The Starwood Luxury Collection has been hard at work restoring four landmark properties in Europe, with a total price tag of $200 million. Spain’s Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville and the Hotel Maria Cristina in San Sebastian reopened last year to much fanfare, while The Gritti Palace in Venice just unveiled its restoration this month. (Last but not least: The Prince de Galles in Paris is expected to open its doors in May.)
The Gritti Palace has long been a landmark on the Grand Canal in Venice, within walking distance of Piazza San Marco. The 15-month restoration project brought some of Italy’s best craftsmen to the 16th century palace, where they worked on original Rubelli Venetian textiles, terrazzo floors, handcrafted Girandole mirrors and antique Murano glass chandeliers. (The hotel even set up a blog to recount the details of the project.)
Perhaps the biggest news is the addition of the The Redentore Terrazza Suite, a two-storey suite on the palazzo’s top floor equipped with a sprawling terrace (the perfect spot to host a cocktail party). Accessed by private elevator, the suite also has a small pool overlooking the Grand Canal. For more information, visit www.thegrittipalace.com.