Venice Getaways Guide, Elite Traveler

ESPA LIFE AT CORINTHIAHOTEL LONDON P. 12

GETAWAYSWINTER 2011/12

EXTERIOR / BAUER IL PALAZZO

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Top Suites of VeniceVenice’s best suites will take your breath away with lavish

period design, sumptuous comfort and spectacular views of

the serpentine waterways so definitive of this floating city.

BY SCOTT GOETZ

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BAUER IL PALAZZOGRAND PALATIAL SUITE

Key selling points | This suite’s rooms were

once the palace’s first-floor reception areas

where owners displayed their wealth to convey

influence and power to visiting nobility. It

boasts ceilings over 16 feet tall, eight Gothic

windows and a terraced balcony overlooking

the Grand Canal.

Standout service | The hotel created a private

traditional Venetian dinner in the suite for royal

couple Charles and Camilla.

Style | Ornate 17th-century Venetian luxury, by

Francesca Bortolotto Possati, 2000

Special amenities | Interiors rich with Bevilac-

qua and Rubelli fabrics, toiletries handmade

in Venice by Santa Maria degli Angeli, pillow

menu, 48-inch TV, bathrobes and slippers,

custom mini-bar with top wines and liqueurs,

petit fours made by the executive chef, fresh

fruit bowl replenished daily, water transfer to

and from the airport

Square footage | 1,076

Number of rooms in suite | Two

Number of bathrooms | Two

Number of rooms and suites in hotel | 72,

including 34 suites

Who’s slept here? | Elizabeth Taylor, the Prince

and Princess of Wales, Al Pacino, Queen Rania of

Jordan, Sting

Location | San Marco, 1413/D

Contact | Head of Reservations Davide Buccheri,

39-041-2703993; [email protected];

www.ilpalazzovenezia.com

HOTEL CIPRIANIDOGARESSA SUITE

Key selling points | Housed in the hotel’s 15th-

century Palazzo Vendramin and offering a unique

vista of the basin of San Marco through Gothic

windows, this suite defines lavish with 18th-cen-

tury Coromandel screens, antique Chinese lamps

and beautiful Rubelli and Fortuny fabrics. An airy

bedroom, complete with an elegant pink marble

bathroom, overlooks serene gardens.

Standout service | The hotel organized a Venetian

dinner in the suite with elements from the table

lace, glasses and masks made by artisans in

Venice. Three types of champagne accompanied

the menu, which was served by a waiter-actor—a

Casanova-like spy who silently transcribed each

dish onto parchment using a quill pen.

Style | Venetian elegance, by Gerard Gallet, 1990

Special amenities | Rivolta Carmignani linens,

32-inch Sony TV, Bulgari and Penhaligon’s bath

amenities, Murano glass lamps, champagne and

fresh fruit, chocolate heart mousse for two



Number of bathrooms | One


including 21 suites

Who’s slept here? | Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep,

Robert De Niro

Nightly rate | From about $8,116

Location | Giudecca 10

Contact | General Manager Giampaolo Ottazzi,

39-041-520-7744; [email protected];

www.hotelcipriani.com

BEDROOM / DOGARESSA SUITE

CAPTION

LIVING ROOM / GRAND PALATIAL SUITE

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HOTEL DANIELI, VENICE – A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL

SUITE DEL DOGE

Key selling points | This suite, located on the

noble first floor of the 14th-century Palazzo

Dandolo, boasts interiors rich in historic Venetian

splendor, including a ceiling fresco by Jacopo

Guarana (1720-1808) and original artworks by Er-

molao Paoletti, a renowned 19th-century Venetian

painter. Two large windows with balconies that

overlook St. Mark’s Basin afford an incomparable

view that stretches as far as the Lido and encom-

passes Venice’s most famous sights.

Standout service | A private violin concert ser-

enade was arranged in the atrium leading to the

suite for Wang Yeping, wife of the People’s Repub-

lic of China’s former president, Jiang Zemin.

Style | Gilded Baroque, by heritage CIGA archi-

tects with a soft upgrade by Starwood’s interior

design team, 1992

Special amenities | 52-inch Philips flat-screen

TV, BeoVision7 entertainment system, iPod

speakers, Murano glass chandeliers, Laura

Tonatto bath amenities, chocolates at turndown,

fresh flowers, Italian spumante, fresh fruit and

cheese plate replenished daily, complimentary

tickets to the Venice Biennale, Peggy Guggenheim

VIP membership card





including 19 suites

Who’s slept here? | Marcel Proust, Charles Dick-

ens, Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis, H.R.H.

Prince Albert of Monaco, Federico Fellini, Sophia

Loren, Henry Kissinger, Nicolas Cage, Angelina

Jolie, Leonardo DiCaprio

Nightly rate | From $3,562

Location | Riva degli Schiavoni, 4196

Contact | Hotel Manager Claudio Staderini, 39-

041-522-6480; claudio.staderini@starwoodhotels.

com; www.luxurycollection.com/danieli

CA’ SAGREDO HOTELTHE LIBRARY SUITE

Key selling points | This suite occupies the origi-

nal library of the Sagredo families’ 13th-century

palazzo and is the embodiment of period palatial

living with Grand Canal views. Accessed by the

palazzo’s impressive main stairway, its 17th-cen-

tury design features historic furniture and inlaid

double-wood doors.

Standout service | The staff filled a suite with

rose petals for a magical, fragrant proposal.

Style | 17th-century Venetian, by several Venetian

décor restoration experts, 2007

Special amenities | Murano glass lamps, com-

plimentary high-speed wireless Internet access,

flat-screen TV, Gilchrist & Soames bath ameni-

ties, VIP gifts by Ermenegildo Zegna, La Perla and

Burberry

Square footage | 646

Number of rooms in suite | One

Number of bathrooms | One and one half-bath


including 11 suites

Who’s slept here? | Galileo Galilei stayed in the

palazzo.


Location | Campo Santa Sofia 4198/99, Ca’ D’Oro

Contact | General Manager Lorenza Lain, 39-041-

241-3111; [email protected];

www.casagredohotel.com

SALON / SUITE DEL DOGE

Top Suites

BALUSTRADE / THE LIBRARY SUITEBEDROOM / SUITE DEL DOGE

VENICE

A stunning 14th century palazzo leaning majestically

on the banks of the Grand Canal, between Ca’

D’Oro and the ever-famous Rialto Bridge, Ca’

Sagredo Hotel is a sight to behold. Named a national

monument, this historic Venetian palace preserves

the beauty of an ancient noble residence, its

elegance and grandeur yours to indulge in and savor.

Important artworks from 17th- and 18th-century

Venetian painters grace the treasured ballrooms and

ornate guest rooms, skillfully and faithfully renovated,

so you feel as if you have literally stepped back in

time to a nobler era.

Ensconced in one of Ca’ Sagredo’s 42 rooms and

suites, you’ll enjoy picturesque views over the Grand

Canal, iconic roofs and vibrant squares of Venice, as

well as a unique, refined décor. Dine on exquisitely

creative, natural cuisine based on local Venetian

traditions at the hotel’s L’Alcova Restaurant, which has

a terrace on the Grand Canal and sources much of its

produce from Venice’s bustling Rialto Market.

Romantic, mysterious and unforgettable, Ca’ Sagredo

seduces its guests with a blend of cultural richness, five-

star luxury and pure, expert Italian hospitality.

Ca’Sagredo Hotel • Campo Santa Sofia 4198/99 Ca’ D’Oro, 30121 Venice, Italy • +39 041 24131111 • [email protected] • www.casagredohotel.com

Ca’ Sagredo HotelW h e r e d r e a m s o f V e n i c e u n f o l d b e f o r e y o u r e y e s

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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Top SuitesVENICE

LUNA HOTEL BAGLIONIGIORGIONE SUITE

Key selling points | Located on the hotel’s top and

fifth floor, this duplex suite overlooks Venetian

rooftops and the lagoon from a secluded altana

(wooden terrace) where guests can enjoy a

romantic dinner or cocktails. The suite’s first level

offers an elegant living room, dressed with silk

wall coverings, objets d’art and antique furniture,

while upstairs there’s a regal bedroom and Italian

marble bathroom with Jacuzzi.

Standout service | Hotel staff surprised a guest’s

young son on his birthday with balloons and a

cake prepared by the chef.

Style | Refined Venetian with olive green and

gold accents, by Baglioni Hotels’ in-house design

team, 2008

Special amenities | Ortigia bath amenities, iPod

docking station, fireplace in the living room, com-

plimentary Internet access, Jacuzzi, unpacking

and packing service, two complimentary garment

pressings, multilingual concierge available

around the clock, free local calls

Square footage | 753, plus 377 of outdoor space




including 22 junior suites and 15 suites

Who’s slept here? | Neil Armstrong, Sean Connery,

Patrick Swayze, Michael Douglas, John Travolta,

Van Halen, Andrea Bocelli, Elton John, Prince Rain-

ier of Monaco, the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela


Location | San Marco, 1243

Contact | Hotel Manager Gianmatteo Zampieri,


www.baglionihotels.com

PALAZZINA GGRAND CANAL SUITE APARTMENT

Key selling points | This intimate 15th-century

Venetian palazzo suite offers guests magnificent

views of the Grand Canal and the Palazzo Ca’

Rezzonico. The sleek modern design is rather

light and playful—refreshing in Venice—featuring

custom-made furniture by Philippe Starck, plus

travertine and mosaic details.

Standout service | The chef will craft a meal

inspired by the personality of a guest, who will

be able to witness the special custom meal come

together in the show kitchen.

Style | Modern Venetian chic, by Philippe Starck,

2009

Special amenities | Luxurious linen sheets,

complimentary high-speed wireless Internet, flat-

screen TV, large bathtub, 100 percent natural bath

amenities, regular sized bottles in the mini-bar,

welcome bottle of Krug champagne



Number of bathrooms | One


including six apartment suites

Who’s slept here? | Johnny Depp


Location | San Marco, 3247

Contact | External Relations, Sales and Marketing

Manager Simona Veronesi, 39-041-528-4644;

[email protected]; www.palazzinag.com

LIVING AREA / GRAND CANAL SUITE APARTMENT

PRIVATE TERRACE / GIORGIONE SUITE

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VENICE Elite Activities

Romance and NightlifeWinter in this City of Love beckons couples with wispy fog and mysterious grey skies, while popular haunts offer plenty a place to unwind, socialize and mingle the Venice way.

My Little Swans: Let My Little Swans arrange a full lover’s day beginning with the Romance Ritual in the Casanova Wellness Center’s couple’s suite at Hotel Cipriani. Indulge in a body scrub, rose petal bath and massage, then head up to the Dogaressa Suite in your robes where the butler pours cham-pagne. Lunch is long; take breaks to enjoy the lagoon and views of St. Mark’s through Gothic windows. By sunset you’re on the gondola sipping more champagne while drifting under the Bridge of Sighs and into the labyrinthine waterways where tourists are rare and locals add ambience. The only sound is the lapping of the water and the serenade of the gondolier (this one sings well). End the day with a private Teatro La Fenice tour.Contact: My Little Swans Travel Advisor Ana Maria Pickens, (650)

766-2658; [email protected]; www.mylittleswans.com

CAFFÈ FLORIAN: When Venetian merchants discovered

coffee from the Turks a mass importation of the bean started

a 17th-century Starbucks-style boom in Venice. The oldest

Venetian coffeehouse in continuous operation, Caffè Florian

opened its doors in 1720 under the name Venezia Trionfante,

meaning triumphant Venice. Casanova, Byron, Goethe, Proust

and Dickens all lounged and gazed onto the pigeons in the

piazza from this ideal location on St. Mark’s Square. Today the

progressive café plays host to discerning clientele who come

for cocktails, contemporary art exhibitions, cultural events and

live music performances.

Contact: Marketing and Communication Manager Silvia Zanella,

39-041-520-5641; [email protected]; www.caffeflorian.com

Harry’s Bar: Tourists descend upon Harry’s in droves to sip Bellinis and dine in the legendary bar that invented the champagne and peach cocktail. But those who come expecting the world’s best Bellini without observing the café society essence thriving all around them, are missing the point. This welcoming ambi-ence—as much as the good food and the Bellinis—attracted Ernest Hemingway, Charlie Chaplin, Orson Welles and Peggy Guggenheim, and it’s what keeps the bar going today. Harry’s greatness is the sum of its parts, and if you’re going in for just for one aspect, you’ll miss out on the true Harry’s Bar experience. Contact: Managers Claudio Alzetta and Elvio de Marchi, 39-041-528-5777;

[email protected]; www.cipriani.com

CAFFÉ AURORA: Located right in Piazza San Marco, Caffé Aurora has a dual identity— typical Italian café by day and hip

bar by night. Locals flock here in the evening when Aurora

transforms into a cool lounge with DJ sets where guests enjoy

the view of Basilica San Marco while sipping drinks on the

square. Young, stylishly hip artists share their tables and mix

with sexy Europeans. In the afternoon DJs spin electro sounds,

which helps keep fanny-packing tourists from crashing the vibe.

Contact: Manager Maraz Alam, 39-041-528-6405

STAR SERVICE / CAFFÈ FLORIAN

DOGARESSA SUITE / HOTEL

CIPRIANI

Villa e Palazzo Aminta HOTEL BEAUT Y & SPA

Enjoy la dolce vita in perfect style, luxury and comfortOn the shores of Italy’s Lake Maggiore, Villa e Palazzo Aminta

offers a luxurious, verdant hideaway where you’ll be able to truly

unwind and recharge your body and soul in one of the world’s

most exclusive lakeside retreats. Overlooking the enchanting

Borromean Islands, this spectacular Leading Hotel of the World

in Stresa is focused on warm welcomes, superb service and

making guests feel at home for the length of their stay.

Visually, the hotel is stunning, the picture of ornate elegance.

All guest rooms and suites are beautifully and individually styled

with original frescos, marble whirlpool baths and fresh flowers.

Guests seeking the ultimate indulgence opt for the Liz Taylor

Suite, whose breathtaking terrace faces the sparkling lake.

Follow in the footsteps of glamorous duo Liz Taylor and Richard

Burton, who in 1966 chose Villa Aminta for a heady, passionate

getaway, and be sure not to miss out on the five-star pampering

experience at the Palazzo Aminta Beauty & Spa, Lake

Maggiore’s top spa destination.

Villa e Palazzo Aminta Hotel Beauty & SpaVia Sempione Nord 123, Stresa, Lago Maggiore, ItalySales Contact Alice Vietti +39 0323 933 [email protected]

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DINING

Annotated Dinner, an Evening of Venetian Cuisine at Fiaschetteria Toscana: Gastronomes and foodies around the

world know Venetian cuisine to reflect the complex,

interwoven traditions of the city, which stands at the

gateway between East and West, halfway between

land and sea. During this four-hour dining experi-

ence in a former Tuscan wine shop, a local gastro-

nomic expert and sommelier guides guests through

an epicurean adventure in one of Venice’s best but

very traditional restaurants, Fiaschetteria Toscana,

whose specialties include Frittura alla Serenissima,

a savory tangle of fried seafood and vegetables, and

moeche (softshell crab).

Contact: Context Travel Regional Manager for Italy

Jessica Stewart, (215) 240-4347;

[email protected]; www.contexttravel.com

Contact: Restaurant Owner Albino Busatto


www.fiaschetteriatoscana.it

L’Alcova Restaurant: After a stroll through

the famed fish market, cross over the Rialto Bridge

to L’Alcova Restaurant inside the Ca’ Sagredo

Hotel. Chef Josef Klostermaier, lauded for his

original inspirations based on traditional Venetian

technique, continues the immersion into Venice

with a culinary journey drawn from what’s fresh in

the Rialto Market. Enjoy delights like tiger prawns

or risotto with vegetables from the gardens of

Sant’Erasmo Island. If weather permits, book a

table on the terrace for commanding views of the

Grand Canal.

Contact: Ca’ Sagredo Hotel General Manager

Lorenza Lain, 39-041-241-3111; guestrelations@

casagredohotel.com; www.casagredohotel.com

Da Fiore: Mick Jagger, Tom Cruise and Johnny

Depp have all dined in the wood-paneled main

room of this Michelin-starred restaurant, consid-

ered by many to be Venice’s best. Owner Maurizio

Martin oversees the floor while his wife Mara pre-

pares such signature dishes as pappardelle with

saffron and oysters, and branzino wrapped in

tender cabbage leaves, steamed and served with

stewed apples and 35-year-old balsamic vinegar.

Cooking classes have become a destination delight

for globetrotting foodies.

Contact: Owner Maurizio Martin, 39-041-721308;

[email protected] or [email protected];

www.dafiore.net

Met: The gastronomic games played by chef

Corrado Fasolato’s cutting-edge laboratory-

kitchen at the two-Michelin-star Met have made

this restaurant inside the Hotel Metropole a

must-book. Trained under Spanish chef Ferran

Adria, Fasolato spins new dishes out of local tra-

dition. Here, cuttlefish ribbons replace the pasta

in the classic carbonara (spicy egg and bacon)

dish, and sweet-and-sour marinated sardines

become a delectable assemblage of breaded

baked anchovies, lightly pickled onions and bal-

samic gelato.

Contact: Manager and Chef Corrado Fasolato,


www.hotelmetropole.com

Osteria Alle Testiere: This tiny restaurant

used to be the secret hideaway for artists during the

Venice Biennale and Film Festival. Since word got

out, the owners do two seatings, but still turn away

diners eager for the hottest culinary tickets in Ven-

ice. Chef Bruno’s quality handmade gnocchetti with

granceole (local spider crab) and taglioni with rana

pescatrice (monkfish) cheeks are standouts. Choose

a 9:30pm seating for a more relaxed meal.

Contact: General Manager Luca Di Vita,


www.osterialletestiere.it

Al Covo: Since opening its doors in 1987, this

small brick-walled restaurant near Riva degli Schi-

avoni with chef Cesare Benelli at the helm has at-

tracted foodies from around the world who enjoy his

wondrous fish-studded menu. Popular with locals

and visitors alike, it offers simply prepared honest

cooking. Expect a table loaded with, when in season,

fried baby artichokes, plates of broiled baby scal-

lops and razor clams, cuttlefish braised in ink and

fried baby red mullet.

Contact: Owner Cesare Benelli, 39-041-522-3812;

[email protected]; www.ristorantealcovo.com

Local chefs and designers alike draw on the region’s rich traditions and resources to deliver

dishes, fashions and decorative pieces that sing Venice’s praises.

Dining and Shopping

VENICE Guide

INSTANT CHARMER / AL COVO

Via del Gianicolo 4 • 00165 • Rome • Italy Tel: +39 06 66544454 Fax: +39 06 66544396

[email protected] www.gran-melia-rome.com

The Gran Meliá Rome offers a unique experience: the charm of antiquity mixed with the luxury of modernity. The Hotel enjoys a privileged location, along the Tiber’s banks on the Janiculum Hill, in the heart of the cultural and entertainment district of Rome.

116 rooms and suites, all luxuriously appointed in an avant-garde style with classic luxury. An exclusive restaurant concept with multiple rooms where guests can enjoy Mediterranean meals created by one of Italy’s leading chefs, together with a drink at the bar. In an extensive private park of 80,700 sq ft the hotel offers a restaurant, a roof terrace with 360˚ of breathtaking views, a hydromassage pool, a swimming pool and a pool bar. YHI Spa, contemporary relaxation zone, sauna, steam bath, vitality pool, 4 double treatment rooms and a coiffeur salon enrich this exclusive property beyond compare.

Timeless luxury with avant-garde flair

VENICE Guide

SHOPPING

Private Artisans Tour: Cristina Gregorin,

co-author of the acclaimed Venice Master Artisans,

takes you on a guided excursion to discover the city’s

hidden private workshops that are generally closed

to the public. Visit a bookbinder who works from a

16th-century palace in Castello, a gondola workshop

in San Trovaso and the workshops of Bevilacqua,

home to artisans who use 18th-century looms to pro-

duce velvets and brocades for such fashion houses as

Gucci and Cavalli. This shopper’s delight is offered to

Mr & Mrs Smith GoldSmith members.

Contact: GoldSmith Consultant Katie Edwards,

44-208-987-5185;

[email protected];

www.mrandmrssmith.com/members

Giovanna Zanella: For 13 years artisan

Giovanna Zanella has crafted quirkily colored, bi-

zarrely shaped shoes in this shop, and she has been

praised by fashion magazines for her surreal inspi-

rations. All of her shoes are works of art executed

to perfection, whether they are sculpted to look like

bare feet, cobra heads or blooming flowers. Choose

your shoe from examples on her shelves, and your

custom pair will be made to the specifications of the

foot measurements she takes in the store. Expect a

two-month lead time and art gallery prices (women’s

shoes range from about $700 to $1,260 and men’s

from about $980).

Contact: Owner Giovanna Zanella, 39-041-523-5500;

[email protected]; www.giovannazanella.it

Seguso Gianni & Co.: This glassworks

studio on the Island of Murano specializes in fully

custom creations for many top architects’ and de-

signers’ high-profile projects. Founded in 1982 by

maestro Gianni Seguso, the studio’s production array

is vast, ranging from classic Venetian, Murano and

Ca’ Rezzonico chandeliers to experimental objects

for modern settings. Wander the workshop loaded

with samples and watch blowers mold and shape

their glass before designing your one-of-a-kind piece

with a workshop master.

Contact: Owner Gianni Seguso, 39-041-739005;

[email protected]; www.seguso.it

Antica Legatoria Piazzesi: Venice’s old-

est paper shop still stands in the same place it was

founded over 145 years ago. Although it is undergo-

ing renovation to keep up with modern times, it still

delivers superior-quality handmade stationery and

books. A favorite shop among locals and visitors in

the know, the elegant atmosphere, replete with his-

tory and culture, offers refined desk accessories,

books, albums, notebooks and calendars so exqui-

site that browsing becomes serious pleasure.

Contact: Manager Lavinia Rizzi, 39-041-520-1978 or


www.legatoriapiazzesi.it

Ca’ Macana: If it’s a mask you’re after, head

to Ca’ Macana, the workshop that made many of the

classic masks for Eyes Wide Shut. Masks and the art

of mask making once had great significance in Ven-

ice, but after the fall of the Venetian Republic, the

art all but disappeared. The owners of Ca’ Macana

researched, discovered and helped resuscitate the

very nearly lost art of Venice. The workshop/store of-

fers many different styles; most are papier-mâché,

100 percent handmade and come with authentication

that each step of the process strictly respected the

tradition of the ancient Venetian mask makers.

Contact: Manager Mario Belloni, 39-041-277-6142;

[email protected]; www.camacana.com

Attilio Codognato: The jewelry house of

Attilio Codognato, known for Baroque blacka-

moor brooches, serpent rings and gem-encrust-

ed skulls, draws a high-profile clientele (includ-

ing Nicole Kidman and Anna Sui) to the dark

side with its precious jeweled goth-glam pieces.

Though fourth-generation Attilio Codognato does

not design the famed settings that attracted the

likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Coco Chanel, he con-

tinues to reissue and sometimes update three

generations of memento mori that have come to

earn cult status among today’s artists, fashion

figures and movie stars.

Contact: Owner Attilio Codognato, 39-041-522-5042;

[email protected]; www.attiliocodognato.it

GOLDEN BEAUTY / SEGUSO GIANNI & CO.

MASK MANIA / CA’ MACANA

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Venice Getaways Guide, Elite Traveler

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