Giovanni was the most wonderful host! Not only did he pick us up at the water bus to make sure we found the place, we could also leave our bags until the apartment was ready and go out exploring Venice (we were there very early).
The apartment is spacious and very clean. It is situated in a quieter part of Venice, which was a welcome contrast after the hordes of tourists at San Marco & Rialto. A nice espresso bar & traditional bakery are just around the corner and a walk to the center takes about 10-15 minutes.
If we return to Venice I'll surely check if Giovanni's place is available!