Local Foreigner in Italy, Part I: Unlocking Venice at the Gritti Palace
This spring, Local Foreigner’s Alex Kramer and Larkin Massie went on a grand tour of Italy’s biggest hits – Venice, Rome, and Florence. Traffic and travel delays snarled their departure from New York, but as soon as they arrived in La Serenissima, the city’s magic made any frustration melt away. “We got to Venice after dark, and we had this amazing arrival to the hotel by water taxi. There was fog hovering over the canals, and it was mysterious and almost spooky – but in the best way,” Alex says. “It honestly felt like something out of a fairy tale with all of the mist.”
Located just down the Grand Canal from the Ponte dell’Accademia, they were pulling up to the sumptuous Gritti Palace. Known colloquially as the Gritti, there’s nothing casual about the Luxury Collection’s Venetian outpost – she’s a silk and damask-swathed grande dame, draped in jewel towns and laden with art. “We were in the Ruskin Patron Canal Suite, and even though it was 1AM and we’d been traveling for 20 hours, we cracked open a bottle of champagne and I had to take a bubble bath in the epic marble tub,” says Larkin.
Built in the 15th century as a nobleman’s home, the Gritti Palace has seen centuries of history sail past her gothic windows. And while the cloak of night hid the grandeur of the surrounding architecture from the girls on arrival, in the morning, they woke up smack in the middle of one of Venice’s most iconic views. The Gritti offers an awe-inspiring panorama that sweeps from the serene island of San Giorgio Maggiore, past the historic Punta della Dogana and the majestic Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, to the renowned Peggy Guggenheim Collection. “One of my favorite things to do in Venice is watch the boats go by and life start on the canals in the morning,” Alex says, “so we spent our early, jet-lagged morning that way, cappuccino(s) in hand.”
When they finally did make it down to breakfast, it was to an epic spread. “The breakfast the next morning was legendary,” Larkin adds. “They had all these different kinds of croissants, and the prosciutto was being shaved for you and it was endless – forget bottomless mimosas, I’ll take bottomless ham. Alex kept going back for the beautiful little sweet pastries. A million stars for breakfast.”
The Gritti Palace is not just a hotel; it is a historical treasure where heritage and culture have seamlessly blended with contemporary Venetian style. The palazzo has recently been meticulously restored to its former glory with a $50 million renovation, overseen by designer Chuck Chewning of Donghia. The result honors the incredible history of the hotel without feeling like you’re staying in a museum. “It’s actually very homey – like the home of your Venetian Doge best friend,” Larkin says.
“It feels historic but not dusty. There is so much color – these deep, rich, jewel tones, reds, greens, purples, beautiful blue and gold frescos, but the rooms still have crisp white bedding. The sense of place is really strong and there is a liveliness to the Gritti. At lunch, there were tons of locals sitting outside on the terrace having Aperol spritzes,” Alex adds.
The Gritti Palace features 61 guest rooms and 21 glamorous suites, each designed to reflect the intimacy of a private residence. Suites are adorned with treasures like hand-blown Murano glass, archival historic fabrics, and rare books and objects unique to the hotel. The refurbishment has ensured that every painting, objet d’art, and chandelier has been painstakingly restored by Venetian artisans. Velvet, damask, and sumptuous silk wall coverings have been replaced with archival patterns, enhancing the rooms' elegance and historic charm. And if it’s been a while since you visited, the accommodations have been reconfigured to make the 82 individually decorated rooms and suites larger and more inviting.
The Gritti Palace is home to the Restaurant Club del Doge, which offers what is arguably the city's loveliest dining room view. And because getting out onto the water is a must-do, the hotel offers a Riva boat experience, exclusive to its guests. But whether you’re crossing bridges on foot or ducking under them aboard a boat, the Gritti’s location makes it easy to explore the city's iconic landmarks, from the bustling Piazza San Marco to the serene canals. “During our visit, we made our own masks and explored the big piazzas like San Marco and Campo Santa Margherita, but we also escaped down narrow alleyways and passages in search of cones of freshly-fried fritto misto,” Alex says. “The Gritti Palace is very much in the middle of things, both physically and culturally.”
“The Gritti is five minutes from La Fenice Opera House, and they can arrange tickets and special access,” Larkin adds, “and locals and guests will come to the hotel to get their glam done for masked balls. How cool is that? The whole city is just so fabulous and theatrical. You’re on a boat, you’re off a boat; you’re in the middle of a crowd and then suddenly, you’re the only ones around.”
In a city as full of glamour as Venice, The Gritti Palace stands apart for its deep connection to history and culture, and the staff’s engrained understanding of luxury service. The world’s best hotels offer more than just a place to stay; they’re a key to understanding their destination and a way to feel connected to a place. Whether arriving shrouded in midnight mist or bathed in afternoon sunshine, Venice offers its fair share of mysteries; a stay at the Gritti is a charming way to begin to unlock them.
Read more about Alex and Larkin’s exploration of Italy here.
THE GRITTI LIFE
Escape to Venice with a stay of at least 3 nights and receive an additional hotel credit of up to 50 euro daily when you stay in a guestroom, and of 100 euro daily for stays in suite accommodation.
The offer includes:
Additional 50 Euro hotel credit per guestroom, daily
Additional 100 Euro hotel credit per suite, daily
VENICE THROUGH THE EYES OF TWO ICONS
Reserve now for stays of 3 nights or more from 15 April until October 15th, 2024 and discover the beauty of Venice true Gritti-style aboard Il Doge, the hotel’s private Aquariva Super speedboat.
The offer includes:
One iconic 4-hour Riva Yacht experience per stay, including a bottle of champagne
Lunch for two per stay at The Gritti Terrace
*A 4-hour reservation of the Riva Yacht is required prior to arrival.
As a Local Foreigner Guest, your stay also includes the following amenities:
Complimentary breakfast daily for two guests per room
Early check-in and late check-out upon availability
$100 USD F&B credit (once per stay)
Complimentary upgrade upon availability