This was our first visit to Venice and, while Venice itself is magical, the crowds during summer can get a bit overwhelming. Caterina's place in Dorsoduro offers the perfect respite. The apartment is perfectly situated and within an easy walk to all of the main tourist sites - Piazza San Marco, Rialto and Accademia Bridge, Grand Canal etc. Even with this proximity to Venice's busiest districts, the apartment and immediate neighborhood are incredibly quiet and offer a plethora of restaurants and cafes for a quiet cup of espresso or a spritz. It is also a short walk to Campo de l'Anzolo Rafael, a wonderful space where we were able to enjoy some open-air dance performances, and to the San Basilio vaporetto stop. Getting to and from the train station was easy. The apartment itself was as advertised - perfectly clean and well-appointed and a great size for a family of four. Caterina and her husband were awesom hosts, making check-in seamless and providing us with wonderful suggestions for what to see and how to get around. They obviously care deeply about their guests and are very responsive. The apartment and Dorsoduro are great if you want to escape the tour-group crowds and get a taste of local Venice. Fantastic find.