Francesca Bortolotto Possati, CEO of the Bauer Hotels, is supporting since two years the cooperative “Rio Terà dei Pensieri”, that created a new cosmetic laboratory in the botanical gardens of the Giudecca Island.

From the beginning of the XVIII century, the Serenissima Republic of Venice was the heart of Perfumery in Europe: the city was at that time the destination from the Near-East of essences, spices, scents, balms, and the “Speziali” converted these fragrances into cosmetics and perfumes for the Venetian nobility. The inventor of the “Acqua Admirabilis” was the Venetian Giovanni Ventura Rossetti who later inspired Gian Maria Farina in creating the well-known “Acqua di Colonia”.
Unfortunately the spread of the aromatic Chemistry in the Sixties prevailed over the few artisans that still produced natural cosmetics.

Led by Raffaele Levorato, founder and chairman of the Cooperative, this new enterprise represented the opportunity to reestablish the region’s long tradition of cosmetic and organic medicinal preparation production in the verdant botanical gardens of the 1400 ancient Convent of “Le Convertite”. The gardens are located near the Redentore Church, which now houses the female population of the local jail and the cosmetics produced by the laboratory are created by the prison inmates under the skilled supervision of a licensed chemist.

Inmates charged with the creation of these products are trained by a group of dedicated volunteers who donate their time, energy and considerable expertise to ensure that all products are of the highest quality. This worthy program has enabled us to fulfill a long-held dream to provide our guests with fine handmade cosmetics products created right here in Venice. Most of all, we are pleased to participate in a rehabilitation program that teaches marketable trade skills to those who might otherwise never have such an opportunity.

All “Santa Maria degli Angeli” products contain only natural ingredients custom-blended from proprietary formulas.