Palazzo Giovanelli e Gran Canal Venice

The Palace Giovanelli, splendidly overlooking the right bank of the Grand Canal in Venice, between the Church of San Stae and Ca’ Pesaro, has witnessed several centuries of history.

Erected in the 1500s as noble residence of the Coccina Family, it first passed into the hands of the Foscarini and then of the Giovanelli, hosting a series of eminent personalities: in the 1700s it was the abode of Marco Foscarini, future Doge of the Republic of Venice, of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, on his visit to the city with his family, and Frederik Christian IV, King of Denmark.

The elegant architecture, rich in polychrome marbles, and the sumptuous interiors of Palazzo Giovanelli, enhanced by vintage frescoes and decorations, invite to relive and savor the splendors of the Venice history comforted by the amenities of modernity.

Nowadays the palace is Hotel Palazzo Giovanelli, a charming, high-class 4 star hotel, that offers refined, cozy Rooms and Suites and sophisticated services: from the reception open 24 hours a day to private transfers, from the American bar to the meeting room and free tours to Murano.

THE HISTORY
Palazzo Foscarini Giovanelli takes with it a prestigious past and a magniloquent charm of which large traces still remain today. Built in the mid-1500s according to the will of the Coccina family, jewelry dealers, in 1581 it is sold to the Florentine family of Luca Antonio Giunta and later, following the wedding between Lucrezia and Bianca Giusta and siblings Nicolò and Renier Foscarini, is inherited by the Foscarini, an ancient noble stock from Venice.

In 1755 the palace is granted to the Giovanelli, a family originally from Bergamo. In those years it is abode of illustrious personalities: besides Marco Foscarini, future 117th Doge of the Republic of Venice, in 1709 the palace welcomes within its walls the King of Denmark, Frederik Christian IV, and in 1771 the family of Leopold Mozart with his fifteen-year-old son Wolfgang Amadeus, the great music genius.

Within the palace are still admirable – perfectly kept in their beauty and restored under the supervision of the Soprintendenza delle Belle Arti di Venezia – original ceilings with exposed beams, frescoed wall rose windows with mythological figures by Giovanni Battista Zelotti, sixteenth-century stuccos and decorations, as well as a XVIII century secret passage in the apartment once belonged to the Doge, today exclusive Suite.

LOCATION
Located between Cà Pesaro and the Church of San Stae, directly overlooking the Grand Canal, the Hotel Palazzo Giovanelli is in Venice, in the Santa Croce area. In a quiet, peaceful position, it makes it possible to reach easily and in a few minutes by foot or by vaporetto St Mark’s Square (1,3 km away from the Hotel), with the splendid St Mark’s Basilica and the fascinating Doge’s Palace, the Rialto area with the well-known Rialto Bridge (only 600 m from the hotel), the bacari and its famous market and the most evocative places in Venice.

In the proximity of the Hotel there are the Venice Casino, the prestigious Ca’ D’Oro with Galleria Franchetti and some of the most renown Civic Museums of Venice, like the Modern Art Museum and the Oriental Art Museum of Ca’ Pesaro, the Museum of Palazzo Mocenigo and the Natural History Museum of Venice in Fondaco dei Turchi.

The Hotel is at a 10-minute walk from the “Venezia Santa Lucia” railway station and at only 20 meters from the vaporetto stop, with which it is possible to reach quickly St Mark’s Square.

ROOMS & SUITES
A refinement suspended between charm of the past and contemporary modernity, with classy details and privileged view on the Grand Canal: at Palazzo Giovanelli every room is unique and special.

The Rooms and Suites have comfortable spaces and contemporary style, first-quality amenities and valuable finishes. Large and wonderfully furnished, the most exclusive Suites are enhanced by original XVI century frescoes and stuccos, Murano glass chandeliers, canopy beds and ceilings with exposed beams.

SUITE MOZART
Royal and sumptuous, with exclusive spaces and pieces of furniture, the suite pays a tribute to its most illustrious guest – the genius of music Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – who stayed here with his family on occasion of his visit to Venice.

Refurbished under the care of Soprintendenza delle Belle Arti di Venezia, the Suite stands out for its warm colors, elegant lines and valuable materials: it boasts a canopy bed, high ceilings with sixteenth-century exposed beams, magnificent Murano glass chandeliers and splendid rose windows with mythological figures frescoed by Zelotti.

The Suite covers an area of 85 sq. m. and is available with double bed or twin beds and possible additional bed/s up to a maximum of four people. The entrance of the room is preceded by a welcoming sitting room.

From the seven balconies of the sitting room you’ll enjoy a wonderful view on the Grand Canal. The bathroom comes with whirlpool tub and separate shower stall, bathrobes, slippers and exclusive vanity set. To add comfort and modernity you have free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning/heating, satellite LCD TV, radio, alarm, minibar.

SUITE DOGE FOSCARINI
Luxurious and royal, very spacious and rich in amenities, fascination and vintage details, this suite is the apartment where Doge Marco Foscarini, second to last Doge of Venice, lived in the XVIII century.

Because of its high historical and artistic value the environments of the Suite – among which the secret passage – have been carefully restored under the supervision of Soprintendenza delle Belle Arti di Venezia.

The Suite is made magniloquent by a lavish canopy bed, a vintage fireplace, stuccos, mirrors and original sixteenth-century decorations as well as elegant pieces of furniture, fabrics and upholstery by Rubelli and an amazing view on the Grand Canal.

The Suite, with an area of 65 sq. m., available with double canopy bed or twin beds with possible additional bed/s, is flanked by a relaxing sitting room dedicated to the Doge’s greatest passion: the collection of rare manuscripts. Right here, immersed in quietness, the Doge used to retire in solitude to devote himself to reading.

The large bathroom has whirlpool tub and separate shower stall, as well as hair-dryer, bathrobes, slippers, shaver socket and special vanity set with non-allergic products. The Suite also offers free high-speed Wi-Fi, satellite LCD TV, air-conditioning and heating, radio, alarm, minibar.

DELUXE ROOM
Especially airy and splendidly furnished, distinguished by elegant furniture and valuable finishes, also with sixteenth-century original decorations and vintage exposed beams, the Deluxe Rooms are an exclusive invitation to ease and comfort.

With a large size (30-38 sq. m.), they are available as double or twin bedrooms, with possible additional bed to accommodate up to a maximum of three people. Each room also has a relaxing living area with small table and armchairs, desk and private bathroom.

The equipment is modern and fully-fitted: available free high-speed Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, heating, flat screen TV with satellite channels, radio, alarm, digital safe, minibar. The bathroom has tub/shower or – on request – separate shower stall, vanity set by exclusive brands, hair-dryer and shaver socket.

During the booking phase you can select a Deluxe Room with view on the inner garden of the palace or, to make your stay even more pleasant, a Deluxe Room with side view on the Grand Canal or on Rio di San Stae. On request it is possible to reserve a Deluxe Room with garden view connected to a Superior Room with garden view.

SERVICES
The Hotel offers a wide series of exclusive services and treatments to delight you and make sure you can enjoy a comfortable, relaxing stay. A professional, willing staff is committed to take care of any detail providing you with assistance before your arrival.

CURIOSITIES
Palazzo Giovanelli has many curiosities and events to tell to its Guests. Noble residence of some of the most illustrious families from Venice – the Coccina, the Foscarini and the Giovanelli – during its story it was dwelling of well-known personalities, among which Doge Marco Foscarini and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – to which the most prestigious Hotel’s suites are dedicated – and Frederik IV, King of Denmark.

An illustrious resident of the Palace was Marco Foscarini, second to last Doge of the Republic of Venice, who stayed with his family during the XVIII century. A brilliant man, expert speaker and deeply fond of literature, during his residence in the palace he collected a large number of rare and valuable manuscripts nowadays housed in the Austrian National Library in Wien.

In 1709 the King of Denmark, Frederik Christian IV, was a guest of the palace: in his honor the landlord Sebastiano Foscarini held a dance party that became famous for its splendor.

Again in 1700 – it was 1771 – the palace hosted Leopold Mozart with his son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, at that time fifteen years old, on occasion of a family trip to Venice. The apartments where Doge Foscarini and the Mozart family lived are now – perfectly restored – the two most majestic and elegant Suites of the Hotel.

SURROUNDINGS
It only takes a few steps on foot from Palazzo Giovanelli to plunge in the magic of Venice: next to the Hotel there are the majestic Church of San Stae, with rich, valuable marble decorations and paintings by Tiepolo, and Ca’ Pesaro, a sumptuous sixteenth-century palace that nowadays houses the Modern Art Museum.

Right in front of the Hotel, in the splendid sixteenth-century halls of Ca’ Vendramin Calergi, there is the Venice Casino; just beyond, 600 m away, the Rialto bridge and the Rialto market, beating heart of the city.

It only takes a few minutes on foot to get to the Jewish Ghetto, the oldest in Europe, and Basilica dei Frari, the biggest church in Venice, with works by Tiziano and Bellini as well as the tombs of Canova and Tiziano, of many dogi and commanders.

Ca’ D’Oro is on the other bank of the Grand Canal, St. Mark’s Square, with the splendid St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs, are easily reachable; in a few minutes more you’ll get to the Gallerie dell’Accademia, the richest collection of Venetian art, and Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute.

Rooms: 41

Price: from 211 EUR per night

Source: www.hotelpalazzogiovanelli.com