The palace garden, Venice

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A variation on the same theme. . . in Venice, at Christmas, our hotel also had an unusually large garden.

The Boscolo Venezia was built in the 16th century as a family palace.  It  is located in the Sestiere Cannaregio, between the Fondamenta de la Madonna dell’Orto and the lagoon, facing the island of Murano.

It claims to be the only hotel in Venice with a garden over 2,000 square meters.

Long and fairly narrow with winding paths of light grey pea gravel, the garden is heavily planted in trees and large, dark-leaved shrubs (and variegated Aucuba japonica). Berms down the sides and crossing the middle increase the sense of privacy, restrict a sense of the whole, and make the garden seem larger.

Click on any thumbnail in the gallery below to scroll through larger images.

Entering the garden from the lobby.

The back facade of the hotel.

Overlooked by the tower of Madonna dell’Orto.

The main path is cushioned by a carpet — easier on shoes and rolling suitcases.

Aucuba japonica.

Hydrangea paniculata.

A path to the top of a berm.

A “ruin” at the top.

The little bridge between berms.

An old stone trough from above.

A tunnel through a berm.

The garden wall at the top of a berm.

A Madonna dell’Orto or Madonna of the garden.

The grotto beneath a berm.

There’s an incredible echo down there.

The back of the garden.

Dancing lights.

The garden lights.

There are several more rooms on the lagoon side.

The hotel’s dock.