PALAZZO LOREDAN GRAND CANALNEW LISTINGMaaamma Mia!... what in the world do we have here?!Filippo and Alessandra’s adored former home where they raised their young familyHas come of age and magically morphed into a Grand Canal residence of rare beauty...Lit by shimmering aquamarine waters that cast hypnotic, ever-dancing gibigiane light reflections upon walls recently hand-painted by renowned decorative artist Paola Angoletta and her team, and still echoing with the happiest memories of mischievous childhood laughter and many toddler milestones reached (what a place to grow up!), this astonishing ‘new’ apartment boasts 3 luxe and lavish en suite bedrooms (sleeping 6) on the 1st mezzanino floor of the 15th-century Gothic Palazzo Loredan dell’ Ambasciatore, Dorsoduro.*Sharing the fabled waterfront with such notable palaces as Palazzo Malipiero and its sublime rose garden opposite, François Pinault’s Palazzo Grassi Museum of Modern Art and the Ca’ Rezzonico Museum of 18th-century Venice, and its landside with the many cafes, restaurants and bijou shops in and around Campo San Barnaba just a little further on, its location and pivotal position simply cannot be bettered!Splendidly refurbished by ArchFlorence in homage to the distant travels of intrepid Venetian explorer Marco Polo with the utmost skill and sensitivity as befits a building of this pedigree, the apartment revels in its unimaginably wonderful ‘pinch-me’ Grand Canal views (courtesy of its 7 forward-facing windows) stretching from the obelisk-tipped Palazzo Balbi on your left all the way to the Accademia Bridge on your right... Accompanied by a timeless symphony of gently lapping water that lovingly lulls you into a state of profound reverie and relaxation – it is THEN that Venice casts her spell! – lean into the pleasures of this remarkable family home where every day offers fresh delights on an unfolding journey of Venetian discovery.Effortlessly reached by private water taxi directly to Palazzo Loredan’s private Grand Canal water entrance followed by a single short set of stairs (no lift) rising from the palazzo’s vast androne hallway, accommodation comprises: 1st (mezzanine) floorA private doorway into a dramatically embellished entrance hallway adorned from top-to-toe in hand-painted floral chinoiserie on gold leaf and featuring white-painted timbers overhead lit by Seguso vetri d’arte light sconces from the 60s – a true feat of Italian artistry and a ‘gasp aloud’ intro to the enchantment that lies ahead!Palazzo Loredan Grand Canal’s fabulous dual aspect light-filled sitting room where the constantly shifting sights and sounds of the Grand Canal to the fore and the Accademia Bridge to the side provide a thrilling tableau of Venetian life on the water, which you can now be part of without stepping outside your door! Beautifully presented in gentle blue polished marmorino and boasting warm wooden parquet flooring topped with a gorgeous antique Aubusson flatweave rug in coral pinks and ecru, the room is furnished with a pair of large velvet sofas and antique armchairs for carefree lounging, an array of much-loved family heirlooms, contemporary Murano glassware by Micheluzzi Glass dotted here and there (do go visit Massimo Micheluzzi’s showroom beside the Ponte delle Maravegie near the Accademia – divine!) ... not forgetting a rather splendid, framed copy of Canaletto’s oil on canvas entitled ‘Venice: The Grand Canal from the Palazzo Foscari to the Carità’ (1740-1750) depicting Palazzo Loredan dell’ Ambasciatore at its very centre – do see if you can spot it! (note the original can be viewed at The Wallace Collection in London)And to its side, also facing the Grand Canal...The bold and gloriously bohemian open-plan dining room / kitchen enrobed in a mystical cinnabar red and showcasing a series of delightful Marco Polo-inspired hand-crafted ‘pagoda’ wall-paintings in gold, dark aged timbers above further enhancing the room’s already deeply opulent atmosphere, and a dining suite hosting 8 guests set upon an antique blue and ecru Chinese Peking rug lit softly by a series of pretty, oriental pleated silk lampsCustom-made by traditional Florentine woodworking specialists Falegnameria Matulli, the smart kitchen area with marble worktop is streamlined, uncluttered and features top-of the-range integrated appliances (including the ever-essential wine cooler cabinet), a groovy bespoke brass breakfast bar with matching stools where you can keep your personal chef company**, and a cleverly angled mirror overhead reflecting the light from the sparkling Grand Canal waters beyond... it’s the ‘place to be’ for evening aperitivi – just ask Filippo!Also to the front of the apartment and enjoying similar Grand Canal views...The bright, spacious and supremely elegant principal double bedroom – a vision in deep amarone red velvet and eau-de-nil with white-painted beams, warm wooden parquet flooring, built-in wardrobes, an enormously comfortable double bed flanked by a pair of oriental-style wall panels, and a truly breathtaking en suite bathroom in Zoffany’s Rotherby wallpaper with contrasting monochrome marble floor and panelling, a large and luxurious shower, twin wash basins in snow-white marble lit by deco-style lamps, burnished brass fittings throughout and a rolltop bathtub in gold. Note the double bed in this bedroom can be made into twins upon requestSituated to the centre of the apartment and rather smaller in size but just as memorable in personality, the characterful 2nd double bedroom in toasty cannella and frothy cappuccino colours with a luxurious double bed, a pair of slim wardrobes, and a deluxe en suite bathroom in cordovan-red marmorino with burnished brass fittings and large shower in bookmatched marbleTo the rear of the apartment and overlooking Palazzo Loredan’s tranquil secret walled garden...A bucolic dream of a 3rd bedroom where a pair of full-height windows with Juliet balconies and a bespoke mirrored wardrobe seem to draw the garden’s greenery directly into the room, and a romantic canopied double bed in Savoy blue and tangerine soothes you to sleep surrounded by walls in Antoinette Poisson’s ‘Canton’ wallpaper (in a floral motif created from 18th-century originals), while the bedroom’s en suite luxury bathroom in deep green marmorino with marble shower sits along the private hallway just to the rearAnd completing Palazzo Loredan Grand Canal’s accommodation...An immensely charming and impactful guest bathroom in low-lit ebony and gold leaf, showcasing hand-painted chinoiserie murals and bespoke marble fittings (w.c. and wash basin only)*Birthplace of two Venetian doges and once the home of the Austrian Ambassadors to Venice and the famous art collector Marshal Matthias von der Schulenburg and his wife, Giustiniana Wynne (a friend of Casanova).**We’d be delighted to arrange a personal chef to cater for you and your party, a private butler and breakfast service too – feel free to ask for further details!OUR COMMENTNot so much an apartment as a life experience... and one you’ll hold close for years to come. A spectacular Grand Canal property with exquisite canal views, created with exceptional craftsmanship and vision and occupying a special place in Filippo’s heart. Situated on the mezzanine level of one of the most beautiful and historic palazzos in the whole of Venice and within a stone’s throw of an excellent variety of traditional bars, restaurants and interesting small shops typical of Dorsoduro, including the canal-side Osteria Enoteca Ai Artisti, Ristorante Bakaro, Oniga, Osteria Alla Bifora, Ca’ Del Vento, Locanda Montin and Osteria Ai Pugni to name but a few… not forgetting the locals’ favourite Cantinone Gia Schiavi-Al Bottegon for super cicheti and Bar Alla Toletta for some of the tastiest tramezzini in town!A gentle stroll to the ‘Barca Della Frutta e Verdure’ fruit and vegetable boat moored at the café-fringed Campo San Barnaba, a well-stocked 2-floor Conad supermarket in the lively Campo Santa Margherita for all your self-catering needs, and VOV / Dimora Italia’s very own ‘A Tavola’ Cooking School offering private cooking classes, daily ‘open’ cooking classes, wine tastings and a delightful private event space on the pretty Rio Della Romite canal... simply ask us for further details!A short amble to the glittering Zattere waterfront with its fabulous panorama across the wide Giudecca Canal, and to the Squero San Trovaso – founded in the 17th century and the oldest of only a tiny handful of working gondola boatyards still left in Venice today, where skilled local artisans continue to craft, maintain and repair gondolas by hand using centuries-old methods.Also conveniently close to 2 vaporetto (water bus) stops – one at Accademia (beside the Accademia Bridge leading over to the district and attractions of San Marco) and the other at Ca’ Rezzonico – for hassle-free sightseeing and easy travel around the city.***Please note that the operation of air conditioning and heating are subject to municipality regulation. In general, heating is in operation from the middle of October to the middle of April, while air conditioning is in operation from the middle of April to the middle of October. Please contact us for further information.For arrivals between 8 p.m. and midnight there is an additional cost for "late arrival" of Euro 50, to be paid in cash upon arrival. We organise arrivals between midnight and 1 a.m. with an additional cost of Euro 100, after this time we reserve the right to accept the customer always with a supplement to be quantified according to the time of arrival.Beds will be arranged as either doubles or twins as shown in the photos. The possibility of turning a double bed into twins or vice versa can be found in the description and must be requested at least 7 days before arrival.
