Press Release: Orient-Express Hotels
November 9, 2000
NEW YORK, NY -- The legendary Hotel Cipriani in Venice recently purchased three architecturally historic interconnecting
buildings on the island of Guidecca in order to create a number of extra meeting rooms, and to enlarge the very
popular gathering place, Cip's Club, which opened last year to great acclaim.
Called I Granai della Repubblica or the Granaries of the Republic, the buildings are located across the lagoon
opposite the Salute Church and St. Mark's Square, next to Hotel Cipriani's two annex buildings, the Palazzo Vendramin
and the Palazzetto. Constructed of solid brick in the early 19th century, the granaries are built over the ruins
of Palazzo Dandolo and, at the height of its might as a republic, were possibly the largest storage spaces in the
whole of Venice.
Subject to obtaining permits, work will be carried out over the winter months to convert the granary buildings
into a unique historical meeting venue, while simultaneously extending the terrace along the front of Cip's. Favored
by the world's most discerning travelers for the view of St. Mark's Square, the Campanile and the Doge's Palace,
this terrace provides what is arguably one of the most beautiful panoramas in the world.
Centuries ago when Venice was a bustling port and the center of all commercial sea trade, it teemed with sailing
boats, galleons and trading vessels returning home from the Mediterranean and China laden with riches and merchandise
to trade within Europe. The ground floor of every Palazzo on the Grand Canal was built to store these goods and
the Basin of St. Mark's which the Hotel Cipriani now overlooks, was the central area of the port. Dotted around
Venice at that time were large storage spaces such as I Granai della Repubblica, where rice and grain were kept,
and the Saloni behind the Salute Church at the entrance of the Grand Canal, which offered arriving and departing
vessels dry storage of a very valuable commodity, salt.
The world famous Hotel Cipriani currently featuring four smaller meeting rooms in the main hotel building, is under
the watchful eye of fabled hotelier, Dr. Natale Rusconi. Celebrities, high-profile business executives and world
leaders frequent the hotel during both leisure and business visits to Venice.
For more information and reservations for the flagship of the Orient-Express Hotels collection, call The Leading
Hotels of the World at 800-223-6800 or visit http://www.hotelcipriani.it
or http://www.orient-express.com.
SOURCE: Orient-Express Hotels