Palazzo Abadessa

If you're looking for a hotel that encapsulates all the artistic splendour and pomp of Venice, the Palazzo Abadessa is a wonderful choice. Located just near to the iconic Ca' d'Oro, in the heart of the city, this 16th-century palace has retained all of its artworks and charm, though with plenty of 21st-century luxury. Frescoed ceilings, authentic antique furniture, precious silk fabrics and important paintings by Palma il Giovane and the Tintoretto school create an atmosphere of exclusivity and privilege. Each room in this elegant hotel is a unique and precious jewel, in which the details have been chosen one by one with special care and passion – all rooms have 18th-century furniture, Murano glass lamps, antique mirrors and damasked silk wallpaper, while their ceilings are decorated with stuccowork and frescos dating back to soon after the construction of the building.

Each of the hotel's 13 rooms, in addition to being decorated in sumptuous style, has modern conveniences such as televisions, air-conditioning and Wi-Fi internet access; the en-suite bathrooms have either a bath or a shower. The property also boasts a series of especially grand and beautifully decorated communal rooms and salons, where you can sit and read, admire the original artworks, or enjoy a delicious breakfast. The hotel has a convenient private docking station on the canal, so you can arrive in true Venetian style, by gondola or water-taxi. Perhaps the property's greatest treasure, however, is its garden – the perfect place to idle away spare moments in quiet reflection, or, during the summer, have breakfast.

Palazzo Abadessa is situated in the heart of the city: just walk through the narrow streets and let your imagination transport you back to the Venetian golden age. Nearby you can find the Grand Canal, as well as the splendid Gothic Ca' d'Oro, today the home of the Giorgio Franchetti Art Gallery. Just a stone's throw away you will also find Campo Santa Sofia, from where you can take the characteristic gondola-ferry that crosses the Grand Canal and that will take you to the Rialto market, which is held next to the famous bridge.