A visit to Venice will not be complete with a stay here.
Stashed away within the local residential area, hidden from the main hustle & bustle of tourist throng, this lovely abode is definitely a prized jewel waiting to be discovered.
The sense of arrival was heightened by the transition from public to private domain: Guarded by a secured iron gate, we had to passed through a humble private garden, through another heavy wooden door, into an unusual semi-private foyer. Here, we could have a glimpse of the private jetty, which we were told, is for the private use of one of Venetian's powerful family only.
Upon entering the unit, we were greeted by a quaint little Kitchen. Do not be misled by its size & appearance as it is extremely weappearnace & well stocked and we spent memorable moments cooking our own version of yummy Italian pasta and rissoto (or so we thought!).
Beyond the Kitchen is the main highlight: the Bedroom, which has a direct view into the Grand Canal. Here, we spent many hours drinking our cappuccino as we watched tourist-packed vaporettos & cargo-loaded boats pass us by. That was possibly the closest experience we had to living a life of true Venetian.
If this view of Italy's famous waterway did not mesmerize you, the interior of this 13th century bedroom will. The intricately-restored venetian wall & ceiling paintings, the pink-white wall/ceiling trimings, the antique furniture with Palladio inspired curves, the creaky wooden doors & windows with ancient ironmongeries & the uneven terrazzo floor finishes added special touches to the overall interior furnishing. We loved the idea that this bedroom was spared of a TV which would have otherwise compromise the entire authentic experience.
After our 3-nights' stay, we left Venice with a big smile on our faces, with our hearts yearning to come back again, to this lovely city, to this lovely "casa" & to meet her lovely host Laura again :)