The first thing you need to know about this gorgeous flat is that it is in the middle of the best neighborhood in Venice.
The second thing is that it was spotless. Utterly spotless.
The third is that it is owned by the lovely Gianni, who is a photographer, and whose work lines the walls and you can actually purchase them! (I regret that I did not purchase but will absolutely be asking for a photo or two in short order.)
The apartment is, in a word: glorious.
The photos don’t do it justice.
It is in a very quiet corner of the Cannaregio, just around the bend from the Guglie stop and about a ten minute walk from the train station. The windows look out on the Fondamenta Del Battelo, which is a “lesser canal” closer to Murano than San Marco. It is so peaceful and calm that it is a pleasure to return to at the end of a busy walking day. There are markedly less tourists here and yet there are fantastic pubs, bars, trattorias and cafes within a five minute walk.
The apartment itself is supremely well-designed and thought out. The kitchen is fantastic. It was a pleasure to cook in and I fell in love with the refrigerator. The burners take some figuring out - but only because they each have their own personalities. One is clearly designed for big pots while another is designed to hold a smaller pot above the flame so it doesn’t burn. I learned this the hard way.
Gianni and his wife have thought of everything. There is detergent and a washer and multiple drying lines. The main table is perfect for large dinners or, if you’re a writer like me, your computer and notebooks :). That table was my desk for two weeks. I worked on one end and ate on the other :).
It’s a perfect location for a family or solo artist. And if you ARE solo and a woman, it’s also very safe. There are multiple gateways to the apartment and I felt supremely safe the entire time.
Note that there is a market nearby and several fresh markets (including fish) just a few minutes from the apartment.
Public transportation is within a 5 minute walk. Get a tourist pass when you come and grab the 5.1 or 4.1 on any given day.
This was absolute perfection for me. Grazie mille, Gianni!