ELLE Decor Checks in: Venice

IrvingTravel2025-06-289910

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Venice is a city filled with dramatic fanfare: From anti-tourism protests to the annual film festival (or the Biennale—take your pick), to the complete brouhaha that is the Bezos Wedding, Italy's sinking marvel is a magnet for high-octane events. And while wealth, beauty, and history make a fantastic recipe for high drama, these same elements produce beautiful design and general good living. And no one does good living like the Venetians.

In our May 2019 issue, Venice-based jeweler Antonia Miletto said of her own home in the Santa Croce Neighborhood, “I never think of this place as finished." The same could be true of Venice itself. Once a home of the Veneti people in the 10th century BC, it was probably best known as the home of the Doges, the official heads of state for about 1,000 years, until the end of the 18th century. Over the course of their reign, the city became awash in gilding and palaces bedecked in pastel satins, opulent wall coverings, and thrones.

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Outside of those marvelous palaces and cathedrals, there was (and is) water. And gondolas are still your best option for getting around. More scenic than taxis, though notably more expensive, these vaporettos (public transport boats) will help you navigate waterways between the islands that make up the area.

It should be noted that a visit to Venice isn't complete without a stop to nearby Burano and Murano and the site of the film festival, the Lido, a barrier island just off of Venice. Now that you know a bit more about the design, history, and geography of the world's most popular tourist destination, all that's left to do is to begin traveling. Fortunately, we've got you covered there too.

Peggy Guggenheim, the ultimate icon of Venetian good living, enjoying a ride on a gondola (no singing necessary). Tony Vaccaro - Getty Images

Where to Stay:

In Venice, the goal is to stay somewhere by the water, which, luckily for a city surrounded by water, is possible at virtually any price point. Still, the best hotels tend to be former palazzos. We've picked three historic icons—all of which are currently housing guests of the Bezos-Sánchez wedding.

The Hotel Cipriani

You can bet that any hotel founded by the inventor of the Bellini will be timelessly elegant in a way that feels thoroughly Italian, and the Hotel Cipriani, which opened in 1958, is all that and more. Since its inception, it has been the site of both a James Bond novel and George and Amal Clooney's wedding (also planned by Lanza & Baucina, the event designers behind the Bezos-Sánchez affair). In 2014, it was purchased by the Belmond (formerly Orient-Express), and today the rooms are light and tasteful, covered in white and cream with hints of light gilding and pastels (a nod to Venetian aesthetics).

STEFANO RELLANDINI - Getty Images

The Aman

Wherever you are in the world, you can be sure that an Aman will provide an experience fit for a king, but the Aman in Venice, on the site of the Palazzo Papadopoli is a uniquely maximalist addition to the collection. Guests arrive to the Palazzo's private jetty before stepping inside to take in elaborately carved murals in this Venetian oasis. While it has all of the tranquility and easy elegance characteristic of an Aman, it makes use of the murals inside, and Grand Canal views outside, to provide a truly over-the-top experience.

Courtesy Aman

The Gritti Palace

The Gritti Palace, a Marriott property, is the perfect place for quiet rendezvous and long evenings. Outside, at the Bar Longhi, you can enjoy a Campari spritz as boats pass by. Inside, the architecture is decidedly historical, with low, dark wood beams, and window frames fit for a Romeo and Juliet production, tempered by contemporary furnishings and textiles that add a modern flair—a rarity in Venice.

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Where to Shop:

Antonia Miletto

Antonia Milletto’s jewelry displayed alongside antiques at her Venice atelier. James Merrell

The Venice-based jeweler is a master at joining dark, light, and antique imagery in her hand crafted pieces. Alongside diamonds and peridots, she adds Venetian drama with extensive use of ebony. You can find her orange-walled store on Calle de le Botteghe.

The Liberia Acqua Alta

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Since 2002, the Liberia Acqua Alta has been Venice’s answer to Paris’s Shakespeare and Co. and New York's Strand. Outside, the stone walls are piled high with ancient tomes, while inside, travelers can find their next favorite adventure story—all while wandering down vinyl-covered aisles that look like water, not to mention the book-filled gondola in the center of the store. Talk about a moveable feast!

Where to Eat:

Cantina do Mori

Most will note that this is the oldest Bacaro in Venice, but what, exactly, is a Bacaro? The short answer is a wine bar—sort of. Along with your chianti, you can sample local fresh seafood or fresh vegetables on toast points. It's delicious, and Cantina do Mori is the perfect place to stop in and try, all while enjoying the centuries-old architecture.

Gelateria Nico

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When in Venice, you've got to have gelato, and you could do worse than this waterside gelateria where options range from fragola sorbet to plain old chocolate, all served with a hearty dollop of whipped cream.

Where to Drink:

Harry's Bar

Harry’s Bar at the Hotel Cipriani. Sylvain Grandadam - Getty ImagesAdvertisementAdvertisement#«R54ekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R94ekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe

Whether you're staying at the Hotel Cipriani or not, make sure to stop in to Harry's Bar, where the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Katherine Hepburn spent celebratory nights over Bellinis flavored with fresh peaches. Cheers!

Excursions:

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Just North of Venice, the islands of Murano and Burano, with their famous, brightly colored buildings, feel surprisingly minimal next to the elaborate gilding seen throughout Venice. Murano is historically a city of glassmaking, while Burano is best-known for its lace-making (and delicious Burano biscuits).

Trust us and jump between the two islands—it's the perfect day trip.

Vases at Seguso. VINCENZO PINTO - Getty Images

While you're in Murano, pick up a vase (or just look longingly) at Seguso. Founded in 1397, the glass-maker is known for colors that are just as bright as the houses across the island and patterns reminiscent of candy canes. Make sure to also stop by Laguna-B, the atelier founded by the glamorous glassmaker and aristocrat Marie Brandolini (born Marie Angliviel de la Beaumelle). Now run by her equally talented son, Marcantonio Brandolini, the workshop is reportedly supplying hand-blown glassware for every guest of the Bezos-Sánchez wedding party.

Marie Brandolini with some of her work in her Venetian Palazzo in 1996. Courtesy of Laguna~B Archive

On the smaller island of Burano, make sure to try ring-shaped Burano biscuits, sweet, slightly dry cookies perfect for snacking. They are sold by the bag full, making them perfect for snacking while you take in the lace shops around the island. We recommend Emilia Burano, which has been making all-manner of lace creations for four generations. Some feature elaborate floral edges so delicate they look as though they might fall apart in a breeze, while others are covered in more sturdy geometric patterns.

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What to See:

Saint Marc's Basilica

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It gleams over the rest of Venice, a site of salvation for all arriving to the famous shores: Saint Marc's Basilica. The 19th-century structure is a marvel with its layers and small statues, and the interior is a can't-miss with golden mosaics. Outside, tourists stop for coffee and gelato and some of the best people watching in Venice, from tourists to bird-feeders, to entertainers dressed in the city's famous masks.

Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Guggenheim at her Venetian Palazzo, now the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, in 1964. David Lees - Getty Images

A must-do for anyone visiting Venice, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is a treasure trove of 19th- and 20th-century European and American masterpieces. While the rest of Venice is a devotional to the 16th- and 17th-century High Renaissance and Modernist Movements, Guggenheim found her niche in bringing Modernism onto the island. Originally from an affluent family in New York, Guggenheim moved to Venice permanently in the late 1940s, where she purchased the unfinished Venier dei Leoni palazzo and made it her home and as well as an exhibition space, filled with Picasso and Calder. The windows, looking out onto gardens and the waterways, provided the rest.

The Scuola Grande

An interior view of the Scuola Grande. Roberto Serra - Iguana Press - Getty Images

If you've ever heard of Stendhal Syndrome—a sense of nausea reported by those encountering overwhelming art, particularly art characterized by Horror Vacui or maximalism—this is the moment you'll have to prepare for it on your trip. Stepping into the Scuola Grande is like walking into a Mannerist painting. This weekend, it will reportedly play host to a Bezos wedding event, but whenever you happen to visit, you'll find walls of paintings done by the Venetian master Tintoretto, ceilings covered in gold and murals, and floors done in brightly colored geometric marble designs.

The Madonna Dell'Orto Church

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The home Parrish of the Renaissance and Mannerist master Tintoretto, Madonna dell'Orto is not as famous as its cousin across the lagoon, but the paintings, stained glass, and general splendor are not to be missed. This weekend, it is also considered to be a likely spot for a Bezos-Sanchez wedding event.

The Museo Fortuny

This image, featured in a 2022 ELLE Decor story covering the museum’s opening. Courtesy Fortuny

The Museo Fortuny, which opened in 2022, may just provide the best option for those of us obsessed with textiles. The brand's palazzo is one of the most beautifully designed spaces in Venice, an absolute must-do for those interested in interiors, though the paintings, frescos, and sprawling library are great for everyone else.

The Doge's Palace

Courtesy Aman

The famous pink stones of Venice are largely found at the Doge's Palace, the historic home of the former rulers of Venice. Alongside Saint Marc's Cathedral and square, it offers one of the most famous views of the city. Open daily (and until 11:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays!), you'll find more of the city's gilding and art, as well as the world-famous Bridge of Sighs.