Ai Reali di Venezia

Venice is full of palaces that have been converted to hotels, but the lovingly restored Ai Reali di Venezia has managed to maintain the atmosphere of a private home in what was the 17th-century residence of the aristocratic Corner family. With only 37 rooms, curious little corners and nooks, beautiful antiques at every turn, and modestly proportioned public areas, this hotel inspires the pleasant sensation that you are staying in the Venetian townhouse of refined but congenial relatives. The hotel is centrally located only a few minutes by foot both from the Rialto Bridge and the Piazza San Marco. Opened in 2012 after a yearlong renovation, the boutique hotel has your typical luxury amenities (Wi-Fi, flat-screens, marble baths) and has one of the most comprehensive spa and wellness centers of any hotel in the heart of Venice. Keeping so much of the old while adapting seamlessly to the new is what gives the feeling that you’re staying in a gilded, well-managed family home.