Overlooking the Grand Canal, the hotel is tucked away on a bustling shopping street just off of San Marco Square. Guests dock at the private Gondola entrance with a sweeping canal view of the Church of Santa Maria della Salute and the island of San Giorgio. Built in 1638, the building originally operated as a gambling hall and hosted the likes of Giacomo Casanova and his many conquests. Today, the property has been fully restored to a five-star luxury hotel by the Benetton Family. Larger than most Venetian boutique hotels, Hotel Monaco has a large interior lounge, a sophisticated in-house restaurant and some of the finest conference facilities in the city.

The Room:

The hotel has 100 rooms furnished in grand style for those who want to stay in Venice and become part of its history. Venetian chandeliers hang in most of the 100 rooms, outfitted with sitting areas and bedrooms with views of the Grand Canal. The windows are all well insulated, providing silence from the squawk of seagulls, clank of dining utensils and general noise of the nearby area. Traditional furnishings revive '60s and '70s Italian decor in some rooms while others benefit from a full 2003 overhaul. The oversized bathrooms feature separate bathes and well-configured showers, bidet and luxury bath products.