Cà Biennale, scoprire la Venezia nascosta!

Hotel Description

You know, I stumbled upon Cà Biennale almost by accident last summer, during one of those sweltering August weeks when Venice feels like it’s bursting at the seams with tourists. I was wandering through the Castello sestiere – that’s the eastern neighborhood, away from the San Marco madness – and honestly, it was a relief to escape the crowds around the Rialto. The hotel’s tucked away on a quiet calle off Fondamenta Sant’Anna, I think it was, right in the heart of what feels like the real, hidden Venice the name promises: “scoprire la Venezia nascosta.” No grand canal views here, but that’s kind of the point – it’s more about those narrow, shadowy alleys where locals hang laundry and chat over espresso. I arrived by vaporetto to the Arsenale stop, dragged my suitcase over a couple of bridges (watch out for those uneven steps, especially if you’re packing heavy), and there it was: a charming old palazzo with faded pink stucco and wrought-iron balconies that scream 18th-century Venice. Check-in was a breeze – the owner, this friendly guy named Marco, greeted me with a glass of prosecco and a map scribbled with his favorite hidden spots, like the tiny bacaro down the street for cicchetti. No elevator, mind you – it’s an old building, so stairs it is, but they helped with bags, and it added to that authentic feel, you know?

What really won me over was how the place balances that classic Venetian vibe with just enough modern comfort to make you forget you’re in a city built on water. My room was on the second floor, overlooking a little courtyard garden – nothing fancy, but the exposed wooden beams and terrazzo floors gave it this cozy, lived-in warmth, like staying at a friend’s place. The bed was super comfy, with crisp linens that smelled faintly of lavender (they must use some local detergent), and the bathroom had one of those rain showers that actually works well, not the dribbly ones you sometimes get in older spots. Breakfast was simple but spot-on: fresh cornetti, yogurt, and cappuccino served in a sunny communal area where I chatted with other guests about dodging the cruise ship hordes. It’s not huge – only a handful of rooms, so it feels intimate, almost like a secret – but that means it books up fast during Biennale season, when the nearby Giardini della Biennale turns into this buzzing art hub. Oh, and noise-wise, it’s blissfully quiet at night; you might hear the occasional church bell from San Pietro di Castello or a boat puttering by, but no rowdy bar crowds like in Campo Santa Margherita. One minor gripe? The Wi-Fi can be spotty in the back rooms – I mean, it’s Venice, signals bounce off all that stone – but for unplugging and exploring, it’s perfect.

All in all, if you’re the type who wants to peel back the postcard version of Venice and dive into its quieter soul, Cà Biennale is a gem. It’s rated a solid 8.5 for good reason – four stars without the pretension, in a spot where you can walk to the Arsenale in five minutes or hop a boat to the Lido beaches. I spent my days meandering along Via Garibaldi, grabbing gelato from that no-name spot locals swear by, and evenings sipping spritz on the hotel’s tiny terrace. Well, sort of a terrace – more like a balcony, but hey, it overlooks the rooftops. Come in shoulder season, like May or October, to avoid the heat and hordes, and you’ll thank me. It’s not for everyone – if you need luxury spas or 24/7 room service, look elsewhere – but for discovering that hidden Venice, it’s spot on. I’d go back in a heartbeat.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $158. Apartment with 1 extra-large double bed and 1 sofa bed for 1 – 2 guests

Reviews

• David from Canada – 4 October 2023 (9/10)

  The location is great. Out of the busy area but still walkable to most of the attractions. It’s in a very quiet neighborhood. Fabrizio was a wonderful host and gave us lots of great recommendations and was available to help if needed.
  
  What could be improved: My only suggestion would be a more comfortable mattress.

• Miloszs7 from Poland – 1 April 2025 (8/10)

  Great and spacious flat in a great location. Fabrizio was very helpful and provided some fantastic local recommendations. Perfect stay!

• Sercan from Turkey – 1 August 2024 (9/10)

  Fabrizio's house is a really great place to stay. After making a reservation through Booking, the necessary information came immediately. Also, his WhatsApp number was written there so I could easily get in touch. We liked it so much that we extended it for an extra night. And I would like to thank the host for this, he was very helpful. The house was very comfortable. Everything had been thought of for us. In the kitchen there was dishwasher detergent, tea, coffee, everything you can think of, while in the bedroom there was an iron, spare linens, everything. Having a washing machine is a great convenience. 5 minutes walking to San Marco Square. Great location for a quiet and romantic rest in the evening, away from the city noise.
  
  What could be improved: In my opinion, the room that is the bedroom should have been the living room. There is no window in the living room, which is where we spend most of our time during the day. The bedroom is quite large and spacious. Also, the location of the air conditioner is very wrong, the air conditioner is only in the bedroom, if I want to turn it on, I get cold at night, but if I turn it off, it gets hot for my daughter sleeping in the other room.

• Ian from United Kingdom – 30 April 2024 (7/10)

  Great location with a sensibe kitchen and nice bathroom. No windows in the 2nd bedroom, but thats ok

• Sabina from Australia – 26 June 2023 (9/10)

  It was spacious and lovely. The host was super easy to contact. Even sent great instructions on how to get there. Recommended restaurants as well.
  
  What could be improved: Slight issue with air-conditioning… Didn't switch on as easy as I would have liked. Also rubbish removal is a little complicated.

• Michał from Poland – 7 June 2023 (9/10)

  location
  
  What could be improved: very good, spacious and cozy apartment

• Swarbhi from Saudi Arabia – 2 May 2023 (9/10)

  Apartment was very nice. Accessable.
  
  What could be improved: Apartments needs deep cleaning

• Leah from United Kingdom – 6 July 2022 (9/10)

  washing machine
  salt, olive oil etc provided
  air con
  
  What could be improved: we couldn’t get wifi working, but not a prob as we had data

• Ana from Brazil – 13 September 2024 (9/10)

  The location is great and Fabrizio provides excellent tips that makes the difference when visiting Venice!
  
  What could be improved: The flat has many mold spots. It was not a problem for us, but can be for allergics.

• Dita from Latvia – 18 March 2023 (9/10)

  For two people – the ground floor flat was really spacious, in a very pleasant and quiet area of Venice, while San Marco was only about 15 minutes walk away. Supermarket about 7 minutes away. There were some nice places to eat in the vicinity. The feeling of the stay was authentic, very different from staying in a hotel in the more touristic parts of Venice.
  
  What could be improved: Everything was fine. There were minor issues with the heating, but the host solved them promptly.

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Facilities