5-Luxe Airbnbs To Treat Yourself To Around Venice: Gorgeous Palazzo Suites To Whimsical-Chic Escapes
No one forgets their first glimpse of Venice. A floating city of 118 islands knitted together by over 400 bridges and Gothic opulence standing sentinel to the crush of over-tourism. The presenter, Philip Rosenthal of the popular travel series on Netflix, ‘Somebody Feed Phil’ muses on the episode of Venice about how some places are touristy because people love to return. As world travellers, we second the opinion. Venice is arguably one of the greatest cultural cities of the world, unique for its waterway engineering, gorgeous grand canal, Gondola rides, Vaporetto (water taxis), Murano glass, Cicchetti (Venetian tapas) crawl, Prosecco (Veneto’s signature sparkling wine) and the famous islands that surround it like a string of pearls.
Art connoisseurs would devote a day to Gallerie Dell’accademia, one of Europe’s greatest art museums that houses iconic works of Tintoretto, Carpaccio Giorgione and many other old masters of the time. But Venice doesn’t rest on the laurels of the past and ‘The Biennale’ is the coherent proof that brings the best of the world’s contemporary art to the island city every summer. For all the art lovers and patrons of the Biennale, DP has curated a selection of the best five luxe Airbnb’s around the floating city based on its reviews, location, and design.
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#1 A 17th-Century Restored Palace With Modern Comforts
Imagine a 17th-century palace dedicated to the collection of Venetian artist Giovanni Grimani. Currently, the only Renaissance Roman mannerist-inspired house has been converted into a luxury retreat for leisure travellers. Set on Venice’s Grand Canal, this beautifully restored apartment of Palazzo Grimani opens to a grand living and dining hall leading to a 21st-century modular kitchen and three gorgeous bedrooms filled with traditional brocades and Rococo-style pieces of furniture. While the interiors stand out with its intricate stucco walls, frescoed ceilings, terrazzo flooring, and period accents, its private balcony draws you to the views of the grand canal. The famous historic centre of St. Mark’s Square and the Peggy Guggenheim Museum are a short walk away. Each luxury Airbnb home comes with a trip designer who can help design a custom itinerary.
B&B: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths
Nearby Attractions: Next to the Grand Canal, Gritti Palace Hotel, St. Mark’s Square
#DP Loves The beautiful arched floor-to-ceiling windows draped in rich fabrics, pastel stucco walls, and antiques adding vintage glam to the apartment.
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#2 The Fashion Icon Hubert de Givenchy Pied-à-terre Is An Unmissable Luxe Cocoon
Hop over to a ‘vaporatto’ from Grand Canal that takes you to the artsy neighbourhood of Dorsoduro and step inside the former house of the fashion titan Hubert de Givenchy. This stylish three-bedroom apartment perched on the top floor of a gorgeous 16th-century building dons rich tapestry and handcrafted modern elegant pieces of furniture that mix well with contemporary modern decor. Elegant and air-conditioned, the apartment accommodates up to six guests. The interiors pay tribute to Audrey Hepburn, Givenchy’s friend and muse.
The most striking is the master bedroom adorned in a candy lemon yellow hue, adorned with elegantly framed black & white photographs of Hubert and Audrey wearing Givenchy hanging on these walls. The decor takes a retro vibe by introducing ruffles in the festoon blinds that dress the beautiful Venetian gothic ogee-arched ‘bifora’ windows of the room. A curved staircase leads to the next floor, where you’ll discover The Audrey Hepburn Room decked out in Colefax & Fowler’s French tapestry, personally chosen by Miss Hepburn and the all-white marble bathroom with a free-standing soak tub calls for a luxury bubble bath with champagne. The other bedrooms are just as stunning and radiate characters of their own.
Built beneath the eaves, the stylish and innovative open kitchen is ideal for cooking and partying with family and friends. On the same floor, a semi-private suite opens to a third luxurious sitting room which feels all snug and cosy decked out in a chic tapestry of nautical stripes. A charming roof terrace with stunning views of the city gathers guests over an Italian feast and aperitifs are part of the deal.
B&B: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths
Nearby Attractions: The Peggy Guggenheim Collection and the Punta Della Dogana Centre of Contemporary Art.
#DP Loves: The kitchen looks opulent in dazzling white and features cantilevered dining tables that run through the centre of the room.
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#3 A Luxury Retreat In St. Mark’s Square With Best Views Of The City
The shimmering mosaics of St. Mark’s Basilica feel close enough to touch from the balcony of this Venice apartment set in the main thoroughfare of St. Mark’s Square. The interiors strike a perfect balance of minimalist design and classic French elegance featuring parquet floors, an all-white modular kitchen, antique mirrors, classic French-style furniture and tall windows. The apartment displays relics and portraits from centuries-old Italian history with the modern elegance of its interior design.
This apartment features two bedrooms with queen beds with an ensuite bath and one shared access to the common hall area. The other two bedrooms include a twin bed and a trundle bed with one ensuite bathroom and the other has a shared bath. A stay in this apartment would also mean dropping by the iconic cafes of Gran Caffe Quadri and Caffe Floria to savour signature spritz, coffee or their wide array of cicchetti (Venetian-style small plates).
(Image Credit: Airbnb)
B&B: 4 bedrooms, 4 baths
Nearby Attractions: Bridge of Sighs, Doge’s Palace, Rialto Bridge, and Canale Grande
#DP Loves French accents and furniture characterized by feminine lines and ornamental detailing.
#4 A Black and White Classic Glam Pad Designed By Parisan Architects
Palazzo Cristo occupies a 16th-century building in the Campo Santi Giovanni, a canal-side square by the beautiful Gothic basilica. The architecture of the master apartment of Palazzo Cristo gets a mid-century modern facelift with a classic black and white palette by Paris-based designers Anna Covre and Frederic Tubau. A ten-minute walk from the bustling St. Mark’s Square and Rialto Bridge, this Airbnb apartment features two beds and baths.
Soaring ceilings and original wooden beams are kept intact post the restoration. The timeless monochrome palette lets elements shine like the marble-clad fireplace and kitchen. The first queen bedroom is conjoined with an open-concept bathroom and a standalone bathtub, rain shower and dual vanity. The second bedroom has an ensuite bathroom with shared access to the common hallway. The brick-walled private terrace with patio loungers acts as the much-needed sanctum for unwinding in the evenings with a glass of wine.
B&B: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths
Nearby Attractions: Basilica Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Rialto Bridge.
#DP Loves The dedicated office is set up in the open-concept living room that features a marble-top work desk and comfy chair upholstered with lustrous velvet.
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#5 An Antique FilledApartment Once Lived By The Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche
The neoclassical Palazzo Berlendis, once the residence of the philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche is now a luxe Airbnb apartment that looks out onto the Rio dei Mendicanti canal in Venice’s Cannaregio neighbourhood. A quick fifteen-minute stroll from St. Mark’s Square, this is the tranquil Jewish quarter of Venice, steeped in history, and come evening it is bustling with cafes and lively bars.
The 3,229-sq.ft apartment adorns many historic niches and spreads into three bedrooms and three baths around a typically Venetian portego passante, or central hall, along with an additional bathroom and kitchen. The traditional Italian architectural details are stunning – soaring ceilings, serliana windows that open incredible lagoon views, marble floors, frescoed walls, and antique furniture. The master bathroom boasts original mosaics from the 20th century by the Italian glass artist Napoleone Martinuzzi.
Dark wooden shelves in the hallway and rooms remind us to embrace the joy of unwinding with novels. A bibliophile haven, the apartment houses a home library where a stained-glass door opens to the terrace. The elegantly done, fully furnished terrace features a stone fountain adding to the outdoor aesthetics. An idyllic corner to enjoy a breezy evening with friends or soak up some fresh sunshine during the day. Everything here is pure bliss and to conclude, this rich-hued marvel of a place defines how Venetians lived and indulged in luxury back in time.
B&B: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths
Nearby Attractions: Piazza San Marco and St. Mark’s Campanile
#DP Loves: A floor-to-ceiling cabinetry-filled books and brocade-clad chaise in the master room create an inviting reading nook for culturists.
