A breathtaking Venetian Mansion with Private Courtyard in Dorsoduro District

DIMORA ORLANDO mansion with private garden A Venetian Restoration Beyond Your Wildest Imagination Where to start…?! What a journey and what a joy it’s been to follow this inspirational transformation from humble homestead to magnificent mansion in Venice’s Dorsoduro sestiere. As real estate experts of 25+ years’ standing we often think we’ve seen it all, until we come to know a property that, quite simply, blows our minds. Newly restored Venice home of Milan resident and philanthropist Paolo and his family (close friends of Filippo, DI / VOV-founder and owner) and recently launched for short rental to well-deserved plaudits on its dedicated Instagram page, the bespoke Dimora Orlando represents a true labour of love, flawlessly curated by its owners and culminating in an astonishing city base where their family and friends (and now yours!) can unite in unparalleled surroundings to celebrate the sheer pleasure of being together in Venezia. A rare Venetian residence for which the term ‘treasure chest’ was coined, the eclectic interior is a well-heeled maximalist’s dream. Situated within a peaceful "passeggiata" of the dazzling Zattere waterfront, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, the iconic domes of Salute and the former home of legendary designer Hubert de Givenchy in what is surely one of the most prestigious and genteel parts of Dorsoduro, and indeed in all of Venice – and nurtured throughout its (extensive and reassuringly expensive!) rejuvenation by an exceptionally savvy crew of craftsmen and the architectural experts at ArchFlorence – this jaw-dropping mansion sleeps 10 (+2) within a feather-soft cocoon of comfort, where notable original art, cherished family heirlooms bridging generations past and present, and a whirlwind of whimsical collectables vie for your attention and serve to underscore the heady vibe of unrestrained indulgence. Encapsulating 5 seductive en suite double bedrooms sparkling with Italian confidence and personality, and spanning a staggering 470 sqm over 3 luxury-laden floors with a pretty courtyard garden to the rear, the fully air-conditioned dimora boasts an internal lift serving all floors (a rarity in Venice) and accommodation comprising: Ground Floor A private front door with keylock and digital electronic keypad leading into the elegant entrance hallway with stairs or lift to the 2nd (top) floor, where we find Dimora Orlando’s primary living spaces and where we start our internal tour working down floor by floor Lift opening directly into the… 2nd Floor, home to: An extraordinary double sitting room where deep sea-green polished marmorino walls recall the tumultuous waters of ocean-going adventure and the vaulted whitewashed timbers overhead act as a dramatic backdrop to a series of exceptional furnishings and objets d’art Original paintings by celebrated English artist Billy Childish* adorn the walls, while plush hand-loomed Fortuny and Rubelli fabrics and the most luxurious seating and velvet sofas you can imagine, surround a glass-and-Perspex coffee table protecting a slice of fossilised tree from the Triassic period (252-201 million years ago). A pair of throne-like Russian pine chairs by famous Italian sculptor Mario Ceroli from the ‘Mobili Nella Valle’ series for Poltronova, Florence (1977) stand sentinel at the room’s far end opposite ‘Cavalli’, an equine relief in balsa and Russian pine, also by Ceroli. A carved monumental fireplace, framing a hand-crafted circular glass and enamel mirror by OOM, provides a magical focus to the room, while taking pride of place above it stands a wall pedestal mount of a Greater Kudu antelope nobly gazing out across the room in all its defiant glory *’High Atlas Walker’ (2010) and ‘Spirit Guides and Other Guardians Joining Heaven and Earth’ (2022) A superbly equipped beamed primary kitchen in green with granite worktop, mirrored splashback, iconic Fornasetti decorative porcelain wall plates and – with a nod to those traditional Venetian bacari (traditional taverns) still in existence – a collection of antique copper water pitchers hanging up on high A triumph of a dining room in toasty ‘Uluru’ terracotta with an oval dining suite hosting 12 guests beneath a twinkling Murano chandelier, flanked on one side by Robyn Burgess’s ‘Snowplough, Bloodwood Forest, 2008’ purchased by Paolo at auction on a recent trip to Australia and, on the other, a reinterpretation by Giulia Michon Pecori of ‘The Nubian Giraffe’ by Jacques Laurent-Agasse, 1827 Returning to the far end of the sitting room and passing the custom-built library, which displays an enchanting model of an antique Dutch Nef fully rigged sailing ship – a hint at the owner’s long shipbuilding heritage – we in turn reach… The softly lit and sensual principal bedroom in sandy desert shades with a double bed, a mesh-panelled wardrobe, a splendid pair of KOK Maison ‘Emmanuelle’ Peacock rattan armchairs and, instilling the room with a fiery sense of drama, Carlo Gavazzeni Ricordi’s colourful ‘Theatres of Invention’ photographic artwork, while the pristine tawny-onyx en suite bathroom with Devon&Devon rolltop bathtub and separate shower is simply divine Descending this floor by stairs or lift, we enter the… 1st Floor with its maritime vibe where we find 3 further ship-shape en suite bedrooms: A delightfully presented 2nd double bedroom continuing the seafaring theme with a double bed, a seating area, a mesh-panelled wardrobe and the most decadent sun-and-sea-inspired en suite bathroom in striking blue marble and marmorino I think we’ve ever set eyes on. Characterfully kitted out with a Devon&Devon Mida rolltop bathtub in brushed gold, a separate shower, satin brass fittings and decorated with a collection of adorable box-framed model sailing vessels… it’s a gorgeous space for a spot of pampering that’s sure to float your boat! A charming 3rd double bedroom in neutrals with a double bed that can be made into twins at your request, a beautiful antique wall tapestry making the space feel super-cosy and intimate, a wardrobe just beyond, and a stylish separate en suite bathroom in green marble and marmorino with shower A romantic 4th double bedroom in sea-spray grey with a double canopied bed in ruby red, framed dancing putti, an antique wall tapestry, and a private dressing space to the side (with a door opening onto a veranda and steps leading down to the garden – more of which later!) linking the bedroom to its chic en suite bathroom where a portrait of the owner’s esteemed industrialist great-grandfather greets you as you enter, before opening to reveal a luxe walk-in shower and rolltop bathtub Descending this floor by stairs or lift we return to the… Ground Floor, where we find: The secluded 5th double bedroom with its own private entrance onto the quiet calle outside and which doubles up as an independent studio apartment for 2 – ideal for members of your party who’d like additional privacy or autonomy. Quietly elegant, the room comprises a seating / dining space, a small and cleverly concealed kitchenette suitable for preparing snacks or light cooking, a mirrored wardrobe, a beautifully dressed double bed with Iksel palm tree mural as backdrop and an en suite bathroom with shower Returning to the main entrance hallway passing an impressive wall-mounted copy of the Rosetta Stone and a disguised wood-lined utility area with Miele washing machine and separate tumble dryer we reach… Dimora Orlando’s ‘wine cellar’ / entertaining space Expertly kitted out with wine tastings in mind, its warm and inviting exposed-brickwork is decorated with vintage Japanese Gyotaku rice paper fish prints lending an oriental flavour, while the glass-encased climate-controlled wine cellar is furnished with bespoke cabinetry courtesy of the ‘wizards in wood’ carpenters at Falegnameria Matulli, and a gleaming copper-topped central island with stools sets just the right mood for a convivial get-together And to finish our tour of this incredibly special Venetian property, reached by a glazed door… Dimora Orlando’s south-facing and totally private walled courtyard garden where an ancient, gnarled wisteria softens the facade as it reaches for the sky, ivy curls around the staircase railings rising to bedroom 4, and you can sunbathe to your heart’s content as it isn’t overlooked by other properties! Planted with greenery, furnished with cushioned seating, and made even larger thanks to the tall arched mirrors that reflect the light and echo the traces of bricked-up doorways of centuries past, it’s your sanctuary of sunshine in the Dorsoduro sestiere! OUR COMMENT A breathtaking Venetian mansion that bears testament to a life of travel and to a multi-generational family heritage rather closer to home. Luxurious, spacious, perfect for larger gatherings and located in one of our absolute favourite parts of Venice… Close to the Punta Della Dogana Center of Contemporary Art, Campo San Vio and the Palazzo Cini Gallery, the Accademia Galleries and Bridge (and the DI / VOV office just to its side!) Also within a stone’s throw of a variety of highly regarded eating places and bars including Linea d’ Ombra, Ai Gondolieri, Ristorante Riviera and Enoteca Ai Artisti for fine dining and Corner Pub, Osteria Al Squero and Cantinone Gia Schiavi (the locals’ favourite) for great panini / cicheti and spritz! An easy waterside stroll to 2 Conad supermarkets – one at the western end of the Zattere and a smaller one closer to home at Zattere Spirito Santo – and to 4 vaporetto (water bus) stops – Zattere Spirito Santo (with no bridges to cross in between), Zattere, Salute and Accademia – for easy travel around the city (note that St. Mark’s Square can be reached by vaporetto from Salute in under 5 minutes on Line 1!) Within a stone’s throw of the gondola station at Campo San Vio for that obligatory Venice experience (!), the traghetto at Calle Lanza / Calle del Traghetto S. Gregorio which, during operating hours, ferries passengers by gondola across the Grand Canal to the Gritti Palace in the district of San Marco, as well as the recently reopened traghetto service at the Punta della Dogana which carries you across the water directly to the frosted-glass double doors of the legendary Harry’s Bar just beside St. Mark’s Square! Also, within easy reach of the Alilaguna boat stop connecting the Zattere to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport. For arrivals between 8.00 p.m. and midnight there is an additional cost for "late arrival" of Euro 50, to be paid in cash upon arrival. We organize arrivals between midnight and one o’clock with an additional cost of Euro 100, after this time we reserve the right to accept the customer always with a supplement to be quantified according to the time of arrival. Beds will be arranged as either doubles or twins as shown in the photos. The possibility of turning a double bed into twins or vice versa can be found in the description and must be requested at least 7 days before arrival.