Maybe you have stayed at one of the zillions of hotels on or near the Grand Canal and have dealt with the noise and people congestion. Or maybe you are new to Venezia and want someone a little more local in flavor. Maria 3536 very well may be your choice.
I was greeted at the steps of the canal by the owner of this B&B, Giovanni, who is such a nice fellow to meet and know! IN fact during my stay I met his wife (an architect) and his son. We even shared I-phone pics of our kitties and he told me about the law banning cats from outdoors. He was full of information about Venezia.
The location is perfect - it is less than a mile from Riato and close to the "bus" station (code for any mode of transportation the city offers). It is more of a residential area than a tourist trap, though you can certainly get your holiday trinkets very nearby.
Maria's 3 rooms are on the second level (primo in italiano) of the three-story centuries-old building. The stairs are concrete and the handrail is a little jiggly. Lights to the passageways turn on automatically. There is a large solid door that opens into a funky little kitchen area, then to the rooms.
My room was amazing! It had two very large windows that opened over the canal. I left the windows open throughout my stay but did close the old very cool shutters at night to shut out any noise (and there was little). It had a massive and beautiful wardrobe, a comfy king-sized bed, a one-of-a-kind desk and a flat-screen TV. The ceilings were beautiful wood and about 14' tall with a lovely chandelier. The bathroom was very typical. The amenities were full-sized bottles of shampoo and body wash - just like staying at a friend's house. The room was spotless.
In the kitchen area the full-sized fridge was loaded with yogurts, juices and such. There was fruit on the counter and every day Giovanni set up a spread of freshly-bought Italian pastries! As a welcome gift he presents a lovely bottle of prosecco from his family's vineyards. A very nice touch, and wine glasses are right there on the counter.
Once he gives a tour, you are handed a set of keys that really make you feel like a family member. One is for the street door, one for the door into the common area and one for your room. He will show you how to jiggle one of the doors just so and your room key looks like it is for a castle door. Again, you will feel like a guest in a dream.
Giovanni speaks very good English and can offer lots of ideas for meals and sites off the typical tourist maps. He fussed at the taxi service I used and said he could have gotten it for a 1/3 of the price so you my want to let him arrange your transfers. There are also umbrellas for your use. I felt so Venezian walking the canals with my non-fresh-off-of-Amazon umbrella practicing my Italian in the seafood and vegetable markets.
It was a lovely stay and Giovanni made it wonderful with his great personality and his help for this single traveler. The rates are very reasonable, about $150 a night. I had a blast! read more