A new luxury experience in the heart of Venice

The newly reimagined Palazzo Rota, a 14th-century residence close to St Mark’s Square, has been transformed into a luxury hospitality destination consisting of six apartments, each inspired by a different island of the Venetian lagoon: Murano, Burano, Torcello, Sant’Erasmo, Lido and San Giorgio Maggiore. Located in Calle dei Fabbri, the property is just a short walk from the museums and landmarks of the St Mark’s district, a privileged position that offers an immersive experience of the heart of Venice.

Having served various purposes over the centuries, the building was recently reimagined by Studio Marco Piva. The interiors, ranging from 50 to 80 square metres in size, feature a sophisticated interplay of materials and colours that pay homage to the Venetian tradition. Key features include a panoramic terrace for the San Giorgio Maggiore apartment with views across the city’s rooftops, along with subtle nods to Carlo Scarpa’s minimalist design language in certain finishes. The city’s textile heritage is also celebrated through a curated selection of fabrics and wallpapers from the historic company Rubelli.

“Divided into six exclusive apartments, the interiors of Palazzo Rota tell the story of Venice through a dialogue between heritage and contemporary design, where every material choice serves as a narrative tool,” explains Jennifer Bassani of Studio Marco Piva.

The project captures the city’s identity through the deliberate use of surfaces, striking a balance between aesthetic appeal, technical performance and long-term durability.

Evocative details and material choices create a seamless narrative where patterns take centre stage, becoming key elements of the composition. Glossy surfaces generate reflections reminiscent of the shifting waters of the canals, while geometric motifs lend the ceramic surfaces a tactile, three-dimensional quality. Alongside textiles symbolising the Venetian tradition and abstract artworks inspired by the lagoon islands from which the apartments take their names, the composition is completed by a palette of Venetian red, lagoon greens and the warm tones of historic façades.

In the entrance, guests are welcomed by glossy Grigio Imperiale porcelain stoneware from Ceramica Fioranese’s Marmorea collection. The reflective surface amplifies both natural and artificial light while ensuring excellent durability and ease of maintenance.

The Marmorea collection tiles chosen for the bathroom floors and walls combine two iconic marble effects – Bianco Calacatta and Port Laurent – reinterpreting classical tradition in a contemporary language. In this context, the Deco effect is more than just decoration; it provides visual structure to the space. The veining becomes a series of pathways and the colour contrasts provide a sense of rhythm, transforming the surfaces into a tactile narrative that creates a contemporary hospitality experience closely connected to the identity of Venice.