Facade Details of the Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli
Renovated under the creative eye of architect and interior designer Aline Asmar d’Amman,
this building captures Venetian drama at its finest.
Frescoes from past ages span the walls, mosaic floors glimmer, and the blend of Neogothic and Baroque design testifies to Venice’s legacy as a cultural hub.
The facade itself is striking: seven intricately carved Gothic windows frame the building’s story.
According to Orient Express CEO Gilda Perez-Alvarado, this isn’t just another hotel—it’s a passage through centuries of grandeur.
Her press statement describes it as a place where guests experience memory, art, and emotion in motion, channeling the romantic spirit that defines Orient Express.
Arrival is an experience. Guests travel by private boat, entering through a 15th-century Gothic arch on the canal, slip through a hidden doorway into Santa Fosca’s serene garden, or step off Strada Nova into the welcoming courtyard.
Inside, the lobby stuns with a lofty wooden ceiling and sunlight streaming in.
The centerpiece—a bold octagonal staircase from the 1800s by Giovanni Battista Meduna (the mind behind Venice’s Ca’d’Oro and the original La Fenice)—is topped by a dazzling stone-and-glass vault.
Upstairs in the Piano Nobile, storied spaces await.
The Baroque-style Vittoria Ballroom was crafted for Princess Vittoria Farnese’s wedding in 1548; the Library of Cultures glows with lapis lazuli and gilded wood, and the Music Room echoes Venice’s golden age.
The property houses 47 refined rooms:
29 guestrooms, 16 suites, including six Signature Suites, plus two exclusive Orient Express Apartments. Those Signature Suites grace the Piano Nobile and first floor, while the apartments are set in a neighboring building with prime canal views.
The dining scene is equally impressive: a cozy fine dining spot with boat access, an all-day eatery overlooking the courtyard and an unexpected lush garden, and the nostalgic Wagon Bar—an homage to classic rail journeys.
Orient Express has more in store, with two sailing yachts set for launch in 2026 and 2027, plus plans to revive the historic Orient Express train across Europe’s scenic routes.
For a deeper look at the new Venetian hotel, check Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli.