San Clemente Palace Hotel shimmers like a mirage in the Venetian Lagoon—an island where time slows, church bells echo across centuries and every arrival feels like a return to something ancient and rare.

Set on its own private island just eight minutes by complimentary boat from Piazza San Marco, San Clemente Palace Hotel offers the uncommon privilege of proximity and privacy in equal measure. This is not merely just a hotel—it’s a former monastery, a 12th-century church and 78,000 square meters of open gardens, quiet courtyards and walkways that seem to breathe the rhythm of old Venice.

The 170 rooms and suites are generous in scale and elegant without excess. High ceilings, marble bathrooms, silk-covered walls and original terrazzo flooring anchor the interiors in Venetian tradition, but the mood is one of contemporary ease. Lagoon-facing rooms capture the morning light over the water, while those with garden views frame the island’s quiet beauty. Whether staying in the classic charm of a Junior Suite or the palatial scale of the Presidential Suite, the accommodations feel spacious, refined, and deeply restful.

Acquerello, the island’s fine-dining restaurant, serves modern Mediterranean dishes beneath vaulted ceilings or outdoors facing the lagoon. La Dolce Brasserie & Pool Bar leans more relaxed, offering fresh Italian cuisine in a garden or poolside setting. Clemente Bar invites aperitivo hour beneath historic arches, while the Sunset Bar, open in warmer months, makes a strong case for lingering as the last light falls across the lagoon.

San Clemente Palace’s spa is a serene retreat blending ancient Venetian architecture with modern wellness. Set within restored monastery spaces, the spa offers tailored treatments inspired by Mediterranean rituals, including massages, facials and body therapies using natural, locally sourced ingredients. Facilities include a Finnish sauna, steam bath, sensory showers and a relaxation lounge overlooking the gardens—creating a quiet sanctuary where guests can reset mind and body amid the island’s timeless calm. Looking to get your steps in while you are here? There is a jogging path that winds through pine groves and manicured gardens, with views across the lagoon. Guests also have access to a tennis court, volleyball, a pitch and putt golf course and a large heated outdoor pool—surrounded by loungers and shaded by umbrella pines.

The island’s size and layout allow for large-scale events and intimate moments alike. Whether it’s a private wedding in the 12th-century San Clemente Church, a corporate gathering in the frescoed Sala del Teatro, or a quiet morning walk through a Renaissance cloister, the experience is always framed by history.

Even as you return to Venice proper by boat, San Clemente lingers with a quiet presence, a garden in the lagoon, a bell tower just visible against the sky. It’s not just the location that sets it apart, but the sense of continuity between the past and present.