San Clemente Palace Venice
Isola di San Clemente 1, Venice, Veneto, 30124, Italy
Why We Like It
On the sleek complimentary craft that shuttles guests back and forth from St Mark’s Square to the island, you already feel the chaos of the city slipping away as you head out into the vast expanse of the lagoon. On arrival, the hotel feels like a refuge; the natural surroundings and capacious interiors make it a rarity in Venice. With an award-winning spa and salubrious sea air, San Clemente sends you home feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.
Fodor's Expert Review
San Clemente Palace, on San Clemente Island, is 10 minutes by boat from St Mark’s Square. The hotel is a haven of tranquillity and nature, a rare atmosphere to find in a city that now receives around 20 million tourists annually. The sprawling property, originally a monastery, offers bigger-than-average rooms compared to other Venice hotels, a labyrinth of elegant corridors and courtyards, and 15 acres of leafy parkland with a heated outdoor pool.
Tip Time a shuttle boat ride with sunset for privileged views of deep pink skies behind the Venice skyline from the water.
PROS
- So vast it never feels crowded even when at full capacity
- Absolute silence at night
- Prosecco included at ample breakfast
CONS
- Requires a boat ride to reach any other attractions
- Last shuttle boat service back to the island is on the early side at 11:30 p.m.
- Corridors are so long that room service can be a little slow
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Room
In the historic center of Venice, space comes at a premium, so many hotel rooms tend to feel a little cramped. San Clemente, on the other hand, has no space shortages. The 196 rooms have generous floor plans and lofty 19.5-foot-high ceilings. The Renaissance-era decoration is classic without being fussy. There are dainty frescoes on the ceiling, a stylish Murano chandelier, and king-size beds with a gilded headboard.
If your budget can stretch, the top suites have lagoon views out to the center of Venice, which could easily be mistaken for a dreamy Canaletto painting. The top San Clemente Suite, which George Clooney has stayed in, is a whopping 2,045 square feet and has a private dock so you can arrive unobserved.
You Should Know Given that the hotel is surrounded by greenery, mosquitoes are numerous in the summer months. Try to keep the windows closed in your room and plug in the mosquito zapper provided.
Bathroom
Particularly in Venice’s converted historic palaces, hotel bathrooms can be dark and cramped. San Clemente’s bathrooms, however, are delightfully light flooded by a big arched window (thanks to the ex-monastery layout). Clad in chunky beige marble, most are spacious enough to dance around in as you’re getting ready for an evening out, and feature bathtubs and separate showers.
Lobby
The nearly one mile of corridors, reception and lobby are saved from becoming austerely institutional by the stately carved wood furniture, damask panels, and spectacular Murano chandeliers. While the lobby doesn’t feel like a place to hang out in, it has prime spots for striking photo opportunities, like the Imperial staircase that was used for stylish entrances by Armani models during the Venice Film Festival.
Pool
The 70-foot heated outdoor pool is fringed by palm trees and flowering shrubs. You can laze on sun loungers under cabanas or have a light lunch or an aperitif in the adjacent bar.
Spa
The hotel’s new spa opened earlier this year. Operated by The Longevity Suite SPA group, it focuses on advanced biohacking and anti-aging treatments. Along with the sauna and steam room, there is a cryosuite. Treatments include Blue Zone rituals, inspired by the world’s longest-living communities, and anti-aging facials using Dr. Barbara Sturm products. There is a private suite for couples’ treatments with a hydromassage tub and sauna.
Gym
The gym is housed in a spacious, wooden-beamed room with plenty of natural light. The Techno gym equipment includes treadmills, step machines, and stationary bikes, all with their own TV, iPod dock, and cardiovascular monitor. There is also a small outdoor gym with a couple of machines and weights. The natural surroundings of the island offer plenty of exercise opportunities, including the one-mile-long jogging path, tennis courts, and pitch and putt golf course.
Dining
San Clemente offers fine dining at Acquerello Restaurant Venice. The graceful interior space is decorated with rich tapestries and striking mirrors, while outside you eat lagoon-side with a panoramic vista of Venice. Chef Giuseppe Portento dishes up artistically plated modern Venetian cuisine with joyous Mediterranean coloring. Go for the Il Brodeto In Un Risotto, a delicate fish stew with catch of the day on a bed of Morlacco cheese risotto sprinkled with powdered squid, and the Polpo Mediterranea, marinated octopus decorated with a rainbow of miso and citrus sauces.
Drinking
There are various spots for a pre- or post-dinner drink, from the poolside bar to sofas by the water’s edge overlooking Venice and the elegant indoor San Clemente Bar. Each has different signature cocktails as well as classic tipples. At Acquerello, there is an extensive wine list including Italian wines specially selected and bottled for the hotel.
History
Alongside the verdant surroundings, the hotel’s rich history is one of its key draws. The building dates from the 18th century, first housing a monastery, then converted into a naval base and finally serving as a hospital. Even more remarkable is the 12th-century deconsecrated church with a refined 15th-century marble facade and a rare church-within-a-church inside dating from the 17th century post-plague. There’s also a majestic Tintoretto portrait along the hotel’s ground-floor corridor and a striking contemporary sculpture garden outside.
What's Nearby
Getting Around
The shuttle boat takes guests to a dock just beside St Mark’s Square. Directly in front are the Giardini Reali, a peaceful park for resting between sightseeing. To the right, you reach Venice’s iconic piazza, home to key attractions like the Doge’s Palace, St Mark’s Basilica, and the Campanile. Along the waterfront are gondola stations where you can climb aboard the sleek, black Venetian boats and be rowed around the corner beneath the ornate Bridge of Sighs.
Restaurants
Around St Mark’s Square, it is easy to be lured into tourist traps. But a few minutes’ walk will take you to plenty of quality options. Bistrot de Venise is a long-established restaurant famed for serving elegantly reinvented historic Venetian recipes extracted from 16th-18th century cookbooks. A 10-minute stroll from St Mark’s Square takes you to Al Covo, another Venetian stalwart serving refined Venetian classics with locally sourced ingredients like artichokes from the nearby island of Sant’Erasmo.
Bars
Alighting from the shuttle boat, you can find several historic bars in the vicinity. In St Mark’s Square is the gilded, mirror-lined 18th-century coffeehouse Caffè Florian and the opulent Caffè Quadri with a live quartet playing outside at night. A little further along the waterfront is Hotel Danieli with a spectacular roof terrace and elegant cocktails.
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