Palazzo Cristo overlooks a 13th-century basilica and one of Venice’s most charming squares – but that’s just the frame for the beauty found inside. Standing since the 15th century, the palazzo had seen better days until it was spotted by Paris-based designers Anna Covre and Frederic Tubau, who poured their efforts into making it fit for a doge in the digital age. Soaring ceilings and original beams still frame the furnishings below, but creaky floorboards and patchy sofas have been ousted by world-class contemporary design. Furniture is carved from rare woods and upholstered with lustrous velvet; bathrooms are clad in milky Carrara marble and pale travertine; wall-mounted mirrors catch the light pouring through tall, arched windows. Not a single detail was overlooked – including the decision to settle for just three self-catered suites, making the palazzo a sumptuous sanctuary from the crowds.