After months of restoration, Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel has reopened to guests. Its address remains unchanged on Riva degli Schiavoni, just steps from Piazza San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, and the Basilica. Yet the hotel has taken on a new identity as part of the Four Seasons family.
The next chapter begins at the top. From the rooftop terrace, guests can admire San Giorgio Maggiore. The view is equally striking from many guestrooms, where drawing back the curtains feels like raising the curtain on Venice itself, revealing the lagoon and the city beyond.
The transformation of Danieli Venice reaches well beyond its refined interiors. “Reopening Danieli under the Four Seasons brand is an important and emotional milestone after months of dedicated work and meticulous restoration,” says Christian Zandonella, General Manager of Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel. “We are delighted to welcome guests back to one of Venice’s most iconic addresses, where the hotel’s history finds a new expression through Four Seasons.”
Three Palaces, One Venetian Story
At the heart of the property stands Palazzo Dandolo, built in 1471 as the residence of the noble Dandolo family and regarded as one of the city’s finest examples of Venetian Gothic architecture. Two other buildings complete the ensemble: Palazzo Casa Nuova, once home to the treasury of the Venetian Republic, and Palazzo Danieli Excelsior.
Interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon restored Palazzo Dandolo and Palazzo Casa Nuova, preserving their historic architectural character while introducing a contemporary perspective. Danieli, Venezia has reopened with 120 rooms and suites. The total will rise to 168 when restoration of Palazzo Danieli Excelsior is completed in 2027.
The Colors of the Lagoon, Reinterpreted Indoors
Rochon drew on Venice’s identity to reimagine the interiors around three elements: history, light, and materials.
The palette takes its cues from the Venetian Lagoon: celadon green, pale blue, terracotta, ocher, and soft pink. These shades echo the marble facades, historic plasterwork, and architectural details found throughout the city.
At Danieli, Venezia, the palette is apparent as soon as guests enter the Palazzo Dandolo lobby, where the eye naturally rises toward the ceiling. Fully restored, hand-painted gilded ornamentation traces a quatrefoil motif against an azure background reminiscent of the lagoon. Specialist artisans paid the same attention to the imposing columns, stonework, and monumental staircase.
Light then shifts the perspective, becoming almost an architectural element in its own right. Venetian mirrors and reflective surfaces create a sense of depth, while Murano glass, terrazzo floors, and bespoke Rubelli textiles maintain a connection to local craftsmanship.
Beyond light and materials, the interiors also tell a story. An art collection evokes the Grand Tour, when Venice was an essential stop for artists, writers, and cultivated travelers. Intaglios, Venetian engravings, antiqued mirrors, and carefully chosen decorative objects reinterpret the city’s artistic legacy and lend the rooms the character of a historic palazzo.
Venice, Framed by the Windows
At Danieli, Venezia, the restoration of Palazzo Dandolo and Palazzo Casa Nuova has also transformed the accommodations. Rooms are more spacious, and the selection of Junior Suites and One-Bedroom Suites has been expanded.
Guestroom windows look out over the lagoon, the city’s canals, or Venice’s rooftops, each offering a different perspective. Suites feature generous living areas and flexible layouts; many can be enlarged by connecting them to adjoining rooms.
Technology is discreetly integrated into the decor. A custom media wall incorporates the television into a carefully composed display of artwork and decorative pieces. Automated curtains, adjustable lighting, and intuitive climate controls add to guests’ comfort.
Dining Above the Lagoon
Terrazza Danieli, the restaurant overlooking the lagoon, has been transformed without altering its architecture. Formerly dark finishes have given way to pastels, azure accents, and muted gold tones, while mirrored surfaces amplify natural light and draw the eye toward San Giorgio Maggiore. Outside, the terrace echoes the warm terracotta of the historic facade, leaving the panoramic view as the star attraction.
In the kitchen, Executive Chef Adriano Rausa offers a contemporary interpretation of Italian cuisine with Venetian influences, centered on seasonal ingredients and lasting relationships with local producers. Many signature dishes are finished tableside, turning service into a small performance and, above all, an invitation to conversation.
At the bar, the Italian aperitivo ritual continues with classic cocktails given a contemporary twist, enjoyed from one of the city’s most spectacular terraces.
What’s Next for Hotel Danieli, Venezia
Restoration work at Danieli, Venezia continues. Danieli Spa is scheduled to open in late 2026 with three treatment rooms, including one for couples, plus a sauna and hammam. Rooms in Palazzo Danieli Excelsior are expected to be completed in 2027.
With its reopening, Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel joins the brand’s other Italian properties: Four Seasons Hotel Milano, Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, and San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel.
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Source:
Four Seasons Press Room: Now Open: Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel Reopens on Riva degli Schiavoni.
