Venice is looking forward to an upswing in visitors and its historic Palazzo Garzoni will reopen on 1 April. The Gothic-style building overlooks the Grand Canal between the Rio di Ca'Garzoni and the Fondaco Marcello, in front of Palazzo Pisani Moretta. This opening is significant news for the city that has just begun the new 2022 tourist season, which kicked off with a bang with the Carnival and is now focusing on high-end luxury tourism.
Restored to its former glory
The Palazzo, which was purchased in 2019 by a French art patron o loves art, Italy, and, above all, Venice, has been restored to its former glory thanks to a delicate and lengthy restoration overseen by architect Giusi Vitale. The four apartments feature magnificent halls, majestic rooms, and a library on the main floor, all of which are adorned with unique coloured Carrara marbles, original frescoes, and handsomely carved door jambs.
The average occupancy was less than 15% in 2021
Venice, after an 80% drop in turnover in 2020 (Confesercenti data) and tentative signs of recovery, closed 2021 with an average occupancy of less than 15% and a loss of €2 billion (data from AVA Associazione Veneziana hoteliers). Now it appears ready to start 2022 on the right foot and Palazzo Garzoni is a new and appealing address for top-end visitors.
Made-to-measure furnishings by local artisans
"To return Palazzo Garzoni to its ancient splendor, and give it that typical Venetian atmosphere, we started with a historical and cultural analysis of the building,” Explains architect Giusi Vitale. “The apartments have antique furnishings and fabrics by the painter and designer Mariano Fortuny. Together with my team I designed everything else from the beds and sofas to the wickerwork, chandeliers, lamps and bedside tables. And everything was made to measure by local artisans, using materials typical of the area, such as Murano glass."
