Canal arrival is part of the experience at Orient Express Venezia, housed in the 15th-century Palazzo Donà Giovannelli on the Cannaregio side of Venice. Aline Asmar d’Amman’s restoration preserves frescoes, stonework and layers of historic architecture while introducing contemporary furnishings through 47 rooms and suites. Dining rooms and salons unfold within the palazzo’s ceremonial sequence, and the spa takes cues from the city’s Roman, maritime and Ottoman influences. A quieter canal separates the property from the busier flow around Strada Nova. Courtyards, waterside entrances and preserved interiors keep the building itself at the centre of the stay.