July/August 2017 AsiaSpa 99palace on Venice’s Grand Canal to host his
wedding reception. The seven-star property
had only served as a hotel for a year, but it
was no stranger to lavish parties. Formerly
the Palazzo Papadopoli, the 450-year-old
palace has a reputation for hosting some
legendary parties.
The Coccina family who were wealthy
traders and seafarers built the palace in
- On the death of Francesco Coccina,
the last descendent, the palace was sold to
the Tiepolo’s in 1718. This family was not
only wealthy, but cultured, and created an
impressive library, filled the palace marble
statues by Canova and frescoes. Although
the statues have long since gone, the
frescoes remain and on their honeymoon
night the Clooney slept beneath one of these
impressive ceiling frescoes in the Alcova
Tiepolo suite.
The Clooneys were not the first celebrity
couple to spend their wedding night at the
palace. In April 1929, the beautiful young
Countess Nicoletta Arrivabene married
Count Edoardo Visconti di Modrone, brother
of the filmmaker Luchino Visconti, in a lavish
wedding in Saint Mark’s Square. The bride
was dressed in an exquisite long white robe