Splendid Venice Splendid Venice The Splendid Venice is a 4 star hotel in Venice, Italy owned by the Starhotels group. The hotel is located between St. Mark’s Square and Rialto Bridge and has 165 rooms (including 16 suites). The hotel has a private dock on the canals for access by gondola or water taxi. The hotel was built in the 16th century and was first built for use as an Inn, known as "Locanda Cappello Nero". In 1900, it changed its name to "Albergo Splendido" and again in 1930 to "Hotel Splendid". After transferring ownership to Starhotels the hotel was renovated in
Saint Isaac's Square granite pedestals; they were made famous by Pushkin in his last long poem, "The Bronze Horseman". Nearby is Quarenghi's Horse Guards' Riding Hall (1804–07), in part inspired by the Parthenon and flanked by the marble statues of the Dioscuri, by Paolo Triscornia. Opposite the cathedral is the Mariinsky Palace, built in 1829-1844 for Grand Duchess Maria Nikolayevna. Currently the palace houses the Saint Petersburg Legislative Assembly. In front of the palace is the 97-metre-wide Blue Bridge, which used to be the widest in Saint Petersburg. Spanning the Moika River, the bridge is usually perceived as the extension of the square,