Giving a long review as there are not many yet. A nice apartment and we were happy with our stay. Giorgia who checked us in was very efficient, communicative and helpful. Nice big bright clean simple flat with lots of windows, the photos and description are accurate. The communal stairwell resembles a building site, but don’t let that put you off. It is an inhabited block, and seems like a safe family area, there are views from the windows of some lovely gardens.
We stayed for eight days and it was fine. It has basic furnishings but everything you need, including comfy seating and good laundry facilities. We were able to do two washes. It has air-conditioning in the main room, which is strong enough to cool the bedrooms. The bathroom is really big with huge bath. The shower lever is a bit sticky, but it does work with some jiggling. The water was hot and reliable. The wifi was excellent, fast and stable. The flat is utterly silent and dark at night, and we slept very well, the beds are really comfortable.
It is an interesting local area next to a university campus, about a 10 minute walk behind the station. Close by at Crea and Tre Archi are number 4 and 5 vaporettos, which take you around the island. We used this as a base for visiting the Art Biennale, which is at the other end of the island, a bit mad, but we did manage okay, using the no 5 boat. At the station there are boat stops for many other routes. Guglie, about 7 minutes walk from the flat, is where you hit the main road between the station and Rialto, this is a very busy area with loads of commerce and an excellent supermarket called Despar Teatro. It’s also near the old Jewish ghetto which is interesting. There is a lively strip of varied bars and restaurants between Crea and Guglie on both sides which stay open quite late, so you don’t have to walk far to eat and drink.
Important note regarding the so-called back route through the station. This is a long alley that goes down platform one, then across a new bridge by the University, near the flat. It’s a bit quicker than the main route, and avoids the crowds, if a bit grim. BUT the gate by the bridge is locked between midnight and 4 am, although there’s no sign to this effect. We learned the hard way by arriving just as a security guard had locked it. He told us that it was locked during these hours due to the station being closed. We had to walk all the way back and round the main route, not fun.
A more fun tip is that the local church, San Giobbe, has a flea market sometimes. We saw one on a Friday and a Sunday. The churchyard door (normally closed) is open and you can go in and poke around. Also if you cross the bridge at Tre Archi and walk through the modern development at the end of the island, you come across a wide peaceful promenade with views toward Murano, where people sit or stroll as the sun goes down.
Okay bit of a ramble but I hope this is useful. TLDR the location is a bit off piste, but it’s a nice good value flat and if you are confident around Venice it’s an interesting and less touristy area.