Tour in Venice less known with suggestions from those who understand. Here are the best insider tips signed by the historic Serandrei family.
Living the lagoon city with an original perspective: this is what the Serandrei family has been proposing for four generations in the hospitality branch, starting from its Hotel Saturnia & International and Ca ‘Pisani design hotel, two exceptional addresses in the heart of Venice.
The Hotel Saturnia & International **** S, an ancient patrician palace of the late fourteenth century, combines the refined elegance of a noble residence of the Serenissima with modern comfort. Entering the hotel you access an oasis of peace in the middle of Calle Larga XXII Marzo, the street of the most prestigious boutiques just a few steps from Piazza San Marco. From here our tour starts:
- Scala Contarini del Bovolo, the most beautiful spiral staircase in Venice. It is located in Campo Manin and is a synthesis of Renaissance, Gothic and Venetian-Byzantine styles
- Palazzo Querini Stampalia: in Campo Santa Maria Formosa, the house-museum is open to the public and is one of the most interesting Venetian palaces. Home to the foundation of the same name, the ground floor and the garden were transformed by Carlo Scarpa in the early 60s into a modernist paradise. His library is a precious cultural pearl
- The “Vizio e Virtù” chocolate shop: in the Rialto area, it is an inevitable destination for a gourmet stop and for courses and guided tastings. Try the fabulous artisan chocolate in the cup or in the form of praline, truffle or crunchy
- Fratelli Attombri’s necklaces (near the Rialto bridge) are the result of a skilful artisan work where the refinement of glass stands out in a game of pure craftsmanship
- Housed in the elegant Barozzi court, Caterina Tognon Arte Contemporanea gallery is specializes in visual contemporary art and hosts many temporary and personal exhibitions
- For a Venetian aperitif, the Caravellino bar at the Hotel Saturnia & International is a real institution and is loved by both tourists and Venetians. For the aperitif time you can try Spritz enriched with a secret ingredient, accompanied by tasty snacks inspired by the sea
- Local cuisine and creativity: in the Castello area there is Local (with the accent on the “a”) that re-proposes the Venetian gastronomic tradition revisiting it with imagination, using the products of the lagoon and the whole Veneto region
Located in the fascinating Sestiere Dorsoduro, near the Gallerie dell’Accademia, Hotel Ca ‘Pisani **** S is a delightful address of charm and the first design hotel in Venice. If the structure of the hotel remains that of a late-medieval Venetian palace, the interiors are all revisited in a modernist and art deco style, with original custom-made furniture. And Dorsoduro is the sestiere of the most hidden Venice and of the silent streets. These are the addresses of the heart and the experiences not to be missed in Dorsoduro according to Marianna Serandrei:
- Ca’ Rezzonico is a pride of the Dorsoduro district. Its visitors pass through frescoed rooms and immerse themselves in the eighteenth-century Venice, between works by Tiepolo and Canaletto
- Palazzo Fortuny: just one boat stop from Zattere, in the Giudecca Island there is the famous factory of precious fabrics by Mariano Fortuny, painter, set designer, stylist and photographer who chose Venice to found his empire. The factory showroom (still active today) is open to the public on weekdays while the gardens can be visited by appointment
- Cult address for generations of Venetians, the ice cream parlor from Nico alle Zattere. Do not miss the typical gianduiotto: gianduia chocolate ice cream accompanied by whipped cream
- An afternoon detour on the Island of San Giorgio: to experience the world of glass you can visit the Le Stanze del Vetro foundation on the Island of San Giorgio, where beautiful themed exhibitions are organized in beautifully restored spaces.
- Try bacari (the typical Venetian tavern) and cicchetti (shot): in the small wine cellar Cantine del Vino già Schiavi in Rio San Trovaso you drink a glass of wine standing, accompanied by croutons of salami and creamed canapes, surrounded by shelves full of bottles, also available to be purchased. Little curiosity: Rio San Trovaso is one of the only two squeri – the construction and maintenance sites of rowing boats – still working in Venice
- At dinner in San Marco: from the Ca ‘Pisani design hotel, crossing the Accademia bridge, it takes only 10 minutes to reach the Hotel Saturnia & International and its La Caravella restaurant, which is inspired by the city’s maritime tradition and of its territory. Try the spider crab, the fish soups and the “cicchetti di mare”.
(Info: hotelsaturnia.it, capisanihotel.it)
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