Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, also known as Palazzo Donà Giovanelli, is a historic civil building in the Cannaregio sestiere of Venice, Italy, overlooking the Rio di Noale and Rio di Santa Fosca, near the Strada Nova and the Chiesa di Santa Fosca. Built around 1400, the palace is attributed to architect Filippo Calendario, known for his work on the Doge’s Palace, and exemplifies Venetian Gothic architecture with Renaissance and neo-Gothic elements added during later renovations. Historically associated with the Donà and Giovannelli families, as well as the Duke of Urbino, the palace has undergone significant alterations, notably by Giovanni Battista Meduna in 1847–1848. Currently under transformation into the luxurious Orient Express Hotel, set to open in 2025, the palace is a testament to Venice’s architectural grandeur and cultural heritage.
Palazzo Donà Giovannelli’s history spans over six centuries,
reflecting Venice’s mercantile and noble past. Constructed around 1400,
the palace is traditionally attributed to Filippo Calendario, a
prominent architect who contributed to the Doge’s Palace, though
definitive evidence is lacking. Its early ownership is not
well-documented, but by 1538, it was acquired by Francesco Maria I Della
Rovere, Duke of Urbino, indicating its status as a prestigious
residence. The palace later passed to Giovanni Battista Donà, a member
of the influential Donà family, known for producing three doges,
including Leonardo Donà (1536–1612). Financial difficulties forced Donà
to sell the palace to the Giovannelli family, who gave it its enduring
name.
The Giovannelli family, Venetian patricians, maintained the
palace through the centuries, overseeing significant renovations. In
1847–1848, architect Giovanni Battista Meduna, known for restoring the
Teatro La Fenice, radically altered the palace, symmetrizing its
asymmetrical Gothic façade, relocating the loggia, and introducing
neo-Gothic elements. These changes, described by venice.jc-r.net,
included demolishing a Gothic courtyard staircase and modifying the
canal-facing façades. Further renovations in the mid-20th century
adapted the palace for modern use, though details are sparse.
The
palace’s cultural significance grew in the 19th and 20th centuries. It
reportedly housed Giorgione’s painting La Tempesta (now at the Gallerie
dell’Accademia) and served as a filming location for the 1997 film The
Wings of the Dove, starring Helena Bonham Carter, based on Henry James’s
novel. In 2022, the palace was acquired by the Accor Group and Arsenale
S.p.A., who announced its transformation into the Orient Express Hotel,
designed by architect Aline Asmar d’Amman. This project, managed by
Currie & Brown and set to open in 2025, aims to preserve the palace’s
heritage while introducing luxury hospitality, marking a new chapter in
its storied history.
Palazzo Donà Giovannelli is a prime example of Venetian Gothic
architecture, with Renaissance and neo-Gothic modifications reflecting
its historical evolution. Located at the confluence of the Rio di Noale
and Rio di Santa Fosca, it boasts two canal-facing façades and a large
central courtyard, adapting to Venice’s unique urban and aquatic
environment.
Exterior
The palace’s architecture is defined by
its dual façades, which showcase distinct styles due to 19th-century
interventions:
Rio di Noale Façade: The primary façade, facing
the Rio di Noale, is a late-Gothic masterpiece, centered on a monumental
eptafora (seven-arched window), inspired by the Doge’s Palace’s loggia,
as noted by venice.jc-r.net. This eptafora, a rare feature, is flanked
by bifore (twin-arched windows) at the corners, adding symmetry and
elegance. The façade was originally asymmetrical, as depicted in a V.M.
Coronelli engraving, but Meduna’s 1847–1848 renovations centered the
loggia and added a window to achieve balance. The ground floor features
a water portal for boat access, with single arched windows (monofore)
reflecting Gothic simplicity. The façade’s stonework, with pointed
arches and quatrefoil tracery, embodies Venetian Gothic’s blend of
Byzantine and Moorish influences, as described by walksofitaly.com.
Rio di Santa Fosca Façade: Stretching approximately 40 meters along the
Rio di Santa Fosca, this façade is simpler, reflecting its secondary
role, as per Wikipedia. It combines Gothic, late Renaissance, and
neo-Gothic elements, with a prominent polifora (multi-light window) in
the main hall as its key feature. Meduna’s neo-Gothic pointed arches,
resembling those of Palazzo Genovese near Santa Maria della Salute, add
a 19th-century flourish. The façade’s mixed styles and perceived
neglect, with some areas appearing “abbandonata” (abandoned), as noted
in a Tripadvisor review, contrast with the Rio di Noale’s grandeur.
Rear Garden: A private garden at the palace’s rear, unusual for
Cannaregio’s dense urban fabric, provides a serene retreat, as
highlighted by travellermade.com. This garden, visible in satellite
views, will be a feature of the Orient Express Hotel, offering guests
canal or garden views.
Courtyard: The palace is planned around a
large central courtyard, accessed via a monumental portal, as described
by Wikipedia. Meduna’s 1847 renovations replaced a Gothic staircase with
an octagonal one, a distinctive feature that adds geometric interest.
The courtyard, once adorned with a Gothic stairway, remains a functional
and aesthetic heart of the palace.
The façades’ Gothic elements, such
as pointed arches and quatrefoil tracery, reflect Venice’s trade ties
with the East, as noted by walksofitaly.com, while Meduna’s neo-Gothic
additions align with 19th-century revivalist trends. The palace’s
location, 10 minutes from Venezia Santa Lucia station, enhances its
prominence in Cannaregio’s shopping district.
Interior
The
interior, currently under renovation for the Orient Express Hotel, is
characterized by its non-traditional layout and historical
modifications:
Layout: Unlike many Venetian palaces with a
central portego (grand hall), the piano nobile (noble floor) is
subdivided into numerous smaller rooms, as per Wikipedia. This design,
noted by venice.jc-r.net, reflects the palace’s adaptation to multiple
functions over time. The octagonal staircase, introduced by Meduna,
leads from the courtyard to the piano nobile, with two additional
traditional staircases providing access.
Decorative Elements: The
piano nobile rooms feature stucco work, fireplaces, and chests of
drawers, typical of Venetian noble residences, as described by
Wikipedia. Historical frescoes, mentioned by travellermade.com, will be
preserved in the hotel’s ballroom, adding to its opulence. The absence
of a portego suggests a more intimate, compartmentalized space, possibly
reflecting the Giovannelli family’s preferences or later subdivisions.
Orient Express Renovation: The ongoing transformation, designed by Aline
Asmar d’Amman, aims to create 47 rooms and suites, all with canal or
garden views, as per orient-express.com. The ground floor will house a
world-class restaurant showcasing local gastronomy, while the piano
nobile will feature an elegant ballroom for events. The design,
described as a “theatrical and contemporary art of living” by d’Amman,
blends the palace’s Gothic heritage with modern luxury, preserving
historical features like frescoes and stucco.
Condition: Prior to the
current renovation, the palace was described as “fatiscente”
(dilapidated) at the rear, with vegetation reclaiming parts of the
structure, per a Tripadvisor review. The 2024–2025 refurbishment,
managed by Currie & Brown, addresses these issues, ensuring compliance
with Venice’s strict heritage regulations, as noted by curriebrown.com.
The interior’s transformation into a luxury hotel, while preserving its
Gothic and Renaissance elements, positions Palazzo Donà Giovannelli as a
bridge between Venice’s past and future, as envisioned by d’Amman.
Palazzo Donà Giovannelli is a cultural landmark, embodying Venice’s
architectural innovation, noble patronage, and contemporary reinvention:
Architectural Heritage: The palace’s Venetian Gothic style, with its
eptafora and bifore, reflects the city’s trade ties with Byzantine and
Moorish cultures, as noted by walksofitaly.com. Its attribution to
Filippo Calendario links it to the Doge’s Palace, a symbol of Venetian
power, enhancing its historical prestige. Meduna’s 19th-century
neo-Gothic alterations align with Venice’s revivalist movements, seen in
structures like Palazzo Genovese.
Artistic Connections: The palace’s
reported housing of Giorgione’s La Tempesta, now at the Gallerie
dell’Accademia, suggests it was a center of Renaissance art, as per
travellermade.com. Its use as a set for The Wings of the Dove (1997),
directed by Iain Softley, adds a cinematic layer, with the palace’s
Gothic ambiance enhancing the film’s melancholic tone. These
associations elevate its cultural profile, connecting it to Venice’s
artistic legacy, home to figures like Titian and Tintoretto, who resided
in Cannaregio.
Noble Lineage: The Donà and Giovannelli families,
along with the Duke of Urbino, underscore the palace’s aristocratic
pedigree. The Donà family’s doges and the Giovannelli’s stewardship
reflect Venice’s patrician culture, akin to the Grimani or Contarini
families in palaces like Palazzo Grimani Marcello or Palazzo Contarini a
San Beneto.
Contemporary Revival: The Orient Express Hotel project,
announced in 2022, positions the palace as a global cultural
destination, as per accor.com. Aline Asmar d’Amman’s design, described
as an “encounter between two icons” (Orient Express and the palace),
draws on Venice’s East-West crossroads heritage, echoing the palace’s
Gothic roots. The project’s alignment with Venice’s UNESCO World
Heritage status, noted by curriebrown.com, ensures its preservation
while introducing luxury tourism, a priority for Arsenale S.p.A., per
CEO Paolo Barletta.
Cannaregio Context: Located in Cannaregio,
Venice’s largest and most populous sestiere, the palace is near cultural
gems like the Ponte delle Guglie, Chiesa dei Gesuiti, and the Jewish
Ghetto, as highlighted by travellermade.com. Its proximity to the Strada
Nova and Santa Lucia station integrates it into a vibrant shopping and
transit hub, contrasting with the quieter settings of palaces like
Palazzo Salvadori Tiepolo.
The palace’s blend of Gothic architecture,
historical significance, and modern transformation makes it a microcosm
of Venice’s cultural narrative, from medieval trade to 21st-century
luxury.
Palazzo Donà Giovannelli is currently closed to the public as it
undergoes a full refurbishment to become the Orient Express Hotel, set
to open in 2025, as announced by orient-express.com. Managed by Currie &
Brown and designed by Aline Asmar d’Amman, the project is a significant
undertaking, costing millions to transform the 15th-century palace while
adhering to Venice’s heritage regulations.
Accessibility: As of
June 2025, the palace is inaccessible due to construction, with no
public tours or events scheduled. Once opened, it will offer 47 rooms
and suites, a restaurant, and a ballroom, as per travellermade.com. The
hotel’s location at Fondamenta Trapolin, 2291, is a 10-minute walk from
Santa Lucia station, near vaporetto stops like Ca’ d’Oro (Lines 1, N).
External views of the Rio di Noale façade, with its eptafora, are
available from the canal or nearby bridges, drawing praise for its
“stupenda” Gothic design, per Tripadvisor.
Condition: Prior to
renovation, the palace showed signs of decay, particularly at the rear
and Rio di Santa Fosca façade, described as “fatiscente” with
encroaching vegetation, per Tripadvisor. The 2024–2025 refurbishment,
noted by curriebrown.com, addresses these issues, restoring frescoes,
stucco, and structural elements to create a “landmark in Venice,” per
Arsenale’s Paolo Barletta. The project’s focus on heritage preservation
ensures the Gothic façade and courtyard remain intact.
Visitor
Experience: Currently, visitors can only admire the exterior, with the
Rio di Noale façade’s seven-arched loggia earning accolades for its
beauty, as per Tripadvisor’s French and Italian reviews. The Rio di
Santa Fosca façade’s perceived neglect disappoints some, reflecting
pre-renovation conditions. Post-2025, the hotel will offer luxurious
accommodations, with canal or garden views, and a restaurant showcasing
Venetian cuisine, as per orient-express.com. The ballroom, with
historical frescoes, will host events, potentially attracting Biennale
visitors, given Cannaregio’s artistic vibrancy. Nearby attractions, like
Ca’ d’Oro and the Ghetto, enhance its appeal, as noted by
tripadvisor.com.
Cultural Role: The Orient Express project, launched
in 2022, positions the palace as a global hospitality icon, resonating
with Venice’s East-West heritage, as per accor.com. Its cinematic
history (The Wings of the Dove) and art connections (La Tempesta) add
cultural cachet, while the hotel’s opening during the 2025 Venice
Biennale could draw international attention, per curriebrown.com.
The palace’s transformation into a luxury hotel, while limiting
current access, promises to elevate its status, making it a destination
for travelers seeking history and elegance.
The palace’s preservation is central to its ongoing transformation,
managed by Currie & Brown under strict UNESCO World Heritage
regulations, as noted by curriebrown.com. The 2024–2025 refurbishment,
the first full overhaul in over three centuries, restores frescoes,
stucco, and structural elements, addressing pre-renovation decay
described by Tripadvisor reviewers. The project, costing millions,
balances heritage preservation with modern luxury, as per
orient-express.com.
Future prospects include:
Hotel Opening
(2025): The Orient Express Hotel, with 47 rooms, a restaurant, and a
ballroom, will open in 2025, coinciding with the Venice Biennale,
potentially drawing global visitors, as per accor.com. Its canal and
garden views and Venetian gastronomy will enhance Venice’s luxury
tourism, per travellermade.com.
Cultural Engagement: The hotel’s
ballroom and event spaces, featuring historical frescoes, could host
Biennale collateral events or cultural programs, following Palazzo
Flangini’s model. Aline Asmar d’Amman’s design, blending Gothic heritage
with contemporary elegance, positions the palace as a cultural icon, per
orient-express.com.
Climate Resilience: Venice’s rising sea levels,
mitigated by the MOSE flood barrier, remain a concern, as seen in
Palazzo Ferro Fini’s 2019 flooding. The renovation includes
flood-proofing measures, per curriebrown.com, ensuring the palace’s
longevity.
Digital Outreach: Post-opening, virtual tours or online
exhibitions of the palace’s history, like those of Palazzo Ferro Fini,
could engage global audiences, leveraging the Orient Express brand’s
prestige, per accor.com.
The palace’s transformation into a luxury
hotel, while preserving its Gothic and Renaissance elements, ensures its
future as a cultural and touristic landmark, fulfilling Venice’s legacy
as a crossroads of East and West.