Casa Salute

Italian Design through the Centuries

Occupying the piano nobile of this centuries-old palazzo, the apartment looks out onto some of the most iconic views of the city and the lagoon framed through every window.

A London and Sydney based owner and design aficionado discovered the palazzetto while on the hunt for a historic property to restore, then enlisted architect Jacques Grange, along with architects Alberto Tosello and Barbara de Stefano of Venice’s TA Architettura, to gently adjust and reinterpret the space. The result is an extraordinary architectural apartment, hand crafted and highly curated, with a masterful collection of mid-century Italian art and design.

Pared down and simplified without sacrificing its historical relevance, the interiors draw inspiration from Italian modernist Carlo Scarpa in delightful contrast to the grandeur of the scenery. “We wanted the views and the light and the detailing to do all the talking,” the owner says.

The original Gothic facade, coffered ceilings, herringbone parquet, and gleaming terrazzo floors now showcase mid-century pieces by Gio Ponti, Ico Parisi, Ignazio Gardella, Franco Albini for Poggi, and ceramics by Bruno Gambone in a mirrored reflection of classic Italian design through the centuries.

Located on the second floor, the entry leads into the light-filled Salute reading room and through to the spacious Accademia salon overlooking the Grand Canal.

The professionally equipped galley-style kitchen is adjacent to the dining room that seats up to 14, with the option of a private chef to cater.

The master suite includes its own terrace overlooking the Grand Canal and the Guggenheim Museum, with a separate dressing room and an en-suite bath in magnificent Cremo Tirreno marble.

The double bedroom has both canal and courtyard views, while the twin suite can be shared, and both feature spa-style baths in handcrafted marble.

From the apartment, you can hop on a Vaporetto to the Accademia Galleries and the Guggenheim, or venture over to the Basilica di San Marco and the Doge’s Palace and marvel at the poignant beauty and jaw-dropping splendor that is Venice.

Around

Comprised of over 100 islands floating among the lagoons, one of Italy’s most glorious destinations is a dreamlike maze of canals and epic grandeur that audaciously reinvented what a great Italian city could be. If Rome is the eternal city, then Venice is its mysterious and ethereal counterpart.

Awe-inspiring in its opulent beauty and artistry, the city moves at a languid pace where you could spend endless days in its network of canals, narrow backstreets, and secret passageways, marveling at its cache of historic treasures (although tourism is at an all-time high and you might want to time your visit wisely). 

A decadently rich concentration of history is packed within over a dozen boroughs including Castello, San Marco, Lido, Isola Della Giudecca, and the outer islands including Burano and Murano famed for its colorful glass artists.

The Grand Canal is the city’s answer to the modern highway and the signature waterway leads to the beating heart of the Palazzo Ducale and the famed Basilica di San Marco and square. From the imposing Gothic architecture to the romance of the Renaissance, the city’s classic symbols including the Rialto bridge, the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute and the magnificent Gallerie dell’Accademia are only a few of the wealth of cultural icons.

And if you’re an adventurous spirit, the elaborate and slightly hallucinatory Carnavale kicks off every Spring with fantastical costumes and masks in celebration of Lent. From the gondolas lazily bobbing with the tides, to the marble palaces slowing receding into history, the fact that this magnificent city is slowly sinking lends it a sense of poignancy and longing and makes it one of life’s must-see stops along the way.

Location

Venice, Italy. Nearest airport: Marco Polo International is on the mainland at Tessera, just north of Venice where you’ll catch the ATVO bus to Piazzale Roma and from there to the Vaporetto (water bus) to San Marco. Travel times vary but expect about 90 minutes to two hours.

Best time to visit

Spring through fall is high season so you’ll want to time your visit to avoid the summer tourist crush as well as the potential rising tide conditions of the rainy season.

Photography: Julien Hausherr