Skip to content

Top Navigation

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Trip Inspiration
  • Plan Your Trip
  • World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises
  • Travel Tips
  • News
  • Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Explore

    Explore

    • World's Best

      World's Best

      The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you. Read More Next
    • The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2021

      The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2021

      Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2021. Read More Next
    • Let's Go Together Podcast

      Let's Go Together Podcast

      Start listening to T+L's brand new podcast, Let's Go Together! Hosted by Kellee Edwards. Read More Next
  • Trip Inspiration

    Trip Inspiration

    • Trip Ideas
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Spring Travel
    • Summer Travel
    • Fall Travel
    • Winter Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Luxury Travel
    • Beach Vacations
    • Adventure Travel
    • Road Trips
    • Family Travel
    • National Parks
    • Holiday Travel
    • Travel Photography
    • Photo of the Day
    • Culture and Design
  • Plan Your Trip

    Plan Your Trip

    Norwegian Cruise Line Will Require Vaccinations for All Passengers and Crew

    Norwegian Cruise Line Will Require Vaccinations for All Passengers and Crew

    Norwegian Cruise Line hopes to resume sailing out of the U.S. on or around July 4.
    • Travel Deals
    • Attractions
    • BookTandL.com
    • Amusement Parks
    • Festivals and Events
    • Bus and Trains
    • Flight Deals
    • Budget Travel
    • Hotels and Resorts
    • Disney Vacations
    • Airlines and Airports
    • Ground Transportation
    • Travel Guides
  • World's Best

    World's Best

    • Top Hotels
    • Top Cities
    • Top Islands
    • Domestic Airlines
    • International Airlines
    • Tours
    • Safaris
    • See All World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises

    Cruises

    • Find A Cruise
    • Caribbean Cruises
    • River Cruises
    • European Cruises
    • All-Inclusive Cruises
    • Family Cruises
    • Alaskan Cruises
    • Disney Cruises
    • See All Cruise Vacations
  • Travel Tips

    Travel Tips

    • Travel Trends
    • Packing Tips
    • Points + Miles
    • Budgeting + Currency
    • Customs + Immigration
    • Responsible Travel
    • Travel Etiquette
    • Travel Warnings
    • Weather
    • Mobile Apps
    • See All Travel Tips
  • News

    News

    • Wellness
    • Celebrity Travel
    • Animals
    • Jobs
    • Offbeat
    • See All News
  • Food + Drink

    Food + Drink

    • Restaurants
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Bars + Clubs
    • Celebrity Chefs
    • Cooking + Entertaining
    • Food Fairs + Festivals
    • World's Best Restaurants
    • See All Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories

    Travel Accessories

    • Travel Bags
    • Shoes
    • Travel Tech
    • Shopping
    • Style
    • Gift Guides
    • See All Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Trip Ideas
  3. Luxury Travel
  4. This Luxurious Private Island in Venice Is Now Open to Guests

This Luxurious Private Island in Venice Is Now Open to Guests

By Rocky Casale
December 20, 2016
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
An Inside Look at the Swarovski Family's Private Island Retreat in Venice
Credit: Courtesy of Isola Santa Cristina
Private islands in Venice’s northern lagoon are largely unknown by the millions of tourists drawn to this region of Italy each year. But those who venture 45-minutes north of the city to the island of Santa Cristina are privy to the natural beauty that René Deutsch and his wife Sandra have enjoyed for the past 20 years. Now, after decades of being off limits to the public, the Deutsches are sharing their private island retreat with travellers who seek a more private and eco-minded alternative to the typical Venentian tourist hotel. After years of preservation projects and extensive renovations, the Deutsches have opened Isola Santa Cristina as a luxury rental called Villa Ammiana.

Like many other islands in the lagoon, Isola Santa Cristina was at risk of succumbing to global climate change and the rising waters that have swallowed many of the lower floors of Venetian homes. In the 1980s, when Mr. Duetsch’s stepfather Gernot Langes-Swarovski purchased the island, its 74-acres were in danger of being overcome by the lagoon. The family built a protective breakwall using thousands of tons of soil and granite block stone and planted native trees along its banks to protect it from potential flooding. They set to work reinvigorating the island flora by planting persimmon and apricot orchards, olive trees, vegetable gardens, and grapevines, which the Deutsches harvest for Gianluca Bisol, a winemaker and on the neighboring island of Mazzorbo. Bisol uses the grapes from Isola Santa Cristina to produce his limited edition Venissa Rosso.

“We want our guests to connect with this really fragile and beautiful place in the world,” Mr. Deutsch told Travel + Leisure. “But in doing that, we’re also carefully trying to create a healthy balance with the islands ecosystem, be at harmony with the larger lagoon area, and live in a sustainable way by growing our own food on the island and working with our neighbors.”

The Deutsches spent more than a half million dollars to renovate the island’s nine-room Villa Ammiana, which can comfortably accommodate 16 guests. They replaced the home’s Austrian chalet-style decor of wood interiors and taxidermy with a contemporary design of white walls, glass tables, and whitewashed larch wood flooring. The villa also serves as gallery space for the couple’s collection of photography and sculpture. The bedrooms are large, some with exposed wood beam ceilings and oversized, spa-like bathrooms. Every room in the house has striking views of the island’s vineyards, fisheries, and gardens. The couple also added a pool with a large lounging deck enclosed by palms and flowering shrubs. The Deutsches also brought their love of Ashram yoga to the island by building a lofty studio.

“The simple design of the villa, the yoga studio, gardens, and this larger idea of being food and energy independent are what make this island a truly complete and independent place,” says Deutsch. “There’s a sense of peace when it all comes together, similar to Ashram.”

Part of what makes the Isola Santa Cristina so appealing is that it’s almost entirely self sustained. It is possible to hop on the Deustches' boat and leave the island for meals and day trips to the islands of Mazzorbo or Burano, just ten minutes south of the villa, but why leave at all? The island’s orchards and gardens, fisheries, and dozens of hens provide the kitchen with ample ingredients, which local chefs use to prepare Venetian dishes for guests.

Scroll down to see photos of Isola Santa Cristina and the Villa Ammiana.
Start Slideshow

1 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
An Inside Look at the Swarovski Family's Private Island Retreat in Venice
Credit: Courtesy of Isola Santa Cristina

1 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
An Inside Look at the Swarovski Family's Private Island Retreat in Venice
Credit: Courtesy of Isola Santa Cristina

2 of 10

3 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
An Inside Look at the Swarovski Family's Private Island Retreat in Venice
Credit: Courtesy of Isola Santa Cristina

3 of 10

Advertisement

4 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
An Inside Look at the Swarovski Family's Private Island Retreat in Venice
Credit: Courtesy of Isola Santa Cristina

4 of 10

5 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
An Inside Look at the Swarovski Family's Private Island Retreat in Venice
Credit: Courtesy of Isola Santa Cristina

5 of 10

6 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
An Inside Look at the Swarovski Family's Private Island Retreat in Venice
Credit: Courtesy of Isola Santa Cristina

6 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
An Inside Look at the Swarovski Family's Private Island Retreat in Venice
Credit: Courtesy of Isola Santa Cristina

7 of 10

8 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
An Inside Look at the Swarovski Family's Private Island Retreat in Venice
Credit: Courtesy of Isola Santa Cristina

8 of 10

9 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
An Inside Look at the Swarovski Family's Private Island Retreat in Venice
Credit: Courtesy of Isola Santa Cristina

9 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
An Inside Look at the Swarovski Family's Private Island Retreat in Venice
Credit: Courtesy of Isola Santa Cristina

Rates for Villa Ammiana start at $15,600 per week and the on-site chef costs between $460 and $570 per day, contingent on the season and the number of guests.

10 of 10

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Rocky Casale

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 10
2 of 10
3 of 10
4 of 10
5 of 10
6 of 10
7 of 10
8 of 10
9 of 10
10 of 10

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap
  • Travel Guide Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Other Travel + Leisure Sites
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
Meredith Travel + Leisure is part of the Travel + Leisure Group. Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Travel + Leisure is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation Travel + Leisure Group All Rights Reserved, registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.travelandleisure.com

View image

This Luxurious Private Island in Venice Is Now Open to Guests
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.