ITALIARENTALS

It is almost impossible to escape the charms of this city – Venice is a uniquely beautiful place. With its mixture of aged pomp and elegance, above which floats a painful air of decadence and decay, Venice deeply touches every soul.

The city at the centre of the lagoon is one of the main destinations for tourists interested in art and culture from all over the world, with no less than 18 million visitors every year. Venice is very special in many ways: unlike in the rest of Italy, the roads are not called \”via” but \”calle”. A \”piazza” in Venice is a \”campo” and the city’s quarters are actually \”sixths” – the \”sestieri”, as there are exactly six historical districts of Venice. Everyday life takes place on the water; there is a constant hustle and bustle in the tangle of canals, to and fro of boats of all kinds – barges, water taxis, the \”vaporetti” water buses and of course the traditional gondolas. If the canals are the liquid frame around the world-famous painting known as Venice, then the elegant palaces, the medieval churches and quarters are the canvas. Together they form a work of art that testifies to a long and eventful history.

The San Marco quarter stands for the Venetian republic La Serenissima, led by the doges from 697 to 1797; this is where the city’s over 1000 years of history are most clear to see. Here in San Marco is Saint Mark’s Square with its famous basilica, alongside it a landmark visible from far and wide – the high campanile. The Doge’s Palace, the heart of power in the republic, is located directly next to the cathedral. And from the Doge’s Palace the Bridge of Sighs spans across to the old state prison: the last walk of all those unlucky souls sentenced to death. Venice’s most magnificent waterway is the Canale Grande, lined by an over-dimensional backdrop of richly ornamented, pillared palaces from all epochs. Like no other, this very scenery – popularised by Canaletto’s paintings – has influenced the collective image of Venice around the world. Further away from the Canale Grande, however, there are still more genuine parts of the city to be discovered that are less overrun with tourists, such as the south-eastern sestiere of Castello.

In its narrow alleys, corners and squares with the city’s typical bleached facades, washing lines are still hung from house to house in the old-fashioned way. But there are also unexpected historical sights to be found here beyond the next bend in the road: on the island of San Pietro with its basilica of the same name, for example, the seat of the Bishop of Venice up to 1807. Or the wide territory of the Arsenale, the city’s historical shipyards. The Cannaregio district in the north is just as full of character, the picture more dominated by broad, straight canals with spacious roads alongside them. This sestiere, where the first Jewish ghetto was built in 1516, also features two Gothic jewels: the Palazzo Ca’ d’Oro with its delicate white marble façade and the church of Madonna dell’Orto, where several paintings by Jacopo Tintoretto can be viewed. For a quick snack or an evening aperitivo, head to a \”bàcaro”, a typical osteria for this part of Venice, and order \”cicchetti”, delicious little sausage and fish dishes; and of course a good glass of Veneto wine. This is an essential and delightful ritual that should be part of every stay in Venice.    

EXCLUSIVE APARTMENTS IN COMPLEX

Introducing a range of exclusive apartments in a complex situated in the Dorsoduro district on the quiet island of La Giudecca. The dwelling occupies part of the former Molino Stucky, an ancient, prestigious building overlooking the lagoon. 

The exclusive apartments are lovingly and elegantly decorated in 17th-century Venetian style, include spacious living rooms, fully equipped kitchens, bedrooms with queen-size beds, and beautiful bathrooms made of exquisite Veronese marble. With their wooden ceilings and excellent furnishings, the interiors are the perfect place to relax and enjoy an unbeatable, romantic view of the lagoon and of its stunning colours, changing at sunrise and sunset. 

The dwelling offers guests every opportunity to immerse themselves in all the magic of this charming city, without forgoing the tranquillity, the comfort and services provided by this marvellous complex (such as breakfast service, daily tyding up and change of linen, private boat dock).  This exclusive location enables guests to get in a 10-minute vaporetto ride to the Ponte dell’Accademia and the Piazza San Marco. Many a sight can be explored on foot: a walk along the Canale della Guidecca, for example, takes right past the island’s most famous church of Il Redentore.