentional architecture, and poetic precision: bold gestures of interior architectural grafting are balanced with infinitely sophisticated details, painted frescoes meet sculptural forms, historical details infinitely reflect into tinted mirrored surfaces. An array of exquisite precious natural stones, meticulously curated and highly crafted, merge into the Palazzo’s architectural body, weaving moments of sensual wonderment in the most intimate spaces.

The “Lost Colors” or “Colori Persi” of Venice softly re-emerge, woven into textures and curtains, furnishings, and finishes, transforming the Piano Nobile’s historical salons into a succession of inhabited living canvases, punctuated by a bold intervention of vast cabinets of wonder. Venetian craftsmanship converses with contemporary art and works by masters of their time, while embossed leathers and moiré silks dress up the walls in echo to the ever-shifting dialogue of light and shadow dancing across the canals. Patinated walls, carved surfaces and artisanal finishes recall the passage of time, their textures lending a sense of modern, ageless allure.