Living theatre
In Venice – arguably the most romantic city in the world – the mythical and iconic Gritti Palace, A Luxury Collection Hotel embodies the city’s inherited traditions of beauty, art, culture, history and nobility. Housed within a 15th-century palace, the property presides over one of the most beautiful stretches of the Grand Canal, commanding spectacular views of the Santa Maria della Salute Basilica and located only steps away from Piazza San Marco.
The palace from which it derives its name was built in 1475, as the official residence of its namesake, Andrea Gritti – the then doge of Venice and a major patron of art and architecture. It was only converted into a luxury hotel in 1895 and purchased by Compagnia Italiana Grandi Alberghi in 1947, to which the Luxury Collection hospitality brand traces its roots. In 2013, the five-century-old palace was rebirthed with a new, polished grandeur, courtesy of a €35 million renovation.
In the present-day, the hotel’s sumptuous interiors by Donghia Associates, part of the iconic Venetian fabric house Rubelli, and beautiful terrazzo floors, become the backdrop to antique furniture, glass curlicues and ornate decorative mirrors. The hotel’s stunning art collection rivals that of any museum and has, as its prized possession, a recently acquired portrait of Andrea Gritti, masterfully painted by the renowned Titian. Aptly displayed over the fireplace in the Explorer’s Library, the portrait nestles among travel curiosities and rare books, all bearing testimony to the hotel’s incredible heritage and of a great Renaissance-era doge.
Accommodation comes in the form of 61 luxurious guestrooms and 21 sumptuous suites overlooking the canal. The Hemingway Presidential Suite (from €9,100/RM43,900 per night), is a tribute to the author who made Venice his home in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The room sprawls across 92sqm, with stucco walls and Hemingway’s club chair. Adjoining rooms and suites enables guests to have up to five interconnecting bedrooms to this presidential suite.
All rooms and suites are unique, and decorated in the grand style of a 15th-century Venetian palace – save for two suites which have more of a contemporary twist. Rich period colours, Venetian tapestries, handcrafted Girandole mirrors, Murano glass chandeliers and exquisite reproductions of rare Rubelli archival fabrics offer a visual treat. Bathrooms are composed of floor-to-ceiling Italian marble and stocked with Acqua di Parma amenities.
The famous Gritti Terrace – which overlooks the living canvas of the Grand Canal – continues to be the social hub of Venice. Its restoration recalls elegant wooden decks of vintage Italian yachts, with polished wood and gleaming stainless steel accents. This space is also shared with Riva Lounge, appointed with distinctive Aquarama chairs, bringing you back to the vintage Riva powerboats of the 1960s while you enjoy your pre-dinner aperitifs. Soon enough, the exquisite culinary creations of Club Del Doge Restaurant take centre stage for candlelit dinners amid the natural theatre of gliding gondolas and a glorious sunset bathing the Santa Maria basilica.
Mornings are well spent under the guidance of executive chef Daniele Turco. Enrolling in the Gritti Epicurean School, one can live the life of a Venetian chef by learning exceptional Venetian recipes starting with early morning visits to the Rialto market and discovering the secrets of purchasing the best seasonal products. And to really relax, Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Spa –one of two in all of Italy – provides indulgent massages and pampering beauty treatments after a day of exploring Venice’s hidden treasures.
