It’s Friday–the start of the weekend. The spring weather takes me back to my time in Venice last spring…before the crowds and the summer heat. One of my favorite experiences was sipping a bellini poolside at the Hotel Cipriani. A Bellini is a delightful mixture of white peach juice and prosecco and was invented in Venice at Harry’s Bar by Guiseppi Cipriani in the 1930’s. Cipriani named the colorful cocktail after the artist Giovanni Bellini.
Hotel Cipriani is located on Guidecca Island–about a four minute boat ride from St. Mark’s square. The hotel has a private resort feel–something spectacular in Venice! The gardens exude tranquility, the rooms and suites are steeped in the Venetian Style and the hotel offers the only pool in Venice.
This property has undergone a major refurbishment–their use of Murano glass, antique mirrors, and fabrics by Fortuny and Rubelli give a Venetian opulence to the hotel. Their kids club offers special activities and a mini-pool. Through our affiliation with Virtuoso, our clients become VIPs at the hotel–receiving upgrades upon arrival if available, breakfast daily and other special amenities.
If you aren’t staying at the hotel, I suggest taking a water taxi to the island to enjoy a Bellini or even secure dinner reservations with one of the best views in Venice overlooking the Doge’s Palace.
Click here for the recipe in Saveur Magazine for the Bellini cocktail–a summer favorite at my house.
