Darsena Biennale | Paelì Couture

Paelì Couture

The Descent to the Darsena

During the Venice Film Festival, the descent to the Darsena at the Hotel Excelsior is one of its most iconic and evocative moments. Not every guest takes this route: it is a selective access, reserved for those who choose to arrive by water, with private taxis and motorboats docking directly at the hotel’s pier.

This spectacular arrival is a true ritual: disembarking on the water, followed by the walk across the pier towards the Palazzo del Cinema, becomes a kind of prelude to the official red carpet. It is here that photographers from all over the world—excluded from the red carpet area reserved for Getty Images—find the opportunity to capture stars and festival protagonists.

The atmosphere is vibrant: fans and onlookers gather on the terraces and along the railings, while a dense lineup of cameras captures every detail. The Darsena thus becomes an open-air stage, a meeting point between glamour, Venetian tradition, and the unique magic of Venice.

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