Ca’ di Dio

Character and identity

Set on the Riva promenade near the Arsenale, Ca' di Dio occupies a 13th-century building that has lived previous lives as a pilgrim's hospice and women's refuge, now reimagined by Patricia Urquiola as a 66-room hotel that sidesteps the city's chandelier-and-velvet cliché. Expect warm wood, Rosso di Verona marble, shimmery lagoon-green fabrics and commissioned Murano lamps across rooms that feel like Venetian apartments. A former-chapel lobby, two altana roof terraces, a hidden herb garden and an inner courtyard anchor the property. Vero handles serious dining, Essentia is the all-day spot, and Alchemia channels 1960s New York for cocktails. Service is informal and floating, with no real reception desk.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What sets this hotel apart is Urquiola's design, the most convincing argument in Venice for a contemporary alternative to gilt and brocade, paired with a neighbourhood that rewards exploration. Book it if you're in town for the Biennales or want a base in Eastern Castello rather than the tourist crush. Splurge on an Altana Suite for the 360-degree roof terrace; the lagoon-view rooms are the next-best tier.