Violino d’Oro, a love letter to Venice that makes you fall in love all over again

I have often found myself strolling the streets of Venice, enjoying Saturday visits after a short train ride from the neighbouring town of Treviso, admiring the architecture and the wonder of the floating city while quietly battling the crowds at each bridge. I would leave thinking I had almost seen it all, wondering how anyone could spend an extended stay on this Venetian island, foolishly believing I had completed the city.

However, on my first overnight stay recently, that impression I had so carelessly convinced myself of came tumbling down. I finally understood the firm hold this city has over its visitors and can hardly believe I ever thought differently.

Arriving with the morning fog rising from the canals and blanketing the palazzi, you witness the city in complete stillness. No trains have pulled in, no coaches have started their daily fight for parking; the only movement is the steamboat delivering fresh fruit and vegetables. Having strolled through a maze of cobbled streets and slanted alleyways, you quickly grasp that this is not a city for clock-watching or frantic rushing. Instead, with only a loose sense of your destination, you let the city lead you, finding beauty in the act of uncovering its surroundings.

The destination was Violino d’Oro, a truly Italian palazzo and a masterpiece by Sara and Elena Maestrelli. Since its opening in late 2023, the five-star boutique hotel has embraced its central location and endeavoured to showcase everything that is so special about Venice. Paying homage to the rich cultural and artistic heritage of the city, the team champions its deep history and ensures it remains at the heart of everything they do. Italian identity runs deep throughout the hotel, with every fabric, piece of furniture, plate, and glass crafted between Venice and Tuscany, highlighting the Violino d’Oro ethos of sustainability through its choice of local yet timeless pieces. In every nook of the palazzo, a myriad of exquisite craftsmanship is on display. One’s attention may be captivated by an original Venetian seminato handmade by one of the oldest artisan families, or by the three large Poliedri chandeliers that illuminate Violino d’Oro’s entrance, the heart and soul of Venetian glassmaking. These subtle yet deliberate accents work in unison to celebrate this heritage, and there is an all-encompassing sense of preservation and protection surrounding the rich magic that envelops Venice.

Hospitality is the mantra that echoes around the hotel, and Sara’s words affirm this, describing Violino d’Oro as “an Italian artisanal project designed like a home,” a sentiment reflected in every ornate living room you enter, every greeting at reception by name, and the table of brightly coloured Venetian-wrapped sweets sourced from the nearby cioccolateria. One cannot shake the overwhelming sense of warmth and welcome, as if you have discovered a fairytale refuge where time pauses for a moment and you almost forget that life exists outside this sanctuary. With thirty-two rooms set across three remarkable edifices, the historical building dates back to the 17th century and is inconspicuous in its façade, yet remains utterly private despite being just two minutes from Piazza San Marco. Violino d’Oro is Venice personified in its purest form; from the moment you enter, there is an unspoken understanding that you have been welcomed into the Venetian fold.

When hunger ultimately strikes, your home away from home welcomes you to the intimate and utterly charming Il Piccolo. With a mere nine tables surrounded by typical Venetian windows overlooking Campo Francesco Barozzi, you would not be mistaken in assuming you were in your very own dining room. Breakfast is, of course, a refined affair; you have barely sat down before a serving of fresh orange juice in a rainbow of Murano glassware is placed in front of you. You will be drawn to the ever-tempting welcome spread in the centre of the room, perhaps sampling a Venetian powdered doughnut filled with the most delicate custard and the compulsory biscotti, two or three. Then, in true Italian style, graze on fresh tomatoes with mini buffalo mozzarella, simplicity at its centre, yet it will leave you repeatedly asking yourself whether your tastebuds have just awakened. Settle into a breakfast dish of your choosing and mull over the day ahead while gaining a truer understanding of la dolce vita.

Spend the day however you see fit, but let Venice guide you through each back street. Once your energy begins to falter and the aperitivo hour strikes, explore the neighbouring cicchetti bars for a light lunch and the mandatory Aperol Spritz. After navigating almost all of the 413 bridges or being sweet-talked into a gondola ride, Il Piccolo calls once again. Return for dinner, where Chef Antonio executes a forward-thinking style of cuisine with a focus on seasonality and locally sourced ingredients, showcasing Venice’s diverse culinary offerings. Violino d’Oro’s award-winning bartender crafts the perfect aperitivo to pair with each cicchetto. Dine on traditional Venetian dishes such as Bottone di baccalà, enjoying the flavours of the lagoon and understanding the deep heritage within the cooking. Or choose something more experimental, as unique to Il Piccolo are the vegan cicchetti, an innovation born from the founders’ own preferences and a rarity within Venice. With an ever-changing menu and wines from the surrounding regions, there is something for everyone in this tiny gem of a restaurant.

Perhaps to aid digestion, you will find yourself strolling around the corner to Piazza San Marco at 11pm, watching what is by day Venice’s busiest square resting in tranquil emptiness, truly feeling the wonder of being cut off in this silent city. You cannot help but feel the magic that everyone speaks of and find yourself embracing a desire to explore.

You will realise, as I did, that the city is like a coin with two sides: the bustle and frenetic energy of the daytime, and the inevitable serenity once the sun begins to set. There is a beauty in both day and night, and what an honour it is to witness them. Violino d’Oro represents all that is special about this city. People come to Venice for the romance of the gondolas, its rich architectural history, and the awe of the floating city. There is a magic that simply cannot be replicated without staying the night. Do not make my mistake and delay the inevitable; why not fall in love with it now?