Palace Hotel Monaco and Grand Canal

• San Marco, 1332
• Venice

The word Ridotto (Assembly Room), in every sense of the term, was used in Venice from 1282 onwards.

It designated a place to which nobles in particular, but also all kinds of other people (adventurers, prostitutes, shapers, travelers, and so on) "reduced" themselves, in the sense of "withdrew", for various reasons: to gamble, to enjoy the favors of courtesans or to engage in social and political relations. Of course there was also a ridotto, in the sense of a foyer, in the theatres, and there was even an intellectual ridotto, in the sense of a salon, at the end of the XVIth century.

Gambling in Venice is first said to have taken place in the open area, between the columns of St Mark and St Theodore, and then it took such a hold in the city that the government was only too glad that the players "reduced themselves", or withdrew, to indoor premises.

The Hotel Monaco and Grand Canal hosts the exquisite rooms of the ancient Ridotto Theatre, where it’s possible to organize  special meetings, conferences, weddings or magic gala dinners.

Max. capacity: 590 people (250 people in the Main Room and 340 people to be split in the other 6 rooms)