The photos look glamorous but off camera, festivals can be a grind.

That’s certainly true in Venice, where it’s common to encounter packed boats, sweaty lines and crowded screening rooms all in a day’s work every September. But Hotel Cipriani — the luxury oasis opened in 1958 and home over the years to A-listers like Sophia Loren, Cary Grant, George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Lady Gaga — opened doors to a chic relaxation escape just in time for this year’s film fest.

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As part of an expansion of its collaboration with Belmond, Hotel Cipriani now hosts Dior Spa, a “haute wellness” destination that launched in June. Designed by architect Peter Marino, who also steered a renovation of the hotel, the space mixes “Venetian aesthetic codes with those of Dior” across five cabins (including one double), a relaxation lounge and a boutique where Dior wares (fragrances, skincare and makeup) are on display and for sale.

The spa menu features three exclusive signature treatments designed to “revive the skin and the body, or impart a glow to the face while soothing the mind.” There’s “Theatre Corporel” for the body at 90 minutes, a treatment that features a four-hand ritual thanks to two Dior wellness experts working in sync using Ayurvedic traditions. “Mascarade” focuses on the face over 90 minutes after beginning with a gentle abdominal stimulation to restore balance and release tension. Also employed: ultrasound, microdermabrasion, microcurrents, LED mask, cryotherapy and an oxygen mask.

Lastly, there’s “Grand Bal,” a multi-sensory treatment spread across 120-240 minutes focused on the entire body with a glam treatment to finish for hair and/or makeup styling. It begins with a reviving scalp treatment with hydra dermabrasion and a stimulating massage, and is followed by a facial to exfoliate, cleanse and tighten the skin. The treatment closes with a glam session tailored to the client’s choices, and can include hair styling, makeup, manicure, pedicure and more.

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The three offerings are in addition to a healthy range of typical spa choices like massages, scrubs, facials, red light therapy, dry brushing and more. But wait, there’s more: Dior Spa also offers yoga, pilates, sound healing, breathwork and mindfulness, and a piéce de résistance: a self alignment cruise on a private boat. Curated by Rose Ferguson, a global Dior wellness expert in nutrition and functional medicine, the 120-minute jaunt takes guests for a cruise on the Venetian lagoon while they journal, experience guided visualization, sensory meditation and a healthy snack and light drink to close.

Opening a Dior Spa in Venice has historical roots for house founder Christian Dior, who was invited to attend what was billed the “ball of the century” by flamboyant millionaire art collector and interior decorator Charles de Beistegui in 1951. “It was the most beautiful evening of my life, and one that I will never experience again,” Dior once said. The house currently operates a luxury boutique in Venice, and has regularly participated in the Art Biennale.

The Dior Spa in Venice follows pop-up spas and takeovers at other properties, including the popular industry hangout, the Beverly Hills Hotel. In 2024, Dior returned to the Beverly Hills Hotel for a second edition of its Dioriviera luxury pop-up, including a pool takeover, special boutique and spa treatments. The residency — one in a series of Dioriviera global activations that included eight Dior boutiques, 12 resort stores and six pop-ups — featured splashes of Dior’s Toile de Jouy print seen everywhere from deck chairs and umbrellas to towels, not to mention an exclusive spa experience.

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