Staying at the 14th century Palazzo Contarini instead of in a normal hotel is like living in history. The palaces have been inhabited for centuries by the members of the very powerful Contarini family and overlook the Salizada Santa Giustina in the sestiere of Castello, in one of the oldest and most well preserved parts of this fascinating old town.

Until last century this district was part of the former parish of Santa Trinità a network of canals, “calle” (old streets) or lanes, and porticoes that extends behind St. Mark’s Square (the domes can be seen from the top floor windows of the palace) yet proudly maintains a secluded position. A district which by curious twist of fate has been saved from the masses of noisy bustling tourists that throng the area between Rialto and St. Mark’s Square. Since the middle of the last century, the palaces undergone abandonment and subdivision, which risked losing some of the original features.

Ten years ago a very experienced hotel manager supported economically by an international investor group managed to acquire it and a long, challenging and very careful redecoration work started to reduce the effect of alterations that had offended the building’s for too long. Results have been great and the architects obtained spacious Suites and large rooms with a rational layout. Great care was taken over the choice of materials in order to enhance the original stone, wood and plaster. Today the Palazzo Contarini has 10 very large apartments and 10 rooms all are with marble bathrooms and combine modern comforts with Venetian style furnishings. They are all equipped with air conditioning, satellite colour TV, radio, minibar, direct-dial telephone and hairdryer, safety boxes. 24-hour room service and motorboat service is also available. Contarini has preserved many typical interiors with original panelled ceilings and the original elegant façade covered with valuable decorations.