Situated on San Clemente Island in the Venetian lagoon, this hotel is just a short boat ride from St. Mark's Square and the Lido. The hotel features a health & beauty club, tennis courts, a three-hole executive golf course, and a panoramic swimming pool. The hotel offers 205 guestrooms in a restored, three-story monastery/hospital dating from the 19th century. Its distinct exterior is terra-cotta-colored, with white trim and tall, arched windows. Long, wide, high-ceiled hallways extend through the hotel's wings, all decorated with damask wall panels and crystal and Murano glass chandeliers.
Guestrooms contain 4-meter (13.75-foot) ceilings, tall windows providing views of the hotel's gardens, terrazzo floors with area rugs, reading chairs, cocktail tables, and work desks. Furnishings and colors vary according to four Venetian-theme decor schemes: The Doges, The Merchants, The Nobles, and The Navigators.
Beds feature hypoallergenic comforters, six pillows each, and linen sheets. Beige-marble bathrooms include separate tubs and showers and feature a five-channel in-house music system. French toiletries are by Etro. Terry-cloth bathrobes and slippers supply lounging comfort. Internet access is available through televisions (surcharge).
Smoking is not permitted in guestrooms. What to expect: Space, salt air, brilliant sunshine, and ready access to Venice's historical center 15 minutes away by complimentary shuttle boat attract guests for tranquil holidays year-round. Through some 2,900 windows and four acres of centuries-old gardens guests contemplate Venice lagoon, nearby islands, and St. Mark's Square from San Clemente Island. Amenity highlights: In summer, guests relax around a lagoon-view pool. Year-round they enjoy pampering in a health-and-beauty spa. Dining choices include the Renaissance formality of a fine-dining restaurant with wood-beamed ceiling; the whimsical sumptuousness of a Venice Carnival-themed restaurant serving Venetian cuisine; and lagoonside outdoor tables in summer. Insider tip: San Clemente Island has been a tranquil retreat since 1131, when a church was built there. Various orders established monasteries on the island. Camaldolesi monks took over in 1645, and their monastery was expanded in 1859 to include a hospital. Abandoned in the 1980s, the monastery/hospital was converted to this hotel, which opened in 2003. A spa offers aromatherapy, body treatments, facials, massage, and hair and nail care. It includes a steam room, sauna, two spa tubs, and a fitness center. Off the lobby, a series of small, sumptuously furnished salons provide spaces for quiet conversation and reading. Use of a computer with Hotel allows small pets only.
