PalazzinaG ★★★★★

I awake in the morning with brilliant light pouring in through the enormous windows, which have the curtains flung open to reveal the view over the rooftops of Venice. Venice! I am in Venice! The sun bounces off mirrors, works of modern art themselves, creating a wonderful show of light and shadow in our large, airy room. It is stunning! “Wake up, sleepy-head!” My eyes focus against the dazzling glare to reveal the cause of such sudden brightness. It is my man, who has gleefully bounded out of bed and flung open the windows in a none-too-subtle attempt to rouse me. I slightly grumpily wonder why he has not tried the more gentle approach of kisses and breakfast in bed – we are in the city of romance after all! I roll over to find a single red rose and a warm, buttery croissant on my bedside table. Apparently all the gentle crooning and cuddles in the world couldn't stir me this morning.

We had taken an evening flight in and our first glimpse of Venice was of it radiantly lit, the water glimmering in the dark with long luminous rivers criss-crossing the canals, making a patchwork of black and gold. It was breathtaking. Then our private water taxi had picked us up and taken us straight to our destination, which would have been hard enough to recognise during the day due to its nondescript, exclusive façade. Despite its recognisable status, listed among some of the finest hotels in the world by Condé Nast Traveller and The New York Times, the hotel is discreetly located in the historic centre of Venice on the Grand Canal. With nothing but a stylised bull’s head above the entrance to identify the entrance, this chic destination is one of Venice’s hotspots for the glamorous cognoscenti.

On stepping onto land and passing through the mysterious entrance, we entered into a glittering, sensual world in which renowned designer, Phillipe Starck, has masterfully made a magical palace of smoke and mirrors. Ultra-modern, clean lines and urban designs are showcased against walls of white, delicate fabrics and sparkling glass. The effect is a contemporary designer heaven for very chic angels. We don't feel too angelic after our travels and sneak up to our fabulous room, with stunning views over the city, to change into something more Palazzina... We are a little waylaid by the delightful discoveries of our own salon: the large bathtub, six pillows on the sumptuous bed and an iPod docking station, which we instantly put to use. Drunk on our success of finding such an exclusive location, my beloved was soon dancing around the opulent bedroom in his underpants singing “O Sole Mio” whilst munching on the packet of Tyrrells crisps he found in the mini-bar: which struck us as a charming, uniquely English detail... This set the slightly heady, happy tone for the rest of the night.

We descended at last to dine in the magnificent restaurant. Here, traditional design takes precedence, with marble pillars and chandeliers contributing to a comfortable, cosy atmosphere. The kitchen is run by chef, Matteo Panfilio, who prioritises using “zero food-mile” ingredients, freshly sourced from local markets, and then proceeds to bring out the best of each with simple, elegant precision. We are both thrilled to be able to watch some of our food being prepared and are at liberty to contribute any slight modifications we might prefer! The results are mouth-wateringly spectacular. We toast our good fortune and each other with a bottle of prosecco, what else? This only serves to heighten our headiness and supper soon leads on to drinks in the exclusive, glamorous Palazzina bar. We wind up the evening dancing to the soft music playing in the background and being joined by three or four others to share a moment of pure playful Venetian magic!

My reverie is broken by my other half announcing that the now-cool croissant is only a taste of the feast awaiting me for breakfast and that I had better hurry up before we miss it. We are soon wrapped up against the autumn mist, eating out on the terrace as the Italian sun warms our backs and cups of rich coffee warm our stomachs. I have not been here 24 hours and yet I feel a part of this beautiful place already, as though some of its shimmering enchantment has rubbed off on us. I am ready to wear it like an invisible shawl, blending in with the effortless romance of our surroundings, as I sally forth with my man to explore the timeless allure of Venice.