Ca’Pisani, a design enclave in Venice

A "different" hotel, as the Serandrei family wanted it

Who in Venice doesn't know the Serandrei family? For over a century, they've been perpetuating their tradition of hospitality at Saturnia, the family's grand 4-star hotel just a stone's throw from St. Mark's Square and La Fenice. In the 1980s, Ugo Serandrei, the family's fourth-generation hotelier, imagined a hotel with a difference. Far removed from Venetian conventions and the classical style prevalent in the city. After years of thought and design, followed by months of construction, the Ca' Pisani opened its doors to the public for the first time.

It's December 1, 2000, and the Serandreis have just imported the contemporary boutique hotel concept to the Serenissima.

History meets design

If the number of rooms were the defining criterion of a boutique hotel, then all Venetian establishments could be considered as such. What makes a boutique hotel is its ability to project travelers into a particular universe, a singular atmosphere. And this is where the Ca' Pisani excels.

Housed in a typical late 14th-century Venetian palazzo - and redesigned in the 16th century with the creation of a piano nobile (noble floor) - the Ca' Pisani has been entirely reinterpreted in Art Deco and Futurist styles by architects Roberto Luigi Canovaro and Pierluigi Pescolderung. The influences of the Futurist movement, which left its mark on Italy between the wars, are evident as soon as you open the front door. The lobby, all marble and walnut wood, recalls the essential forms of Futurism, but it's on the second floor that you become aware of the architects' exceptional work in bringing together the soul of the palace - the volumes are absolutely exceptional - with the new architectural identity of the premises.

Even before reaching the rooms, it's clear why the Ca' Pisani has joined the prestigious collection of Design Hotels.

Unique furnishings in every room

The distinctive elements that make Ca' Pisani unique in Venice can be found in each of the 29 rooms and suites. The style of the 1930s and 1940s is reflected here in the geometric wall shapes reminiscent of Mondrian, in the pastel tones (mustard, terracotta, orange, beige or grey) in the use of silver or mahogany elements and, of course, in the furniture. Patiently collected from the four corners of Italy, all Art Deco and Futurist furniture is original and unique. Every detail has been thought out to bring an extra touch of refinement to the hotel, right down to the room keys in the form of stylized fish, a tribute to the sea that surrounds the city.

And just because Ca' Pisani plays the retro-futuristic card doesn't mean the hotel isn't at the cutting edge of contemporary technology. With Bang & Olufsen telephones, Jacuzzi bathtubs, free WiFi for as many devices as desired, electric curtains and state-of-the-art sound systems, the hotel offers modern-day travelers all the comforts they could wish for.

Special mention must be made of the particularly impressive Duplex rooms, and especially room 8. A bedroom on the second floor, a vast dressing room and a spectacular glass staircase complete the stylish layout.

What could be more stylish than a duplex apartment in Venice?

An ideal location in the heart of Dorsoduro

This is undoubtedly one of the hotel's strong points. Escape the oppressive crowds of the San Marco district and find yourself in one of the city's most pleasant neighborhoods - Dorsoduro - that's what the Ca' Pisani offers.

Just a stone's throw from the Ponte dell'Accademia, the hotel's location seems perfect from every point of view. Away from the tourist crowds and in the heart of the city's arty quarter: galleries abound in the area itself, famous for hosting the Gallerie dell'Accademia along the Grand Canal, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection or the ambitious François Pinault Collection at Punta Della Dogana, the city's former customs house.

A two-minute walk south takes you to the Zattere promenade along the Giuddeca canal, one of the most beautiful in Venice, while along the Fondamenta Nani (200 meters from the hotel) you'll find some of the liveliest Venetian bacari, such as the Cantinone Gia' Schiavi (Fondamenta Nani, 992), where every evening crowds of Venetians gather to sip prosecco along the canal.

It's hard to imagine a better place to immerse yourself in an authentic, postcard-perfect Venice.

9 reasons to choose Ca' Pisani

There are many reasons to stay at Ca' Pisani. To simplify things for you, we've summarized them here:

- design: the soul and signature of the hotel. It will delight lovers of architecture as well as those weary of the stucco and gilding of traditional palaces.

- the location: both central, away from the floods of tourists and close to some of Venice's most pleasant places to stroll, Ca' Pisani swaps endless views of the canals or the lagoon for an ultra-pleasant environment in the heart of the most arty of Venetian sestiere.

- the terrace of Rivista, the hotel's restaurant, where you can enjoy breakfast in the sun.

- the hammam for warming up on cold winter days.

- in-room technology: electronic do-not-disturb button, electric curtains, free WiFi for all appliances, sound system... the hotel is at the cutting edge of technology.

- jacuzzi tubs in every room: perfect for relaxing after a long day's walking.

- the rooftop for sunbathing over the rooftops of Venice or smoking a last cigarette before going to bed.

- the Rivista Happy Hour every Friday at 6 p.m.: a toast over a spritz with Marianna, one of the heiresses of the Serandrei family in charge of running the establishment.

- prices: in a city where room prices soar in high season, the Ca' Pisani is a star performer, with prices ranging from 120 euros in low season for a single room to 350 to 500 euros for a Duplex or Junior Suite in high season, the Ca' Pisani proves to be affordable.