Slated to begin welcoming guests in April 2026, the Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli will be the second addition to the travel brand’s hotel portfolio, following the success of Orient Express La Minerva in Rome.
Housed within a 15th-century palazzo on Rio di Noale, just off Strada Nova, the 47-key property reimagines a Venetian legacy once visited by travelers on the original Orient Express route to Constantinople.
With architecture that fuses Neo-Gothic verticality, Baroque opulence, and classical harmony, the palazzo reflects the cultural intersections that define the city.
A journey through time
Paris-based architect and designer Aline Asmar d’Amman leads the restoration, drawing out layers of architectural drama as she revives original frescoes by Italian masters, mosaic floors, and carved Gothic windows.
The arrival is a journey in itself—only possible by private boat through a Gothic water gate or via a discreet entrance into Santa Fosca’s hidden garden.
Inside, a dramatic octagonal staircase by 19th-century architect Giovanni Battista Meduna (of La Fenice and Ca’ d’Oro fame) leads guests through layers of space and time.
The grandeur of Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli
On the main floor, soaring wood-beamed ceilings frame historic salons including the Vittoria Ballroom, originally designed for the 1548 wedding of Princess Vittoria Farnese, and the Library of Cultures, finished in lapis lazuli and gilded wood.
The Music Room, meanwhile, channels the golden age of Venetian salons, where art, intellect, and elegance once converged.
Of the 47 accommodations, six Signature Suites on the Piano Nobile and first floor capture the grandeur of Venetian nobility, while a separate wing introduces the inaugural Orient Express Apartments, which offer a more contemporary, residential approach to canal-side living.
Culinary experiences
The hotel’s culinary venues include an intimate fine dining restaurant with private boat access, an all-day courtyard café tucked into one of Venice’s rare gardens, and the Wagon Bar, a glamorous homage to the golden age of rail travel.
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