Associated with countless romantic adjectives, Venice is comprised of 117 different islands interlinked by more than 150 canals. Located a short boat ride from St. Mark’s Square, on the island of Giudecca, is the Hotel Cipriani. With a slogan, “If Venice is the theatre, the Hotel Cipriani is the Royal Box,” the resort boasts itself for bestowing an unforgettable way of life. 

Appointed with 79 rooms and suites, all with impeccable views of the lagoon and gardens, is the main hotel. Connected via an ancient courtyard and flowered passageway is its annex, a15th century building, Palazzo Vendramin, complete with 16 additional rooms and suites. In the main hotel, lies one of the most luxurious accommodations: the Palladio Suite. 

Thought to be like entering another dimension, one of its unique features is a 180-degree view of the lagoon through floor-to-ceiling windows. The living room offers access to a private balcony, the dining room is large enough to host intimate dinner parties served by a personal butler, and there is exclusive use of a large terrace that has a heated plunge pool and Jacuzzi whirlpool shaded by jasmine bushes. Additionally, there is a beautifully decorated master bedroom, two fully-equipped marble bathrooms—one overlooking the garden and the other the lagoon—and a private dock with a complimentary water taxi transfer or the option to reserve a deluxe motor launch. 

Amenities include a heated Olympic size swimming pool—the only one in central Venice—red clay tennis courts located in the garden, fitness center with a personal trainer (if requested) and use of the hotel’s private boat Shirley where you can get a first-hand look at all of the city’s treasures. There are three restaurants with varying alluring qualities and three bars where you can leisurely indulge in cocktails.

Named after a legendary lover who once held clandestine trysts in the hotel gardens, is the Casanova Wellness Center. The opportune place to kickoff your honeymoon, there is a brand new cabin specifically devoted to couple’s massages, renowned Maria Galland skincare treatments, unisex hair salon, and exclusive duo of body treatments that incorporate gold powder and gold leaf.

For the privileged, the Orient-Express Hotel allows you to plan a customized trip where you can journey to Hotel Cipriani’s sister properties: Hotel Splendido in Portofino, Hotel Caruso in Ravello and Villa San Michelle in Florence. 

Located between the campo Santa Maria Formosa and rio del Paradiso—a short walk from St. Mark’s Square—in the heart of Castello (the historic district of Venice) is the boutique-style Ruzzini Palace Hotel complete with 28 rooms. Built during the 16th and 17th centuries, the once historical residence, celebrates the aristocratic period between the Renaissance and Baroque periods. 

Its current refurbishment recaptures much of the old world charm—like the exposed beams, Venetian-style floors, and paintings by Gregorio Lazzarini who taught Giambattista—and marries it with modern luxuries. 

Its most famous room, the Royal Suite, has a bedroom that overlooks the river, living room with a view of campo Santa Maria Formosa, and boasts original 18th century frescos on the ceiling. Hotel amenities include a breakfast lounge and bar, as well as direct access from the canals through a working water entrance. The hotel’s concierge encourages guests to go out and soak up the city’s culture accommodating entrance reservations to all of the local museums, exhibitions and performances.

As the old saying goes, “see Venice and die,” meaning that after such a monumental experience, there is nothing left to do but die, and die happily. As you start your journey through life’s canals together, Venice may just be the perfect place to honeymoon, take a leisurely gondola ride and celebrate your first moments as husband and wife because as the new saying goes: “to see Venice is to live.”