Unlike the other thousands of hotels that house the throngs to tourists that visit Venice, The Hotel Danieli is a bona-fide part of history
Truman Capote famously quipped in the 1950s that staying in Venice is like “eating an entire box of chocolates in one go.” It’s something that still rings true today.
Packed with shops selling Venetian masks, cicchetti (local tapas), gelato and prosecco; amid gondoliers traversing the city’s busy water highways, cutting between gothic and Byzantine architecture built upon a floating island; the city is an adult version of Disney Land.
Undeterred, 20 million tourists still flock to the city each year.
Aside from tourism, one of the most important sectors to swell in the city is its art industry. Described by New York art critic Jerry Saltz as the “most important” of art exhibitors in the world, the Biennale di Venezia sees the city showcase some of the best international art and architecture on alternating years.
Meanwhile, perhaps most famous of all, the Venice International Film Festival sees celebrities, producers, directors and delegates descend upon Venice each September, and book out –amongst others- The Hotel Danieli. Roger Moore, Steven Spielberg, Elton John and Sofia Loren are amongst the many stars to have stayed at the hotel.
Having been situated on the same spot since the late 14th century, the Danieli is the corporeal manifestation of Venetian beauty. In the 1500s it was built as the primary residence of the ruler of Venice, the Doge Dandolo.
As such, it is situated moments from St Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs – famously coined by Lord Byron, as the last view of Venice that prisoners would have upon being sentenced (I stood in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs; / A palace and a prison on each hand).
But beauty alone, of course, does not make the hotel functional for business travel. Despite its antiquity, the Hotel Danieli maintains a high standard of mod-con facilities.
The hotel has four meeting rooms with the capacity for up to 120 guests, supported by state of the art equipment and service facilities for working luncheons and gala dinners.
Meanwhile all guestrooms and suites feature the expected functionality of a five star hotel, including plenty of facilities that support business travel including high-speed Internet, laundry and shoeshine services, desk and multiple plug facilities.
The Restaurant Terrazza Danieli is worth a visit while staying at the hotel, offering a Mediterranean themed menu from breakfast through to dinner and panoramic views across the lagoon, the island of San Giorgio Maggiore and Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute.
Meanwhile for a slightly more quirky dining experience, the hotel has The Egg Nicola Batavia, a restaurant which Italian Michelin star chef Batavia designed around the concept of egg-inspired chicchetti.
Even if business takes you to Rome or Milan, a short flight to Venice is a worthwhile reason to extend your trip to Italy by a few days, and there is no finer place to do that then at the Hotel Danieli.
Doubles start from US$440 per night. For more information please visit danielihotelvenice.com.
