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> SlowTrav > Italy > Vacation Rentals > Reviews > Venice Review 2264: Venetian Apartments, Santa Maria Formosa Canale
2bed/2bath apartment in Castello, Venice 
WhenJuly 2006, 1 week LocationThis apartment is within easy five minutes walking of San Marco or Rialto, but is just out of the "tourist zone", so it has a nice local feel to it. It is steps from an easy water taxi stop, so arrival and departure is easy. Its windows look out over a busy canal with gondolas and working boats, and Campo Santa Maria Formosa, a lively and constantly entertaining view. The noise level was never a real problem. Nearby AmenitiesNo more than a block from a little supermarket (rare in Venice), two nice bakeries, two fruit stands, an internet point, good pizza a taglio and great gelato. Between these are lots of little shops, mostly catering to toursts, but not like in San Marco. A number of good restauants were within five minutes walk. A great outdoor bar was in the campo right out the window from the apartment and had a constant parade of locals gathering from five to midnight. The House/ApartmentThe building is old and authentic/historical, but in great shape. No lift, but it's only one flight up. The interior looks recently remodeled and has very nice bathrooms and a very functional kitchen. This apartment takes up the whole floor and is long, so each room has at least one window looking out on the view. There were other floors of apartments above, but I don't think there were any other rentals in the building. No noisy neighbors. GardenNo garden, but we just went and had a drink in the campo while admiring our apartnment across the canal. Furnishings/Cleanliness/Living AreasEverything was great. Very comfortable and clean. And the air conditioning was a lifesaver in the heatwave. Bedrooms/BathroomsVery nice. KitchenA small kitchen, but with nice appliances. We didn't try to cook any big meals, but I guess it could be done. Problems or BonusesThe location and the apartment were great, but I had planned on that. The nice surprise was the neighborhood and the view. Agency and Representatives (and price)Venetian Apartments was professional and helpful. They quickly responded when I had a few requests and made the arrival nice by setting up a water taxi. This apartment is a long walk with bags from the Vaporetto stops. Pierro, the local representative, went out of his way to help us a few times and gave us lots of good information on the area, and my daughter thought he was realy cute. Do you recommend this vacation rental to others?In a second! If you like designer and chain stores, stay in San Marco, or if you want total peace and quiet, don't come to Venice, but otherwise, this apartment had everything we were looking for. Things to do in this areaWe had a great time just heading in the general direction we needed to go, but with no map or plan, so we got semi-lost and eventually found a landmark and got where we wanted. Every little alley and canal was interesting. In five minutes we could get from the excitement of the Grand Canal to the beauty of some little canal with a row of wooden boats tied up. We enjoyed the little bar across the canal in Campo SM Formosa and enjoyed eating at the Antica Sacrestia and the Trattoria agli Artisti. The bookstore on the way to Campo San Giovanni e Paulo was fun. This review is the opinion of a Slow Travel member and not of slowtrav.com. |
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