A letter from CEO, Francesca Bortolotto Possati
Dear friends,
I decided to share some of the many hidden secrets behind the doors of my overwhelming and unique city of Venice. In other words, my list of personal favorites and “the best of what to do and see” this month in Venice.
Venice is an enchanting city, with a complex and sometimes conflicting charm. It’s almost impossible to remain unmoved upon your first visit. Aside from a very few people who do not like or appreciate Venice, the majority fall in love without reservation, and discover a love almost obsessive in nature. If you have the pleasure of spending a little more than a few days, you have the joy of reaching around every corner, and it’s in this moment when Venice infects you…almost like a virus that can lead to an incurable passion.
No other city in the world is more exotic. It stimulates many memories with roots so deep in cosmopolitan culture, it’s too difficult to name. To another end, it can be called a ”city salon” where you can walk through one side to the other in less than an hour.
If you stay long enough, Venice will let you perceive a lot more than the mere physical pleasure of contact with the city and its famous buildings. This intimacy is a permanent challenge to your level of sensitivity and imagination and impossible to capture completely. Regardless, no matter how long or how well you will know her, Venice always allows you to discover. Just walking around, you’ll see something new you’ve never noticed before… an arch, a small square of an ancient house, iron craftsmanship on a wooden door or window treatment.
Even if we are not as yet in Spring, something starts to change. The breeze hints of a milder spring wind. The gardens scattered around the city start to spread the first smell of magnolia and early blossoms of butterbush. You may be surprised to know that although Venice is in an island of stone and water, there are so many hidden gardens!
This is also a perfect time to explore the many islands gathered around the lagoon. Whether it's Murano, Burano, Torcello, le Vignole, or San Francesco to name a few, each island is different and yet, they share the same subtle atmosphere of a quiet timelessness full of nature and beauty that seduces you. Many islands have tended gardens of nutrient-rich soil that produce some of the region's most delicious home grown vegetables and herbs. And, you can watch the activity as the local fisherman come in and out from collecting their daily catch as their forefathers have done centuries before them. Their efforts play a predominant role in our Venetian circle of life. In fact, combined with the salty air, the fresh catch mixed with home grown vegetables and herbs deliver an unforgettable dining experience for visitors and Venetians alike.
Truman Capote once said: “Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs in one go." Perhaps he meant it is a city built for show. Its sights are global icons of art and architecture, and if you've never been, you're in for one of the most amazing treats of the travel world.
With my warmest regards
Francesca Bortolotto Possati
Mission
Our mission at the BAUER family of hotels is to provide our guests with the flavor and essence of Venice's past and present. The Bauer is also committed to the future of Venice, one of the world's most important and precious cities. Our goal is to set an example of leadership in the areas of both environmental responsibility and social commitment through the products and services offered to our guests.
We believe that by giving back to the roots of our community, we offer a richer and more meaningful experience to our guests. At the same time we are extending new opportunities for those who wish to enjoy the beauty and elegance of Venice around the world.
Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with some of the products and services we proudly present. Your feedback is always appreciated. Thank you.
Aria B Products
Eco-friendly, all-natural beauty products developed in partnership with a social intiative and sustainable community-based business. Exclusively available through the world-class Bauer hotels.
Sete-Cento Boutique & Designs
A contemporary collection representing a fluid elaboration of a grand and noble lifestyle, incorporating ancient Venetian artisan details which bring a touch of the magic and opulence of the Serenissima to a modern world of sophisticated grace and mobility.
B-Mare
Venice's only eco-friendly, solar-powered boat, the BMare, shuttles guests between the Bauer's L'Hotel & Il Palazzo to the Bauer Palladio Hotel & Spa with no noise, no waves, and no pollution. Guests of all Bauer hotels can enjoy the leisurely boat ride across the Grand Canal with spectacular scenery of the shore and Venice's lagoon, as well as engage in the amenities of a private garden and state-of-the art spa facility engaged in therapies for relaxation and healing on Guidecca Island.
I decided to share some of the many hidden secrets behind the doors of my overwhelming and unique city of Venice. In other words, my list of personal favorites and “the best of what to do and see” this month in Venice.
Venice is an enchanting city, with a complex and sometimes conflicting charm. It’s almost impossible to remain unmoved upon your first visit. Aside from a very few people who do not like or appreciate Venice, the majority fall in love without reservation, and discover a love almost obsessive in nature. If you have the pleasure of spending a little more than a few days, you have the joy of reaching around every corner, and it’s in this moment when Venice infects you…almost like a virus that can lead to an incurable passion.
No other city in the world is more exotic. It stimulates many memories with roots so deep in cosmopolitan culture, it’s too difficult to name. To another end, it can be called a ”city salon” where you can walk through one side to the other in less than an hour.
If you stay long enough, Venice will let you perceive a lot more than the mere physical pleasure of contact with the city and its famous buildings. This intimacy is a permanent challenge to your level of sensitivity and imagination and impossible to capture completely. Regardless, no matter how long or how well you will know her, Venice always allows you to discover. Just walking around, you’ll see something new you’ve never noticed before… an arch, a small square of an ancient house, iron craftsmanship on a wooden door or window treatment.
Even if we are not as yet in Spring, something starts to change. The breeze hints of a milder spring wind. The gardens scattered around the city start to spread the first smell of magnolia and early blossoms of butterbush. You may be surprised to know that although Venice is in an island of stone and water, there are so many hidden gardens!
This is also a perfect time to explore the many islands gathered around the lagoon. Whether it's Murano, Burano, Torcello, le Vignole, or San Francesco to name a few, each island is different and yet, they share the same subtle atmosphere of a quiet timelessness full of nature and beauty that seduces you. Many islands have tended gardens of nutrient-rich soil that produce some of the region's most delicious home grown vegetables and herbs. And, you can watch the activity as the local fisherman come in and out from collecting their daily catch as their forefathers have done centuries before them. Their efforts play a predominant role in our Venetian circle of life. In fact, combined with the salty air, the fresh catch mixed with home grown vegetables and herbs deliver an unforgettable dining experience for visitors and Venetians alike.
Truman Capote once said: “Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs in one go." Perhaps he meant it is a city built for show. Its sights are global icons of art and architecture, and if you've never been, you're in for one of the most amazing treats of the travel world.
With my warmest regards
Francesca Bortolotto Possati
Mission
Our mission at the BAUER family of hotels is to provide our guests with the flavor and essence of Venice's past and present. The Bauer is also committed to the future of Venice, one of the world's most important and precious cities. Our goal is to set an example of leadership in the areas of both environmental responsibility and social commitment through the products and services offered to our guests.
We believe that by giving back to the roots of our community, we offer a richer and more meaningful experience to our guests. At the same time we are extending new opportunities for those who wish to enjoy the beauty and elegance of Venice around the world.
Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with some of the products and services we proudly present. Your feedback is always appreciated. Thank you.
Aria B Products
Eco-friendly, all-natural beauty products developed in partnership with a social intiative and sustainable community-based business. Exclusively available through the world-class Bauer hotels.
Sete-Cento Boutique & Designs
A contemporary collection representing a fluid elaboration of a grand and noble lifestyle, incorporating ancient Venetian artisan details which bring a touch of the magic and opulence of the Serenissima to a modern world of sophisticated grace and mobility.
B-Mare
Venice's only eco-friendly, solar-powered boat, the BMare, shuttles guests between the Bauer's L'Hotel & Il Palazzo to the Bauer Palladio Hotel & Spa with no noise, no waves, and no pollution. Guests of all Bauer hotels can enjoy the leisurely boat ride across the Grand Canal with spectacular scenery of the shore and Venice's lagoon, as well as engage in the amenities of a private garden and state-of-the art spa facility engaged in therapies for relaxation and healing on Guidecca Island.