Photos courtesy of Hotel Gritti Palace
Andrea Gritti, the 77th doge of Venice, spared no expense in building this stunning palace on Venice’s Grand Canal.
Born to a noble Venetian family at the height of Venice’s prosperity in the 15th century, he devoted much of his time with military concerns. He commanded Venetian troops against the emperor Maximilian. Later taken prisoner, he was sent to Paris, where he became great friends with King Louis XII, negotiating a pact with him. He sent troops to help defend the Pope when the Spanish-Austrian emperor Charles V invaded Italy.
Gritti also devoted his attention to beautifying Venice by building churches and palaces. Shortly before his death at age 84, he negotiated a (short-lived) peace treaty with the Turks.
Pamela’s Perspective
The most famous and most scrutinized hotel in Venice, the Gritti Palace continues to attract a billionaire clientele that come for the opulence, the service, and the inspiration of staying in one of Ernest Hemingway’s and W. Somerset Maugham’s favorite hotels.
Incidental prices and food prices are way over the top; you can do better outside the hotel. However, if you’re blowing the bank by staying here in the first place, why bother trying to economize?
Hotel Gritti Palace
A 15th-century palace
Contact
Campo Santa Maria del Giglio
30124 Venice
Tel: ++39 041 794 611
Hotel website
Reserve with Booking.com
Fast facts
91 rooms, including 9 suites
Double rooms: from 723 euros
Suites: from 1250 euros
Rates include tax and service
Open: all year
Getting there
The Gritti is located right on the Grand Canal. The vaporetto stop is “Santa Maria del Giglio.” If traveling by car, parking is at the Piazzale Roma.
What to do
Nearby: St. Mark’s Square and Basilica; the Accademia Museum; facilities at the Lido: golf, water sports, horseback riding, tennis
After a year-long restoration in 2012, the exterior and interior of this iconic Venice palace hotel sparkle brighter than ever.
Have you just hit the mega-lotto and wish a place to hide out? The Gritti is an island of peace and privacy in the middle of a magical city. Opulence and elegance is at every turn, and there are plenty of staff to bow and scrape at your every whim.
The feeling here is one of residing in a dignified nobleman’s home, Old World and polished. Antiques, flower displays, and gilt abound.
Sometimes in 5-star hotels the glitter and gilt stop at the reception area—not so here. Guest rooms are just as elaborate. Each is individually furnished with antiques, chandeliers, handcrafted boiserie (handcrafted wood paneling), gorgeous fabrics, and Verona marble baths.
Spacious corner rooms on the second and third floors have balconies with views overlooking the canal. Single rooms can be small.
A terrace on the Grand Canal side of the hotel is the perfect place to idle away time, watching the boat traffic pass by.
Something special
Great location on the Grand Canal