Venice prepares to welcome a new jewel to its crown as Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli opens reservations for its 47 rooms, suites, and apartments within this 15th-century palazzo. From April 2026, travellers will immerse themselves in a sanctuary where Venetian splendour converges with the timeless spirit of journey.
Situated along the legendary Orient Express route to Constantinople, this architectural marvel – blending neo-Gothic and Baroque grandeur – has been meticulously restored as a destination where history and emotion meet contemporary elegance. Nestled in Cannaregio, among Venice’s most authentic quarters, the palazzo occupies a privileged position at the confluence of two canals, its Gothic windows casting reflections upon the Rio de Noale like a scene from a Canaletto painting.
Originally built in 1436 by Filippo Calendario, master architect behind the Doge’s Palace, the noble residence now presents six signature suites and private apartments where historical legacy dialogues with modern design. Beirut-born architect Aline Asmar d’Amman has orchestrated a sensitive restoration – a theatrical yet poetic intervention that reveals original frescoes and mosaic floors while introducing contemporary artistry.
“More than a hotel, this is a journey through centuries of splendour,” remarks Orient Express CEO Gilda Perez-Alvarado. Indeed, the palazzo’s walls whisper tales of its past as the Donà and Giovannelli families’ residence before being gifted to the Duke of Urbino. Guests may arrive via private boat through a 15th-century Gothic watergate or through Santa Fosca’s secret garden – each entrance a prelude to the extraordinary.
The theatrical lobby, with its noble wooden ceilings, gives way to Meduna’s 19th-century octagonal staircase – a celestial masterpiece in stone and glass leading to the Piano Nobile. Here, the Baroque Vittoria Salon (created for Princess Vittoria Farnese’s 1548 wedding), the lapis lazuli-adorned Library of Culture, and the Music Salon revive Venice’s golden age of intellectual salons.
Culinary offerings include a fine-dining restaurant with private mooring, an all-day dining courtyard garden, and the iconic Wagon Bar – a tribute to the Orient Express’s golden era of rail travel. This is not merely accommodation, but an invitation to dwell within a living canvas of Venetian history.
