May you guess which star attracted extra followers than another to the movie-worthy streets of Venice? My information Valentina had me play the identical guessing recreation after I was given a secret tour of the Excelsior Lodge this summer season, after its multi-million euro splash – simply in time for the celebs to reach. Internet hosting the town’s Movie Pageant since its inception in 1932, the resort attracts a myriad of well-known faces. And followers had been seen tenting in a single day exterior the long-lasting resort hoping to get a glimpse, she instructed me.
Who’s the most important star in Venice?
May it’s Harry Types? I guessed. He visited her in 2022, when his then-romance with Olivia Wilde was revealed, though they deliberately stayed away for the paparazzi pictures. Maybe it was longtime favourite George Clooney, who traveled to the resort’s inimitable striped canal pier final summer season in a basic water taxi along with his Jay Kelly with Laura Dern and Adam Sandler? What about Timothée Chalamet, Woman Gaga – oh, or Clark Gable, in 1934?
I used to be improper each time. Valentina revealed the reply: Jacob Elordi. “When he got here right here to point out Frankenstein on the Venice Movie Pageant – I’ve by no means seen something prefer it! she gushed. “It was even crazier than after we needed to defend Jude Legislation from the press by hiding him within the laundry room. It is wonderful how shut you may get to film stars on the Venice Movie Pageant; there’s nowhere else prefer it.
The place is Excelsior Lodge?
And she or he’s proper, nothing compares to the Venice Movie Pageant; it’s the oldest on the earth. Cannes is maybe extra well-known, though its stars are much less accessible and trendy convention venues lack the glamor and romance of the Lodge Excelsior, which opened in 1908. On the time, it was the primary purpose-built resort on Venice’s Lido, an extended spit of sand that has the historic lagoon on one facet and the magnificent Adriatic Sea on the opposite. Italians like to trip on this shoreline, which mixes excessive tradition and seashore golf equipment; in any case, Venice Lido is simply quarter-hour away vaporetto hop to St. Mark’s Sq..
A star high quality resort
When the Venice Movie Pageant launched in 1932, the Excelsior Lodge grew to become the official venue; the forged and crew watched movies in its jasmine-filled gardens on an out of doors display. Later, they headed to the Crimson Carpet Screening Room (at all times a well-known occasion spot), with its beautiful domed ceiling and scarlet colours.
As we speak, in 2026, stars watch movies subsequent door on the Artwork Deco Palazzo del Cinema, however they nonetheless arrive on the Excelsior Lodge for photograph ops and a fortunate glass of “Cin cin” prosecco on the Blue Bar.
© Getty PhotographsValentina remembers the second Woman Gaga’s headpiece – a sculptural, classic Philip Treacy hat – went viral whereas the star was on the town for The Joker. “The one room giant and personal sufficient for her trend entourage to place the hat was our resort gymnasium,” she instructed me.
Who can we count on to see this 12 months?
Subsequent September, the Venice Movie Pageant will display the brand new movie OASIS, Do not look again in angerfor the primary time, so we hope to see Noel and Liam Gallagher on the Excelsior Lodge. Additionally be careful for Robert Pattinson (in Primetime) and Jack O’Connell, Man Pearce and Claire Foy for Ink. Different stars with movies in competitors embrace Al Pacino, Susan Sarandon, Orlando Bloom, Rooney Mara, Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz.
What makes the Excelsior Lodge so particular?
What I discovered notably magical concerning the Excelsior Lodge was the truth that these starry areas are open to us mere mortals. Rooms at this fabulous five-star begin at round £350, which is not as attractive because the charges at different luxurious Venetian motels.
Nonetheless too costly? Get pleasure from a drink on the Blue Bar, which serves signature cocktails named after Leone d’Oro movie award winners, together with La Forme de l’eau 2017 (with white rum and pineapple juice) and Hamlet 1948 (elderflower liqueur, rose syrup and rosemary mousse).
Not that the Excelsior Lodge is match to be relegated to the standing of a museum piece; removed from it. Similar to stars have touch-ups and shine, this main woman has simply had a makeover. Renovated rooms are available a classy palette of pastels – peppermint inexperienced, powder pink – with theatrical ceilings draped in striped materials that echo the sample of the well-known canal poles. At Palm Courtroom, I could not cease taking photographs of the retro brass fixtures, Murano glass chandeliers and restored Moorish-style turrets.
The Excelsior Lodge is cool within the excessive, with simply the correct quantity of kitsch: a celebrity in its personal proper.
How one can e book it: Double rooms on the Excelsior Lodge begin from £354, together with breakfast and personal speedboat transfers to St Mark’s Sq..
Katie was a visitor on the Excelsior Lodge. All motels and experiences have been independently reviewed by our professional editors, who’re often hosted freed from cost, however this by no means impacts our evaluation course of.