Palazzo Schiavoni
Palazzo Schiavoni is one of Venice's most elite boutique hotels—a Residenza d'Epoca that skillfully marries history's refinement with modern hospitality. Tucked away in a peaceful canal off the Castello district, this elegant residence provides visitors with a genuine Venetian experience through its Murano glass chandeliers, antique decor, and bespoke service. Situated optimally near St. Mark's Square, it is an upscale retreat for visitors looking for authenticity without sacrificing comfort.
Setting & Location
Situated on Fondamenta dei Furlani, Palazzo Schiavoni occupies a peaceful corner of Venice but is within reach of the city's central attractions. The Bridge of Sighs, Doge's Palace, and Basilica di San Marco are just a 10-minute stroll away. The visitors enjoy the ease of strolling-around without while retiring to a peaceful neighborhood that embraces the everyday rhythm of Venetian life.
The hotel overlooks a standard canal, regularly used by small boats sailing under flower-bedecked windows. This blend of quiet and accessibility renders Palazzo Schiavoni the perfect haven for visitors who want to experience Venice from the ground up—on actual Venetian streets, courtyards, and waterways rather than tourists.
A Historical Residenza d'Epoca
As a certified Residenza d'Epoca, Palazzo Schiavoni is formally acknowledged as a place of cultural and historical interest. The building, restored with great care and modernized, maintains the essence of an ancient Venetian palazzo with the addition of modern conveniences. All architectural elements, from the arched windows to the ornamented stone façades, speak to a Venice that holds refinement and continuity in high esteem.
Inside, the furniture combines tradition and comfort. Original antique furniture, carved wooden features, and opulent textiles pay tribute to Venetian excellence, but modern comforts—air conditioning, WiFi, and lifts—ensure an easy stay. This seamless fusion of eras is what is so appealing about Palazzo Schiavoni: living history without the need to suffer from the past.
Rooms & Suite-Apartments
Palazzo Schiavoni offers a thoughtfully edited selection of rooms and suite-apartments, each individually fitted and dressed. Whether visitors choose to be in a classic double room or one of the suite-apartments, there is the same level of detail everywhere: hand-made furniture, Murano glass lighting, and elegant drapery imbuing an atmosphere of timelessness.
The suite-apartments feature fully outfitted kitchens, living areas, and bedrooms, designed for guests who require extended stays or family convenience. The majority of the rooms have a view of the canal or quiet courtyards, providing natural light to the polished wood and fabric interior.
Each room features:
Air conditioning/heating
Flat-screen satellite TV
Minibar and tea/coffee facilities
Safe and WiFi connection
Spacious bathroom with toiletries and hairdryers
These accommodations blend aesthetic sophistication with functionality required of modern travelers.
Amenities & Guest Services
Palazzo Schiavoni offers a range of services that are meant to offer comfort and convenience without compromising the peaceful atmosphere that defines it. The reception assists with concierge services, local reservations, and transport advice. Daily housekeeping, luggage storage space, and elevator access ensure the sense of comfort.
Despite the fact that the property does not have a restaurant, it partners with surrounding Venetian restaurants to recommend genuine dining experiences. Breakfast is served in buffet form, encompassing pastries, breads, cheeses, eggs, fruit, and hot beverages, typically consumed in a light, antique breakfast room.
WiFi extends throughout the property, and multilingual staff are on hand to assist with travel arrangements or insider tips on local art galleries, hidden squares, and scenic walks. The hotel is open year-round, maintaining a consistent commitment to hospitality in all seasons.
The Experience of Living Like a Venetian
Palazzo Schiavoni visitors often remark on the sense of local immersion the property offers. Whereas larger hotels along the Grand Canal sometimes feel impersonal, this house offers a true neighborhood feel—close enough to St. Mark's to still be convenient but far enough away to allow quiet nights.
One of the oldest and most untouched of Venice's neighborhoods, Castello, still retains the city's unspoiled spirit. Here, laundry still waves across canals, and local greengrocers know locals on a first-name basis. Visitors can have an espresso at nearby bars, pass over small bridges to artisan workshops on the way, or walk down the Riva degli Schiavoni seafront to watch the gliding gondolas at sunset.
The mood is one of participation rather than observation—experiencing Venice, not merely viewing it.
Local Attractions & Accessibility
Another defining feature of Palazzo Schiavoni is its close proximity to St. Mark's Square. Visitors can walk to:
St. Mark's Basilica – 8 minutes
Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs – 7 minutes
Rialto Bridge – 12 minutes
Arsenale and Biennale Gardens – 10 minutes
The San Zaccaria vaporetto stop within walking distance is easily linked to other islands such as Murano, Burano, and Torcello, and water taxis operate private transfers between Venice Marco Polo Airport and the hotel.
This balance of accessibility and calm is what makes the property the first choice for those guests who desire centrality without chaos.
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
Certified Residenza d'Epoca status—guaranteeing authenticity and heritage value
Elegant rooms and suite-apartments with antique furnishings and Murano chandeliers
Tranquil canal-side location in the Castello district, a short stroll from St. Mark's Square
Spacious suite-apartments with kitchens ideal for longer stays or family groups
Multilingual reception and personal service
Elevator access, not typical of ancient Venetian buildings
Considerations
Limited on-site facilities aside from breakfast service—meals are off-site
Canal-view rooms may suffer light ambient noise from passing watercraft
As with all Venetian hotels, access is a short stroll over bridges
Occasional seasonal variation in breakfast fare
Overall, guest impressions consistently praise Palazzo Schiavoni’s ambiance, cleanliness, and staff attentiveness. Travelers seeking an independent, immersive Venetian stay find that the property exceeds expectations for its category.
Conclusion
Palazzo Schiavoni embodies the beauty of Venetian existence—refined, serene, and authentic. Its designation as a Residenza d'Epoca ensures architectural and cultural authenticity, with the interior full of traditional Venetian craftsmanship. Whether relaxing in a cozy double room or a self-contained suite-apartment, guests enjoy the indulgence of companionship and isolation in an ambience of sophistication.
Minutes from St. Mark's Square but shielded from the city's frenzy, Palazzo Schiavoni offers a unique balance: the serenity of a canal-front sanctuary and the excitement of a legendary destination at its doorstep.
For visitors who desire to live Venice the Venetian style, surrounded by art and history, and discreet refinement, Palazzo Schiavoni is the quintessential example—where tradition suits itself very well with modern comforts in one of the prettiest of Venice's most charming quarters.