Back in 1883, when the very first Orient Express train flagged off from Paris, the world got its first taste of what true luxury train travel could feel like. The details of a palace, such as polished wood marquetry, velvet upholstery, glass panels that shimmered in the light, leather armchairs you could sink into, and beds so plush you would forget you were moving, were incorporated into a train.
Statesmen, writers, and Hollywood icons such as Agatha Christie, Marlene Dietrich, and Laurence Olivier were just a few names on its elaborate and glamorous passenger list.
Fast forward to 2025, and the Orient Express name is about to pull another ace from its sleeve. After a slew of luxury yachts and palace hotels, a 15th-century Venetian palace has been given a jaw-dropping makeover. Following eight years of painstaking restoration, led by architect Aline Asmar d’Amman, the Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli is set to open in partnership with Accor and LVMH in early 2026.
Aline Asmar d’Amman, a Beirut-based architect, is known for blending Eastern and Western influences in her work. She is the founder of Culture in Architecture, and her portfolio includes the interiors of the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris, private residences in the Middle East and Europe, and the scenography for exhibitions at the Grand Palais. For this project, she has taken the bones of a centuries-old palace and layered them with details that celebrate both its history and its new life.
In her own words: “I fell in love with every scorched stone, patina, fresco, and cherub, relentlessly listening to the confidences whispered by the sculptural ladies of the house, guardians of its cultural resonance. This transformative journey is a life-changing experience for an architect, permeated with echoes of the past staged with timeless elegance and creative nowness, a testimony of the Serenissima’s permanent movement as a gate between East and West.”
The building itself is a showstopper. Originally designed by Filippo Calendario, the same man behind the Doge’s Palace, it has a façade that blends Neo-Gothic drama with Baroque flair. The row of seven Gothic windows along the Rio de Noale sparkles with every ripple in the canal. Over the centuries, it has been home to the Duke of Urbino, the Donà family, and the Giovannellis. Later, it became a Pinacoteca, housing priceless art. Now it is stepping into its role as the latest Orient Express address.
You will find the Palazzo in Cannaregio, Venice’s largest district. It is crossed by the Cannaregio Canal, one of only two in the historic centre navigated by vaporettos, and it offers a blend of local life and historic charm. Nestled in the first Venetian sestiere, where the life of La Serenissima remains untouched, the Palazzo occupies a singular position at the confluence of two canals, the Rio di Noale and the Rio di Santa Fosca, flanked by historic palaces with a vibrant aura. From here, you are a ten-minute walk from the main quay and close to Venice’s quieter corners.
When you step through the doors, you are met by Giovanni Battista Meduna’s 19th-century octagonal staircase, original frescoes, and Murano chandeliers. The piano nobile opens into rooms full of Venice’s colori persi (lost colours), those faded, romantic hues, layered with treasures from the past and present. Beyond the walls, the maze of calli (narrow streets) and cortili (hidden courtyards) awaits exploration.
The 47 key property has rooms with a lot of individuality. Venetian sliding doors reveal hand-painted scenes, while Art Deco fixtures and Murano glass catch the light perfectly. Guests can choose from cosy 30 m² Classic Rooms to sprawling 148 m² Apartments. Expect vaulted ceilings, rare patinas, frescoed figures, velvet drapes, and cool stone floors, a harmonious blend of comfort and character.
Like the original Orient Express train, this will be all about the experience, with guests encouraged to wander from the courtyard to the terraces to the upper galleries, allowing the building to reveal its secrets. Dining will be another highlight, bringing together Venetian flavours and modern culinary artistry.
