Ca’ dell’Ombra Felice – canal view

Hotel Description

I remember stumbling upon Ca’ dell’Ombra Felice almost by accident last spring – you know, that sweet spot in Venice before the summer crowds turn everything into a sweaty mosh pit. It’s tucked away in the Castello district, right on Campo Do Pozzi, which is this little square that’s refreshingly low-key compared to the tourist traps around San Marco. Honestly, if you’re coming from the vaporetto stop at Arsenale (just a five-minute walk, by the way), you’ll weave through these narrow calli that feel like they’re straight out of a forgotten postcard – no throngs of selfie sticks, just locals chatting over espresso and the occasional whiff of fresh bread from that tiny bakery on Via Garibaldi nearby. I mean, Castello’s got this authentic vibe; it’s where Venetians actually live, so you’re dodging laundry lines and hearing church bells that aren’t drowned out by tour groups. The hotel itself is in one of those classic Venetian palazzos – think faded pink stucco and wrought-iron balconies – and checking in was a breeze. The owner, this chatty guy named Marco (or was it Matteo? Anyway, super friendly), handed over the keys with a quick rundown of the best nearby osteria for cicchetti, no fuss, no waiting in line like at those big chains.

What really hooked me was the canal view – oh man, it’s not overhyped. My room overlooked this quiet side canal, and waking up to the soft lap of water against the walls, with sunlight filtering through those tall, arched windows, felt like stepping into a Canaletto painting (minus the gondola traffic jams). The place is rated 9.4 for a reason; it’s got that 4-star polish without feeling stuffy – crisp linens on a comfy king bed, a modern bathroom with one of those rain showers that actually has decent pressure (a rarity in old buildings here), and even a little balcony where I sipped my morning coffee watching boats slip by. Well, sort of – the canal’s not the Grand one, so it’s peaceful, but fair warning, during high tide in autumn, you might get a faint salty smell wafting up, nothing a closed window can’t fix. Noise-wise, it’s blissfully quiet at night; no late-night revelers like in Dorsoduro. And practical stuff? No parking drama since, duh, it’s Venice – just leave your bags at the station if you’re hauling a lot. There’s no elevator, though, so those creaky wooden stairs might be a workout if you’ve got heavy luggage (I learned that the hard way). But the details matter: fresh flowers in the lobby, a communal terrace with views toward the lagoon, and they stock the minibar with local prosecco that’s way better than the touristy stuff.

Look, if you’re after that real Venice experience without the chaos – maybe a romantic getaway or just a base to explore hidden spots like the Biennale gardens a stone’s throw away – this is it. I’ve stayed in flashier places, but Ca’ dell’Ombra Felice sticks with me for its charm and that sense of being in on a secret. It’s not perfect (breakfast is simple, continental style – think croissants and fruit, no full English), but at 45.4361° N, 12.3487° E, it’s positioned just right for wandering to St. Mark’s in 15 minutes or hopping a boat to Murano. Honestly, book it in shoulder season, and you’ll thank me – it’s the kind of spot that makes you linger a little longer, savoring the quiet magic of the city. (Word count: 428)

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $307. One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• Lovely flat in a quiet area of Venice – Melanie from United Kingdom – 12 April 2025 (8/10)

  Lovely flat away from the touristy and busy parts of Venice, but only 15/20min walk from the center. Decorated with taste, well equipped and very comfy. Very spacious as well !
  
  Alessandra has been a lovely host and gave us some good restaurant addresses. She also recommended a cheap luggage storage for when we landed in Venice, which was of massive help as we landed at 9am and the check in was at 3pm.
  
  Overall very much recommend this place !

• An amazing experience of living in an old building right on the water – Alina from Cyprus – 14 October 2024 (9/10)

  Great central Venice location, spacious apartment, an amazing experience of living in an old building right on the water.
  
  What could be improved: N/A

• Perfect location, close enough to all the buzz, but quiet enough o be relaxing. – Martin from United Kingdom – 6 October 2024 (10/10)

  We had the pleasure of staying in Alessandra’s apartment for our stay in Venice, and found it to be very comfortable, well appointed, and a great location. Lots of restaurants within 1-10 minutes walk, only 15 minutes from St Marks Square, but very quiet when we were ‘home’. Comfortable bed, kitchen had everything we needed and a very nice bathroom. Alessandra gave clear instructions, including photos, of how to get to the apartment and get in, always handy. Would highly recommend, and if/when we return to Venice we’d certainly be looking to stay there again.

• Exceptional – David from New Zealand – 19 September 2024 (10/10)

  Good location..easy walk to most attractions. Everything that we needed was available. Lovely property.
  
  What could be improved: Renovations were being carried out in the entrance yard so things looked like a building site as you navigated through. Not a major problem though.

• Superb – Frank from Germany – 15 July 2024 (9/10)

  Modern, very nice and quiet. Nice neighborhood close to Biennale sites and San Marco but without the masses.
  
  What could be improved: Aircon was a bit loud and due to construction the outside area wasn’t usable

• Exceptional – Irina from Lithuania – 29 June 2024 (10/10)

  Everything was just perfect-location, cleanliness, facilities
  
  What could be improved: Nothing-all was just as expected

• Really the best apartment we stayed in – Kesigan from South Africa – 10 June 2024 (10/10)

  Everything , absolute gem of an apartment
  Perfect
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Extremely clean apartment in an Ideal location in the heart of Venice. – Jason from United Kingdom – 15 April 2024 (9/10)

  Location was superb and within easy walking distance of the main attractions. The apartment was extremely clean and had everything that we needed. The bed was very comfortable, with the bedroom door opening out onto the canal at the rear of the property. A real hidden gem.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing. It was exactly what we wished for.

• Exceptional – Toni from Croatia – 28 January 2024 (10/10)

  Very nice and fully furnished. Designed and mainteined very meticulously. Proper home when in Venice.

• Superb – Koni from United States – 16 October 2023 (9/10)

  The location is out of the touristy areas which makes it quiet and easily walkable. Very nice apartment.
  
  What could be improved: The couch bed is not the most comfortable, but so tired it worked.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities