Hotel Review: Violino d'Oro in Venice, Italy - AFAR
"A 32-room, five-star boutique outpost of Tuscan luxury brand Collezione Em located steps from Piazza San Marco, this hotel is devoted to Italian artisanal craftsmanship: hand-placed Venetian seminato terrazzo floors, Venini chandeliers, Rubelli brocades, Micheluzzi glass, Fortuny fabrics, handcrafted stucco walls, and a mix of antiques, midcentury and contemporary design. Spread across three palazzi, rooms are larger than typical Venetian accommodations and finished in rich dark green or luminous beige with warm wood floors, Ortigia toiletries, spacious bathrooms and ample closets; suites and connecting rooms suit couples, families, and groups. Dining and drinks center around a cozy Il Piccolo Bar where a master bartender serves cocktails such as the Doge’s Fizz with cicchetti, and Il Piccolo Ristorante—set like a private salon with Ginori flatware—offers nouveau Italian focused on local vegetables, lagoon-caught fish and Venetian dishes. The canal-side location includes a private water entrance and a quiet square by Ponte San Moisè and Calle Larga XXII Marzo, placing guests within walking distance of major cultural sites including the Biennale Giardini, Basilica San Marco, Museo Correr, Collezione Peggy Guggenheim and La Fenice. Staff are warm and immersive—porter Maurizio, general manager Annabella Cariello and co-owner Sara organize behind-the-scenes artisan introductions, secret gardens and guided cultural excursions—while accessibility features (two wheelchair-accessible executive rooms, elevators, ramps, available wheelchair and stroller and an “un amico veneziano” companion) make historic Venice easier to navigate. There is no spa or gym, but the property offers active options like guided running tours and harbor yoga; it participates in the Leaders Club of Leading Hotels of the World." - Erica Firpo
