Best location ever! This cute and comfortable flat is right in the heart of Santa Croce and overlooks a beautiful bridge right on a canal. What a treat it is to lean on the windowsill (every room has windows) and gaze down at the picturesque sight of gondolas going past, or better yet, to watch as boatmen unload their cargo for nearby businesses. The area is our favorite part of Venice. The square at S. Giacomo dell'Orio is a slice of real Italian life: children playing, neighbors gossiping – such a pleasant change from the steady streams of tourists everywhere else. The flat is just above a wonderful baker, Majer, with exquisite pastries, wholegrain breads and an amazing almond croissant. Just across the street are wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables, and a well-stocked supermarket is just off the main square. You can even buy fresh wine by the liter at a little shop not far away, next to the Ae Oche pizzeria. The merlot is light and smooth and costs €2 a liter (bring an empty water bottle). The bedroom window also overlooks the kitchens of La Zucca, the restaurant next to the beautiful bridge, which has delicious unique and unusual dishes full of fresh vegetables – a must!
The kitchen is small but very well stocked, so it's easy to prepare simple meals with local ingredients. Not only are all the basics there (including oil and vinegar, sugar and salt, coffee and tea) there are also extras you rarely get in Italian airbnbs: a kettle and big mugs for tea, a toaster, eggtimer, lots of plates, washing machine, dishwasher and oven. The living room is especially charming, with wooden beams and a chandelier, comfortable furniture, and windows on two sides: one looking towards the lovely bridge and the other facing the picturesque balcony of the building across the street. It is not the quietest location – the boatmen can be noisy unloading their cargo, and the gondoliers regularly shout "Oe!" when rounding the sharp corner, to warn other boats – but these are pleasant neighborhood sounds and add to the character. At night, we closed the bedroom windows and turned on the AC to sleep soundly on the soft bed.
There is one slightly steep flight of stone stairs right up to the door of the apartment, so perhaps not ideal for anyone with difficulty walking.
Anna was a wonderful and helpful host, eager to please and responding almost instantaneously to any question. We recommend this wonderful apartment wholeheartedly and can't wait to go back.