The second-ever Orient Express hotel unveiled in Venice
- Kaitlyn Nicholas
- Aug 14
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 15
Orient Express is set to expand its hospitality portfolio in Italy with the upcoming opening of Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, a landmark property originally constructed in 1436 and attributed to master architect Filippo Calendario, the visionary behind the Doge’s Palace. Situated where two canals meet in the Cannaregio district, the 15th-century palace is scheduled to welcome guests in April 2026 and is now accepting reservations. Once the private residence of the Donà and Giovannelli families, it was later gifted to the Duke of Urbino.
The restoration has been led by architect and interior designer Aline Asmar d’Amman and her studio, Culture in Architecture, who have approached the project as both a preservation of heritage and a reimagining for contemporary hospitality. Original frescoes, mosaic floors, and carved stone details have been carefully revived, while new interventions bring light and spatial clarity to the interiors. The property’s octagonal staircase, designed in the 19th century by Giovanni Battista Meduna, remains a focal point, crowned by a vaulted ceiling of stone and glass.
The Piano Nobile, or main floor, will host the Vittoria Ballroom, first created for the 1548 wedding of Princess Vittoria Farnese; the Library of Cultures, decorated with lapis lazuli pigments and gilded woodwork; and the Music Room, recalling the gatherings of Venice’s golden age.
Palazzo Donà Giovannelli will offer 47 accommodations, including 29 rooms, 16 suites, and two of the first-ever Orient Express Apartments situated in an adjacent building — all positioned to overlook either the Rio di Noale canal or the property’s private gardens.
Culinary offerings will include an intimate fine‑dining restaurant with private boat access, an all‑day dining space overlooking the internal courtyard and gardens, and the Wagon Bar— a venue inspired by the brand’s rail legacy. If it follows tradition, it will echo the sociable spirit of the Venice Simplon‑Orient‑Express bar car: a place to meet fellow travelers over expertly crafted cocktails and live piano music.
Guests arriving on the La Dolce Vita Orient Express train can arrive at Santa Lucia Station and reach the hotel on foot or by boat.
Palazzo Donà Giovannelli’s arrival in Venice follows the recent opening of Orient Express La Minerva in Rome and forms part of the brand’s broader development strategy under the Accor Group in partnership with LVMH. Together with its luxury train experiences and future ventures, including the sailing yacht Orient Express Corinthian, the property represents a continuation of the brand’s heritage as an artisan of travel — combining architectural preservation, cultural narrative, and distinctive hospitality in one of the city’s most storied locations.
