Whereas in Venice, we bought to remain in a historic lodge on Lido de Venezia or Lido Island, which hosts the Venice Movie Competition yearly. The first Venice Movie Competition occurred on Lido Island in August 1932. The 81st movie pageant is occurring from August to September 2024, with stars congregating at “Palazzo del Cinema,” a 1937-era theater simply 5 minutes away from the lodge we stayed in.
After a few hours touring from Rome to Venice with a hearty lunch at a villa within the Tuscan countryside, our bus boarded a ferry from the mainland en path to Lido Island and the lodge.
Our residence for 2 nights was Albergo Quattro Fontane, a beautiful country-style chalet with floral gardens only a 5 minute stroll to the seaside in addition to the cinema that hosts the oldest movie pageant on this planet.
Lido Island is likely one of the two barrier islands within the Venetian Lagoon with sandy seashores, unique motels and trip properties of rich Venetians.
For the reason that lodge is simply 5 minutes away from the venue of the Venice Movie Competition, it’s no shock that Albergo Quattro Fontane has develop into a star hotspot for giant names within the movie business. Not like Venice itself, which might get full of vacationers, Lido Island has a quiet, residential really feel.
The lodge is only a fast “vaporetto” (water taxi) journey away from St. Mark’s Sq. and the principle sightseeing spots, so guests can simply spend the day there and retreat to the peaceable lodge at evening. The lodge can be a 5-minute stroll to Lido Seashore.
Albergo Quattro Fontane retains plenty of unique options from its unique construction, together with wood-beamed ceilings and sculptures.
It seems to be attractive from the skin, with vines rising up the doorway and home windows. I cherished the floral gardens and fountain close to the foyer entrance. The lodge interiors are heat, homey and alluring. You may sense the lodge’s wealthy historical past all over the place you look.
If you happen to’re a fan of the Cottage-core aesthetic, you’ll really feel instantly at residence right here. The foyer and comfy library are the stuff of Pinterest goals. I felt like I used to be staying in a large nation doll home with books, antiques, dolls, sailboats, and French bottles peeking out from each nook.
The lodge has an intriguing historical past because it sits on the spot of Venice’s first and solely “ridotto” or “on line casino” for Venetian aristocrats constructed between 1573 and 1575. On the time, casinos (which accurately means “little home” in Italian) have been unique venues for socializing, playing and romantic trysts. These dimly-lit institutions, have been as soon as patronized by the privileged lessons, to pattern “rural delicacies” and to satisfy, discuss, gamble and revel in themselves, particularly at evening.
Within the nineteenth century, it grew to become a tavern and inn, frequented by the poet Robert Browning himself. Between 1905 and 1926, the inn was reworked right into a country-style luxurious lodge.
Components of the outdated structure have been included within the lodge’s design, together with the collection of arches, the grand hearth, and the 4 columns of the eating room.
The property has 60 rooms, all with interval furnishings, decor and particulars. We stayed in a double room and have been issued an precise room key as an alternative of a lodge keycard, a rarity today. The room had an vintage mattress, wardrobe, decor and work.
Whereas some senior vacationers in our tour group discovered the small stairs resulting in the rooms a bit unwieldy to handle with massive suitcases and the toilet a tad small, I discovered these elements a part of the lodge’s allure.
The room felt very cozy and lived in, with fashionable comforts like a minibar and personal toilet with a hairdryer and toiletries.
After dropping our luggage and resting a bit, we strolled across the space. A visit to a grocery or comfort retailer is likely one of the first issues we do after checking into a brand new lodge or arriving in a brand new metropolis, so we have been completely satisfied to discover a small deli close by to purchase chips and beer to snack on later within the room. There have been just a few institutions and meals stalls alongside the seaside, however all have been closed after we handed by.
You don’t must go removed from the lodge to get a very good meal. Quattro Fontaine has an in-house restaurant and a comfy bar/lounge that spills into the charming backyard.
We loved the lodge’s buffet breakfast with a view of the nice Fifteenth-century hearth. Throughout summer season months, company may also decide to take their meals within the flower backyard.
Their restaurant “Il Platano” serves typical Venetian delicacies and seafood dishes, a specialty of coastal areas in Italy.
We additionally had a pleasant candlelight dinner on our second evening right here after sightseeing round Venice*.
Artwork had the Seafood Pasta topped with clams, which tasted very briny and recent. We have been each lacking rice meals, so I attempted their Salmon Risotto, a creamy Italian rice dish, which was tasty and heartwarming.
The comfortable lounge bar serves a wide array of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. After dinner, we capped the night with a few beers within the bar’s backyard.
We did our justifiable share of hotel-hopping throughout our journey to Europe visiting 10 international locations, however Albergo Quattro Fontane in Venice was probably the most charming place we stayed in, and my favourite lodge.
With out taking the price range into consideration, if I needed to choose between staying in a contemporary enterprise lodge or a boutique mattress and breakfast like this one with a great deal of character, I’d positively choose the latter for the expertise.
Residenza d’Epoca Albergo Quattro Fontane, Lido de Venice, Italy. E-book room stays right here.
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