Having used other apartment rental web-sites, as well as Airbnb, for our previous fourteen visits to Venice; there is one fact you need to know. Malcanton del Gaffaro is the ONLY apartment – anywhere in the city - that we have returned to.
While review comments are, (by and large), positive, I feel the need to address some recent criticisms. First, during our ten day May/June stay, we didn’t see a single insect of any variety. Obviously Venice, (like the rest of the planet), does have insects but we saw none in the apartment. Second, the bed, while obviously not as comfortable as your own, (what rental apartment bed is?), provided us with ten nights of uninterrupted sleep. Last but not least is the charge that it is “dated”. I can only assume that the person who posted this isn’t too familiar with the general condition of rental apartments in Venice. I say again – this apartment is the only one to which we have returned and that should tell you all you wish to know.
Is it perfect? No – and no rental apartment will ever be. However, when you stack up the items in the “plus” column, against the few in the “minus”, this apartment has almost everything going for it.
The location is superb. If I had to deliver one piece of advice to any Venice “newbie” it would be this – location is the number one priority. From Piazzale Roma, (the main transport hub), you have one bridge to cross - then you’re there.
Amenities in the apartment were enough for our needs. We don’t cook when away, (who wants to with all those lovely Venetian restaurants and bars?), so cannot comment on the pots and pans situation. There was a corkscrew and wine glasses – that’s enough for us! The refrigerator was fine for storing a few nibbles and some fresh milk. Bathroom was good, (although someone had cracked the shower screen since our last visit). The living area was a comfortable place to spend some time reading and the window shutters could be perfectly adjusted to give total darkness, or let in a little light.
Once you have settled in, you will find in the parish of San Pantalon, the best of Venice’s food and drink culture, (in our opinion at least). Within a five minute stroll from the apartment are three wine bars that not only deliver mouth-watering “cicchetti”, (as well as award winning meals in Estro), but showcase wines from Italy’s smaller producers, (not to mention organic and new “orange” wines). Fancy a nightcap? The vibrant Campo Santa Margherita is a mere five minutes stroll away.
Culturally, the parish church of San Pantalon sums the area up exquisitely. So dull on the outside, with its bare brick façade, (still waiting for some marble “bling”), but step inside and you will be blown-away. In our opinion, it has the finest painted ceiling in Venice. The magnificent Frari is close by, as are three of the finest “Scuole” in Venice. Be dazzled by Tintoretto’s undoubted masterpiece at the Scuola Grande di San Rocco but don’t miss the Tiepolo ceiling at the Carmini Scuola – you could get lucky as we did and have the whole place to yourself.
We will be back to this apartment next year – absolutely no doubt.