A City That Never Stands Still: Venice’s Eternal Allure
Piazza San Marco
Venice isn’t merely a destination—it’s a state of being. A city suspended between sky and sea, where every marble column and fading fresco tells a story centuries old. To walk its winding alleys and drift its mirror-like canals is to inhabit a living museum, one where time folds elegantly into itself and romance feels embedded in the stone.
This June, Venice reclaimed its place as the stage for grand love stories. Lauren Sánchez and Jeff Bezos chose the floating city to celebrate their wedding with dramatic flair, hosting a three-day celebration on San Giorgio Maggiore. Couture flowed, candles flickered, and an entourage of global icons—from the Kardashian/ Jenner to Oprah Winfrey and Tom Brady—arrived in Venetian style, each water taxi a prelude to opulence.
The city itself became part of the ceremony, offering a backdrop of unapologetic theatricality. From Aman Venice’s frescoed salons to the industrial beauty of the Arsenale, every corner whispered of elegance renewed. Even in the echoes of luxury, Venice reminded us that its true grandeur lies not in excess, but in emotion—in being timeless, fluid, poetic.
As summer draws to a close, Venice once again takes centre stage with the Venice Film Festival (August 27–September 6), where red carpets unfurl beneath Renaissance skies and global auteurs showcase cinema's most evocative narratives. The Lido becomes a constellation of premieres, interviews, and moonlit celebrations—an ode to artistry both onscreen and off.
For those seeking culture beyond the cinematic, the city offers its own visual symphony: “Corpi Moderni” at Gallerie dell’Accademia, “Maria Helena Vieira da Silva” at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and “Tatiana Trouvé: The Strange Life of Things” at Palazzo Grassi, alongside the ambitious Architecture Biennale curated by Carlo Ratti, exploring how built space evolves through collective intelligence.
Venice, now and always, is a canvas for beauty in motion. Whether you arrive for love, for cinema, or simply to lose yourself in its elegant disarray, you leave with a part of its rhythm etched into your own.
Discover the 5 best luxury hotels in Venice handpicked by Luxury Endless
Aman Venice: Where Intimacy Meets Aristocracy
In the quiet elegance of San Polo, Aman Venice rises with restrained grandeur. Chosen by Lauren Sánchez and Jeff Bezos as their wedding retreat, this palazzo-turned-hotel embodies Venetian nobility with modern serenity. Murano chandeliers glint above quiet salons, while rabbit cappelletti is served alfresco under garden shadows—a culinary symphony in silk and stone.
The hotel’s soul lies in Palazzo Papadopoli, a 16th-century masterpiece floating just beyond the Rialto Bridge. Arrivals are pure cinema: guests glide in via the hotel’s gleaming Riva motorboat, docking at a jetty flanked by cerulean bricole. Inside, history whispers through frescoed walls and carved balustrades. The current owners, Count Giberto and Countess Bianca Arrivabene, still reside in the upper apartment, their five children trailing through centuries of legacy.
Each of the 24 suites—tucked within the palazzo’s original chambers—is entirely unique, preserving the bones of heritage while dressed in Aman’s minimalist poise
The Gritti Palace: A Velvet Masterpiece on the Grand Canal
Among Venice’s constellation of luxury hotels, The Gritti Palace continues to reign with unrivalled elegance. Nestled on the edge of the Grand Canal in a 15th-century palazzo, this icon of affability and refinement has been welcoming guests since 1895—but a $200 million revamp in 2013 ensured it feels anything but historic in the wrong way. Discreet modernity blends into layers of Rubelli fabrics, antiques, and priceless art, offering an experience that’s equal parts indulgent and intimately personal.
Service at Gritti is storytelling in action—from cocktails wheeled in on a martini trolley to the culinary poetry of chef Daniele Turco, whose castraure dishes (those elusive Venetian baby artichokes) are sublime. Guests glide through this silk-lined sanctuary with restorative facials in the spa, spins around the lagoon in a Riva Aquariva, and immersive cooking classes that taste like heritage.
And yet, the true enchantment lies just beyond the window—the Grand Canal shimmering in soft light, always reminding you: this isn’t just one of the world’s finest hotels, it’s perched in one of its most delicate and dazzling corners.
Palazzo Venart: Venice’s Whispered Secret
For those who seek Venice with reverence rather than spectacle, Palazzo Venart offers intimacy wrapped in velvet. Tucked behind a discreet courtyard just off the Grand Canal, this boutique gem combines contemporary artistry with classical soul. Sculptural installations nod to Venice’s storied past, while the atmosphere whispers of quiet luxury—an antidote to the orchestral glamour of the city’s grand dames.
Step inside, and you’re not just checking into a hotel—you’re inhabiting your own palazzo. The vibe is decadently private, serene, and decidedly insider. Guests are refined, unfazed by the obvious, and likely on their second or third visit to La Serenissima. The rooms evoke a Casanova’s lair—all tactile wallpapers, velvet-cloaked four-poster beds, and curated modern artwork that softens the space into reverie.
Nestled at the back of the Grand Canal, Palazzo Venart’s calm feels almost cinematic. And then there’s GLAM, the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, where upscale pastas and vibrant salads arrive with theatrical flair in a serene garden setting. It’s Italian cuisine refracted through haute imagination.
This is not Venice at a glance—it’s Venice distilled. For those who linger rather than rush, who wander the city’s art-laced corridors at golden hour, Palazzo Venart is where timelessness finds its most stylish echo.
Cipriani: A Palatial Escape Across the Lagoon
On the eastern tip of Giudecca Island, Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel floats into view like something from a Fellini dream—spacious, sun-drenched, and unmistakably glamorous. In a city renowned for its intimacy, Cipriani offers room to breathe. Each suite opens to lush gardens or tranquil waters, and for those who crave history at bedtime, its annex—a 15th-century palace—delivers Venetian reverence with dolce vita ease.
Arriving feels cinematic: a private launch from Piazza San Marco slices across the lagoon, revealing manicured lawns, vibrant blooms, and a jetty framed in elegance. The service is quietly impeccable, attentive without intrusion, like a whisper of luxury you never need to ask for. Facilities are peerless—from Venice’s only Olympic-sized pool to curated cooking classes, art workshops, tennis courts, and tailored tours that glide guests deeper into the city’s soul.
Cipriani isn’t just a hotel. It’s a world unto itself—one that pampers, restores, and reminds you that Venice isn’t just seen. It’s lived, beautifully.
The St. Regis Venice: Where Art and Elegance Converge
Perfectly poised on the Grand Canal, just steps from Piazza San Marco, The St. Regis Venice is a masterclass in modern glamour woven into historic grandeur. With its curated collection of contemporary art, avant-garde interiors, and sweeping canal views, the hotel feels less like a place to stay and more like a place to be seen.
Guests arrive in cinematic fashion—gliding across the water to a private jetty, greeted by the signature St. Regis Butler Service that anticipates every need with quiet precision. Inside, the atmosphere is a blend of Venetian romance and cosmopolitan edge: think Monet-inspired suites bathed in soft light, bespoke Murano glass installations, and the refined warmth of Ginori Terrace, where aperitivo hour becomes an art form.
Dining at Gio’s Restaurant is a sensory journey through Veneto and Puglia, while the Arts Bar offers cocktails as imaginative as the city itself. And for those seeking restoration, the Valmont Spa and Beautick salon provide indulgent escapes, all framed by views that feel lifted from a Canaletto canvas.
Whether you're sipping champagne during the sabrage ritual or designing a jewel in a private artisan workshop, The St. Regis Venice invites you to experience the city not just as a guest—but as part of its living, luminous story.
