George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin wedding: a look at the Aman Canal Grande Hotel in Venice

The £3,200-a-night canal-front hotel's location ensures complete privacy with the only entrance being by waterway

Sarah Allidina
Tuesday 30 September 2014 10:11 BST
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Captivating, breathtakingly beautiful, architecturally inspiring - it’s hard to capture the essence of Venice in one word. Perhaps the first and most fitting description is the epitome of romance.

Venice has long been known as a city synonymous with romance. British poet Arthur Symons once said ‘A realist in Venice would become a romantic by mere faithfulness to what he saw before him.’ Thus it comes as no surprise that George Clooney and his fiancée, British lawyer Amul Alamuddin have chosen the 7 star Aman Canal Grande Hotel as the location for their celebrity-studded wedding this weekend.

Built in 1550, the palazzo has an inherently regal heritage and was part of Vera Papadopoli Alborandini’s dowry when she married Count Giberto Arrivabene at the end of the 19th century. Today, the palace is owned by her grandson and the palazzo-turned-hotel was opened last year after a spectacular restoration. The Aman Canal Grande’s ambiance is more reflective of a royal residence than a hotel as its location ensures complete privacy with the only entrance being by waterway.

The £3,200-a-night canal-front hotel which features classic frescos, plush furniture and high ceilings of a long-forgotten era of exuberance, will welcome the couple and their guests, who are thought to include 150 prominent members of Hollywood and the art world such as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Andrea Bocelli, Lana del Rey, Bono and Cindy Crawford.

The hotel is situated on one of the most prominent canals in the city lined with hundreds of historic buildings which have been standing for over seven hundred years. The meandering canal, once famous as the playground of the nobility, begins at the lagoon near the Santa Lucia railway station and leads to the Saint Mark Basin 3,800 metres away. In true Venetian style, guests, who will be staying at the world-renowned Hotel Cipriani, will arrive at the wedding by Venice’s waterways which are frequented by oh-so-romantic gondolas and the more practical vaporetti (water buses).

Venice is an increasingly popular wedding destination for stars who seek to tie-the-knot in true fairytale style. Actress Salma Hayek and François-Henri Pinault renewed their vows at the Teatro La Fenice opera house in 2009 and TV personality Tamara Beckwith married millionaire construction heir Giorgio Veroni in a ceremony at the Redentore Church in the heart of Venice.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site which boasts winding canals, enchanting alleyways and arching bridges is the ideal setting for romance and was recently ranked third in WeLoveDates.com’s list of the 25 most romantic cities in the world. The main character of many films, Venice’s opulence offers endless possibilities for couples looking to celebrate their love. St Mark’s Square surrounded by the Basilica San Marco’s wondrous domes and the architecturally spectacular Doges Palace comes to a standstill as the sun sets on the island and the sixteenth-century Rialto Bridge is certainly not to be missed as it offers the best views of the Grand Canal and its luscious azure waters.

It’s easy to spend an entire day wandering the Renaissance city’s quaint, cobbled alleys sprinkled with luxury boutiques and cosy, intimate restaurants serving Venetian delicacies. Alternatively, get a taste of Venice by water and cruise through the cultural capital taking in the sights, sounds and authentic smells of a city built to reflect wealth and majesty.

This weekend’s Clooney-Alamuddin wedding is sure to confirm Venice’s established position on the map as a romantic location. Though streets and waterways may be shut off to make way for the marriage party’s grand entrance, we’re sure to get a glimpse of the old-world decadence of Italy’s most luxurious island.

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