Occupying an entire island in the Venice lagoon, San Clemente Palace Kempinski Hotel is one of the most atmospheric places to stay in the city known as the Queen Of The Adriatic. A private world of complete serenity in La Serenissima, San Clemente Palace Kempinski is worlds away from the city’s tourist hordes so often cited in articles about overtourism―which, admittedly, is less of a problem this year. An elegant option for sophisticated travellers, the hotel’s 190 rooms (of which 62 are suites) provide sublime comfort as well as tranquillity, yet they are also very convenient for sightseeing, especially for people who don’t like to walk too far. The vastness of the hotel building means guests have a lot of space to themselves, even in the public areas. The hotel’s private motorboats transport guests back and forth between San Clemente Palace and St Mark’s Square. As is typical of hotels in historical buildings, there are many categories and configurations of rooms and suites at San Clemente Palace. Given their privileged location, the suites are particularly coveted for their dramatic views of the lagoon and buildings of Giudecca and St Mark’s beyond.
This being Italy, the culinary offerings of San Clemente Palace live up to both the country’s and Kempinski’s reputations for excellence in dining experiences. Though Venice’s regional specialties may not be as famous as those from other parts of Italy, they are similarly important in representing the local culture. Desserts, of course, are the exclamation point to any meal in Italy, and in Venice the baked goods are as deliciously rich as the gelato; happily for the visiting gourmand, pastries are a staple of Venetian breakfasts, here at San Clemente Palace served in the splendid salon of the Insieme restaurant. In the evenings, Venetian delicacies are served with pleasure at Acquerello, San Clemente Palace’s fine-dining restaurant where superb service in a refined atmosphere make this one of Venice’s most exclusive dinner experiences. The name Acquerello may seem to the astute English speaker’s eye to be linked to water, and that eye would be right; the word in Italian means ‘watercolours’ in salute to the ethereal hues of the Venetian sky, water, and landscape, especially in the late afternoon and early evening. Breakfast in Insieme, providing an abundance of extraordinary flavours, starts the day with the fuel to take in the many attractions of Venice, a city full of outstanding museums including L’Accademia, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and Ca’ Rezzonico, one of several museums under the aegis of the Fondazione Musei Civici Venezia, which also operates ten other museums, including The Doge’s Palace on St Mark’s Square. Various combinations available with a Venezia Unica card help visitors get around the city beyond St Mark’s Square to take in the sights via Venice’s comprehensive vaporetti public transport network on the water.
The only Kempinski property in Italy, San Clemente Palace provides the same level of five-star service found at all Kempinski hotels around the world. Staff are unfailingly polite and courteous and seem genuinely proud to provide their guests with the best hotel experience possible. The island itself is beautifully landscaped, with meticulous gardens crossed by paths to the swimming pool, tennis courts, and water’s edge. Connoisseurs of exceptional spa treatments will want to visit the spa’s Merchant Of Venice Suite, which accommodates couples in sumptuous surroundings. Voted “Best Wedding Hotel” in 2017 by the World Tourism Forum, it’s no wonder San Clemente Palace Kempinski is a favourite destination for weddings and other special romantic occasions.
By Robert La Bua
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