San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice

ABOVE: The San Clemente Palace's swimming pool offers a refuge from summer heat. INSET: Whirlpool baths in the mosaic-tiled spa.

Pool, spa, tennis, and golf

Swimming pools, spas, and other recreational amenities aren't common in Venetian hotels, except for the larger hotels on the Lido and the ultra-expensive Hotel Cipriani on the island of Giudecca. This isn't a major hardship for the average tourist, who spends only two to three days in Venice, but resort amenities are certainly a plus for those who stay longer--and on a hot summer day, there's a lot to be said for jumping into a pool or soaking in a whirlpool after trudging the pavements of the historic center.

The San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice comes to the rescue with a large outdoor pool, two tennis courts, and a three-hole "executive golf course" where you can pitch and putt between aperitifs. There's also a Beauty and Wellness Club with a steam room, sauna, exercise room, and spa treatments that range from massage to aromatherapy.

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About the author:

Durant Imboden has written about Venice, Italy since 1996. He covered Venice and European travel at About.com for 4-1/2 years before launching Europe for Visitors (including Venice for Visitors) with Cheryl Imboden in 2001.

PC Magazine has called this "the premier visitors' site for Venice, Italy." Over the years, it has helped more than 30 million travelers. For more information, see About our site, our Europe for Visitors press clippings, and our reader testimonials.

Most hotel photos copyright © San Clemente Palace.