Ca' Bonfadini

Venice, perhaps more than any other Italian city, is a place that wears opulence well. And while Ca’ Bonfadini may hide itself away behind a relatively unassuming, if handsome, 18th-century façade, what’s inside is the kind of high elegance for which Venice has become practically synonymous. Its location, right on the Cannaregio canal, offers both convenience and quiet in roughly equal measure; its interiors are an ode to the city’s neoclassical period, full of artworks, frescoes, and an occasional piece of modern furniture alongside an ornately carved desk or a gilt-fringed mirror.

Some hotels save the extravagance for the public spaces, but here the suites are, if anything, even more elaborately textured. Safe to say “minimalism” was not one of Ca’ Bonfadini’s inspirations. They’re equipped with modern comforts but they’re not chasing modernity — here, what’s promised is an experience of historic Venice. Breakfast is served en suite, and there’s a restaurant, DAMA, under the direction of chef Lorenzo Cogo. But for the most part you’ll spend your days out and about, with the expert guidance of the hotel’s staff.