Jeff Bezos is tying the knot with Lauren Sanchez in Venice as you read this article. But that’s no secret, the Venetian wedding has been the talk of the town for weeks now. What is more interesting is the hotel that the tech tycoon has chosen to be his home for the five-day stay. Pulling a George Clooney, who married Amal here in 2014, is one of the most buff billionaires in the world, worth $220 billion. The Amazon founder has also rented the historic building, dating back to 1550, for five days, from June 25 to 29.
Being Jeff Bezos, he has reserved the entire Aman Venice (and also blocked four additional luxury hotels nearby for all 250 VIP guests). At this 16th-century palazzo, room rates range from $3,000 for entry-level rooms to $13,000 a night for the fresco-lined Grand Canal apartment, where the Mr and soon-to-be Mrs Bezos would be staying.
Under cover of darkness, crews rolled out a candy-striped gazebo and a curtained walkway on the hotel’s landing so arrivals can float in at dawn in utmost secrecy dodging prying eyes. Outside the cordon, expect at least as many paparazzi as security guards, all angling for that split-second snapshot of the Amazon titan and his glittering entourage as the festivities splash across the Grand Canal.
It is one of the eight monumental palaces of La Serenissima on the Grand Canal. The opulent property features 24 guestrooms and suites that overlook the Grand Canal. Not enough to accommodate all guests, there are four other luxury properties booked.
Bezos and Sanchez would in all likelihood take refuge in the Alcova Tiepolo Suite (103 square meters), flaunting Tiepolo frescoes, gilded ceilings, and a fireplace. This lovely space comes with a separate hand-painted Chinese sitting room and a breathtaking view of the Grand Canal.
The property on the whole is like a mini museum, which can be credited to the Tiepolo family, who purchased the palace in 1748. Art enthusiasts that they were, they were responsible for the frescoes in many rooms, the construction of the imposing library, and the creation of a true art collection, including some famous Italian artists, including Jacopo d’Antonio Sansovino and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. When Aman Venice was renovated in 2013, its sensitive incorporation of contemporary comforts won the palazzo a heritage award for Italy’s best restoration.
