In a game of blends between East and West, between Venice and Constantinople, the Hotel Indigo Venice – Sant’Elena is a tribute to the soul of the city and the history of one of the most authentic and charming neighborhoods of the city.

Housed in the premises of a former convent from the 1930s, home of the Mantellate nuns, the boutique hotel is the only charming structure on the romantic island of Sant’Elena, located in a privileged position just a 10-minute splendid walk from the Biennale Gardens. An island full of charm and history, so called because the relics of Saint Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine, are kept there.

Part of the HNH Hospitality group, the hotel has 75 rooms, including 7 suites. Completely renovated in 2019 with a sophisticated interior design project by architect Manuela Mannino, it has kept its distinctive architecture intact, with a large spiral staircase leading to the upper floors, marble floors and wooden beams.

After crossing the original reception, which recalls the atmosphere of the Grand Tour, you come across the large lounge area and the Savor Restaurant & Bar furnished in the style of the welcoming bistros of the late twentieth century. The Murano glass chandeliers are accompanied by prints by the famous Venetian craftsman Alberto Valese and furnishings in shades of gray, green and ochre that dialogue with the beautiful outdoor garden-solarium that once housed the cloister of the convent.

Here you can have breakfast or an aperitif, such as the Indigo Spritz, prepared with a Made in Venice bitter, or sip one of the special cocktails based on spirits prepared with local botanicals, such as the Gin dei Sospiri distilled by mixing juniper and essences of the Lagoon.

In the luminous space adjacent to the bar, the Savor Restaurant & Bar offers a menu, which changes seasonally, based on traditional Venetian and lagoon recipes reinterpreted by the chef with a personal touch.

Hotel Indigo Venice – Sant’Elena is the perfect location to visit the exhibitions of the Venice Biennale, in particular, until November 26, 2024, the 60th International Art Exhibition. The short walk that leads to the Giardini della Biennale is among the most beautiful that Venice has to offer: immersed in the quiet of the pine forest, among the streets of the neighborhood where time seems to have stopped, it runs along the Viale dei Giardini Pubblici and continues, if you want, towards Riva degli Schiavoni from which you can admire extraordinary sunsets.

The Hotel has also prepared a special Biennale Arte Package that allows you to book tickets at a discounted rate to experience the most fascinating artistic event ever.

Surely a stay at the Hotel Indigo Venice – Sant’Elena, taking all the time to visit the Island and enjoy the many nearby art exhibitions, is one of the most romantic experiences that the Lagoon city can offer.

The Secret

On the white marble frame surrounding the hotel’s central entrance, there is a high relief with two angels holding a large M, probably a frieze symbolizing the convent of the cloaked nuns who lived here in the 1930s.

Useful Info

Hotel Indigo Venice – Sant’Elena
Calle Buccari 10
Sant’Elena, Venezia
Tel. +39 041 2717811 

Rooms from 220 euro including breakfast

The Biennale Package includes a stay with breakfast, a welcome drink, a 20% discount on the purchase of tickets for the event, a 10% discount at the Savor Restaurant & Bar and a Biennale kit with shopper and water bottle