Annexed together are two very different characters. The modern
and somewhat soul-less Bauer is the very ugly sister of the beautiful
Palazzo which was recently completely refurbished. The Palazzo
at the Bauer is housed in a Gothic-style palazzo overlooking
the Grand Canal. Our tip is to avoid the modern Bauer all together.
Instead of using the main entrance in Campo San Moise nip down
the side alley and head direct to the discrete and luxurious
reception of the Palazzo. The lobby gives a taste of the whole
style of the hotel, dark red veneers, delicate Chinese prints
and mottled Venetian glass. There is a superb restaurant on the
Grand Canal and a quieter garden to the side in which to have
afternoon tea.
The bedrooms are very elegantly and tastefully decorated with
silk walls and antiques - there is a truly Venetian feel in every
room. The two Grand Canal Suites on the first floor are simply
beautiful with duck-egg blue silk walls, antiques and frescoed
ceilings. In fact all of the suites are very, very well presented,
light and ever so slightly decadent. The bathroom products are
the owner's own brand Santa Maria degli Angeli and the bathrooms
are generally spacious and modern.
If you would like the luxury of the Palazzo but are not concerned
about a Grand Canal view, then we feel that the third floor
no-view bedrooms decorated in exotic red silk are about the best
deal in Venice for fantastic style without paying exorbitant
prices.
Breakfast on the top floor is not to be missed;
if the weather is fine you can sit outside on possibly the highest
terrace
in the city, where the views are just stunning. There is a
move to make it a place for cocktails in the evening - we can't
wait.
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