In the heart of Venice’s Cannaregio district, a forgotten noble palace has reemerged — not simply as a hotel, but as a voyage through centuries of opulence, culture, and emotion. The newly opened Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli is more than a stay — it’s a return to the golden age of travel, where history dances with design and every corner whispers a story.

Once a private residence for the illustrious Donà and Giovannelli families and part of the original Orient Express route to Constantinople, this 15th-century Venetian palace has been transformed into a cultural sanctuary. From the moment guests arrive — whether by private boat through a Gothic portal or via a hidden garden entrance — they enter a world where memory, artistry, and timeless glamour converge.

Visionary architect Aline Asmar d’Amman leads the palace’s extraordinary rebirth, restoring frescoes, reviving gilded ballrooms, and crafting a space where Neogothic elegance meets Baroque extravagance. Every inch tells a story: the octagonal staircase, added in the 1800s, spirals upward toward a celestial stone vault. The shimmering Vittoria Ballroom, created for a royal wedding in 1548, glows with historic grandeur. The Library of Cultures, dressed in lapis lazuli and gold, and the ornate Music Room echo the intellectual vibrancy of Venice’s golden age.

The 47 rooms and suites — including six Signature Suites and two private Orient Express Apartments — blend Venetian heritage with contemporary sophistication. Canal views, hand-restored mosaic floors, and the rhythm of light and shadow create an atmosphere as regal as it is serene. Prices start at €1,320 per night, with Signature Suites reaching €20,000.

Dining, as always with Orient Express, is an experience in itself: an intimate fine dining restaurant with boat access, an all-day space overlooking a tranquil garden (a rare treasure in Venice), and the Wagon Bar — a sleek homage to the brand’s legendary rail roots.

Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli is not just a new hotel — it is a soulful destination that bridges centuries, reawakening Venice’s romantic past for today’s curious and cultured travelers. As CEO Gilda Perez-Alvarado says, “It’s a transformative voyage rooted in the poetic vision of Orient Express.”