Orient Express Hotel Opens in Restored Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, Venice

The Orient Express hotel has opened in the restored 15th-century Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in Venice's Cannaregio district, blending historic architecture with contemporary art and design. The property, owned by Arsenale Group since 2019, was renovated under the artistic direction of Lebanese architect and interior designer Aline Asmar d’Amman. The hotel features 47 rooms, suites, and residences, each with a distinct identity. The restoration preserved the palace's historical elements, including frescoes, an octagonal staircase with a celestial vault, and marble fireplaces, while integrating contemporary sculptures, mirrored surfaces, and Murano glass chandeliers. The lobby, once an open courtyard, is now the Corte del Conte lounge. The hotel also includes a secret garden with a restored fountain. The project took eight years and is described by d’Amman as a theatrical sequence of wonders. The palace previously hosted the 1847 IX Congress of Italian Scientists and was renovated in the mid-19th century by architect Giovanni Battista Meduna, known for restoring Ca' d'Oro.