Luxury Venetian palazzos with a Byzantine accent, art galleries and dolce vita…
Stéphanie Coutas treats us to a round-up of her favourite spots in the floating city.
Al fresco lunch with the family at the Aman Venizia Papadopoli
Where to stay: Aman Venice
Arrivée au Palazzo par le Grand Canal
“This luxury hotel by the Grand Canal is home to some spectacular frescoes, and the gardens offer gorgeous views of the city’s iconic façades. Every night spent at the Aman Venice is an exotic experience in itself.”
Nestled in the heart of Venice, this opulent and romantic 16th-century building has retained all the charm of the Papadopoli Palazzo. Tiepolo frescoes, gilded ceilings and leather wall coverings… The decor here in this palazzo is steeped in history and beautifully enhanced by the understated, contemporary interior design.
Aman Venizia – Papadopoli
Grand Canal, Venice
Where to eat: Harry’s Bar
“Harry’s Bar serves up the best vitello tonnato in Venice: to savour on the first floor for spectacular views over the Grand Canal.”
This historic Venice restaurant specialises in cocktails and was established in 1931 by Giuseppe Cipriani, who invented the world-famous Bellini here. The restaurant has a high-end brasserie feel and has become an iconic address. It was granted national listed monument status in 2001 by Italy’s minister for culture.
Calle Vallaresso,
1323, 30124 San Marco, Venice
Where to grab a coffee: the AMO restaurant
“Coffee aficionados can’t leave town without sampling an authentic Italian espresso to be savoured with a delicious pastry ordered at the bar. Get your caffeine fix while admiring the gorgeous Venetian theatre-inspired decor designed by Philippe Starck.”
The AMO restaurant lies at the foot of the Rialto bridge and is a joint venture by the Alajmo brothers and designer Philippe Starck.
AMO
Marco, 5556, 30100 Venice
https://www.alajmo.it/en/sezione/amo/amo
Where to find inspiration: the Venice Biennale
Australian Pavilion – Venice Biennale
“Art plays a key role in my work. It’s everywhere. On my travels, I seek out exhibitions and galleries and spend time with my artist friends. This year I was able to take my son to the Venice Biennale for the first time. I take pride in being able to share with him this inspiring passion that opens up the doors to so many different kinds of culture.”
A round-the-world tour of all the latest architectural trends, the Venice Biennale draws in over 100,000 visitors every year.
The Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition
from 16 May to 25 November 2018
Where to relax: Murano island
“The idea for the Murano glassware “Magical Rocks” came to me in the famous glass-blower workshops. Wandering through the island’s gardens, I soak up all the beauty and poetry of the place, drawing inspiration from the vibrant colours.”
Catch a vaporetto over to the island of Murano from the Santa Lucia railway station.
