Sina Sinsational – Venice’s Centurion Palace Hotel

[Nicholas Kontis]

“Viva Venezia” – The Grand Canal with Dorsoduro and the Santa Maria Della Cathedral

Can a hotel inspire one to travel? In most cases, no. But the Sina Centurion Palace is that unique hotel experience that we all long for… a hotel stay that can change your entire perspective on a city or an area. 

 

The 19th Century Façade – The building is not old in comparison to Venice architecture.

I recently took a trip to Venice, that city of stunning architecture, long narrow canals, bridges, gondolas, the Carnevale, il Redentore festival, the historic regatta on the Grand Canal,fabled St. Mark’s Square and more. The city that once was the epicenter of Europe also hosts one of the most contemporary hotel and luxury properties, the fabulous five star Sina Centurion Palace.

The Stunning Outdoor Courtyard.

Though the hotel is on the opposite side of San Marco, it is on Grand Canal, and overlooks the Gritti Palace and San Marco. Located in the Dorsoduro area, you simply cannot beat the location. The hotel almost touches the famed church, the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, the last church built after the last wave of the plague.

The vibrant area between Punta della Dogana and the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, home to not only the heiress’ pieces, but also works from the Nasher Sculpture Center, is a magical place to be in Venice. The Ca’ Dario or Palazzo Darrio, known to be a haunted palace, is next door to the Centurion Palace.

The Contemporary Breakfast Room With Red Velvet Curtains

The Private Lounge Area At The Presidential Suite.

The tip of the Dogana di Mar allows one of the best views of Venice.  The traghetto, the famed gondola, for a mere two Euros, ferries you across the Grand Canal to San Marco. You could spend a day or two exploring shops, off the beaten path restaurants, sightseeing and more, all in your backyard, a stone’s throw from the Centurion Palace.

A bit further down is the Palazzo Contarini, which John Ruskin, the English Victorian art critic called “the best Gothic architecture in Venice.” The Dorsoduro area is Venice’s premier location. You are a within an easy charming stroll from the best of the city has to offer.

It is definitely in part  the marvelous location that makes the Centurion Palace grand. Upon arrival, I’m stunned. Although, the property, by Venetian standards is not old, the interior caught me off guard. Contemporary in design, not classic like the façade and outdoor courtyard. Certainly, not the type of hotel, one would expect in historical and timeless Venice.

To get the facts about the property, I sit down with the dapper and charismatic Napolitan general manager, Paolo Morra, a man of passion and conviction. Morra is a career hotel man; a professional in his craft indeed. Morra is on the board of directors for ‘Small Luxury Hotels of the World’ for Italy. 

Paolo Morra – The Suave and Dapper – General Manager

Morra adds “I worked for eleven years, just on the other side of the Grand Canal, at the Gritti Palace. The Centurion Palace was a four year work in progress, and only reopened on October 1, 2009, after the four years it took to bring the hotel, under Sina Fine Italian Hotels ownership, to its present state.” The property has 50 rooms and suites on its three floors, including a Presidential Suite, the largest in town, facing the Grand Canal.

Any restoration in Venice is difficult with the city being built on water and canals. Unlike much of Venice which dates back to the 13^th century, the building is from the 1800s. Morra, explains, “the building, not being so old, had nothing inside to preserve, and not being a historical building made it an easy decision to create a contemporary hotel. Only the façade and courtyard remain as they were.” With most hotels designed in a classic style, a contemporary hotel is something quite unique in Venice.

“I know that we are not on the side of San Marco, but we have a superior location,” adds Morra. “We are a five star hotel, with all the categories of that stature: a presidential suite, junior suites, superior deluxe- all room categories that make us a five star hotel. We are a unique hotel in Venice with a nice mix of classic and modern design.”

The Rooms are Modern in an inviting Contemporary Style.

Gold Plated Bathrooms complete with large bath and shower

If you look around the hotel, it is like you are in a boutique hotel in old world Venice. Morra stresses the mantra of the Sina brand of fine properties that is quite apparent as I meet with many of the hotel staff. “Our philosophy at Sina Centurion Palace and all Sina hotels is to put together Italian hospitality. We are family, a very noble family, and we are not afraid to hire the best people from all around the world, not only from Italy.

At the Centurion Palace you see staff of African, Asian descent, and from throughout Europe. I’m impressed- the Sina Centurion Palace truly appears to be “one big happy family.” The level of service from top to bottom makes the guest feel at home in Venice.

Rachele Salmaso – The professional Executive Assistant to Mr. Moora

Perhaps no other ambassador typifies the service of the Centurion Palace than the gorgeous Executive Assistant, Rachele Salmaso, actually worked with Morra at the Gritti Palace. Salmaso reminds me that the Centurion Palace is like an extended family. Salmaso is just one of the many ambassadors at the Cenurion Palace. Salmasso continues, “I speak six languages: Italian, English, Portuguese, French, German, and Russian.” Ms. Salmaso is just one of the many staff from throughout Italy and from all parts of the world.

Sinonetta Manno and Mauro Zanon – At the Front Desk

Emanuele Vio – Federico Piccolo – Stefano Bellotto – Not just any hotel staff but Centurion Palace – “Hotel Ambassadors.”

At The Sina Centurion Palace the guest is treated like royalty. From the moment you arrive at the front desk until your stay in paradise has come to end.

Everything flows in a funky, contemporary feel, in some ways more like the Delano in South Beach, Miami, than Venice. We continue on to the posh Antinoo Restaurant and Lounge. Serving classic Venetian and Mediterranean cuisine, Antinoo is one of the best restaurants in Venice.

Morra explains its unique name. “During the hotel restoration archeologists found a coin with the face of Antinoo, four meters down in the courtyard, dating back to the year 200.” In Greek mythology, Antinous, son of Eupeithes, is most known for his role in Homer’s Odyssey.

Antinoo Lounge and Restautant – All Dressed in White.

Giuseppe Riccio – Maitre d’ and sommelier – pairs fine Italian wines to accompany mouth watering local delicacies.

Jermain Ukeni – The passionate server comes from London, and is of Italian and Nigerian descent.

Caorle scallop wrapped in smoked bacon with Sicilian oranges sauce, cocoa beans and mixed wild salad

Carnaroli Veronese DOP Risotto with pumpkin and vanilla, served with Umbrian black truffle flakes and red mullet escalop

Fillet of red bream  with Granny Smith apple, shallot, pine nuts and broccoli cream

Chili scented chocolate trilogy with strawberry sauce.

Located on the Grand Canal, the hotel boasts an incomparable location in the San Marco area, a spot which helps imbue the “Antinoo’s Lounge and Restaurant” with an elegant and comfortable air. The Bar is the ideal place to relax, people watch and enjoy the ambiance of the world’s most fabled, breathtaking views.

Not just any hotel in Venice, the Centurion Palace Hotel is “Sina Sinsational.”

 

Sina Centuriona Palace Venezia

Dorsoduro, 173

Tel. [phone]

Emal. [e-mail]

www.sinahotels.com

 

About the Author: Nick Kontis – Travel Expert and Founder of the World Travel List

Nick Kontis started out as a world traveler at an early age traveling back and forth between California and Greece every summer. But it was a backpacking trip around the world at age 24 that proved to be a life changing experience. After traveling by car, train, plane, bike and, boat around the world, it would be this trip of a lifetime that would lead to a life as a travel entrepreneur and world traveler. Nick has been on both radio and television. Featured on Arthur Frommer’s television show, and referred by Lonely Planet writers. Frequently mentioned as the “father of around the world airfares.” Arthur Frommer once said, “If Jules Verne were alive today he would use Nick to go around the world in 80 days.” Nick and his various travel companies have sent over 10,000 people taking their dream trip through airfare discounts of as much as 50% off the airlines published fares. Now Nick promotes travel through his World Travel List and ‘Trip Rambler’ by World Travel List. Having traveled to over 80 countries Nick hopes to inspire others to travel the world. Follow Nick’s “passion for travel” on the World Travel List.

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