Art and light: history and

tradition in the breakfast room

The breakfast room at the Hotel Saturnia & International has been enhanced with new features that highlight the deep connection between the hotel, Venice and its artistic heritage. A large inlaid panel depicting large cruise ships and new glass chandeliers crafted by master Venetian artisans now help to make one of our guests’ favourite spaces even more welcoming and atmospheric.

In March 2026, a large inlaid panel measuring six metres by two was unveiled in the breakfast room of the Hotel Saturnia & International Venice, dedicated to the large cruise ships that, until 2021, sailed through St Mark’s Basin and the Giudecca Canal to reach the port of Venice (the San Basilio terminal).

The work is based on a design created by Rossana Serandrei Barbero (mother of the fourth generation of the Serandrei family) in 2025 and subsequently transformed into a marquetry panel by Michele Pagnin in 2026. The panel is intended to commemorate an image that for many years characterised the Venetian landscape: the large cruise ships parading between the Doge’s Palace and the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, creating a striking contrast between the monumentality of the modern ships and the city’s historic architecture.

Over the years, their passage has been at the centre of a heated public debate, culminating in 2021 with the suspension of their transit in front of St Mark’s Square. Today, cruise ships reach the port area of Marghera, entering the lagoon via the Bocca di Malamocco, without passing through the historic centre.

Through this work, the Hotel Saturnia & International preserves the memory of a significant chapter in Venice’s recent history, entrusting it to the language of art and craftsmanship.

LARGE CRUISE SHIPS IN VENICE UNTIL 2021
Inlaid panel, 6 x 2 metres
Design: Rossana Serandrei Barbero (2025)
Inlay: Michele Pagnin (2026)

The refurbishment project also included the lighting in the Il Cortile room, which hosts breakfast every morning from 7am to 10.30am and welcomes guests from La Caravella Restaurant for special events and group lunches and dinners.

The new chandeliers were crafted by Lino Messina’s Vetreria Estevan Rossetto and designed specifically for the hotel by master craftsman Mattia Toso. Inspired by the light, sinuous forms of jellyfish, these glass creations reflect one of Venice’s most celebrated artisanal traditions.

The coloured tentacles and the translucency of the glass cast a soft, enveloping light, helping to create an elegant and relaxed atmosphere. A project that combines contemporary design and masterful craftsmanship, bringing into the room the legacy of an art form that has represented Venice throughout the world for centuries.