Ca’ Francesca Suite Terrace in Venice

Hotel Description

I stumbled upon Ca’ Francesca Suite Terrace kind of by accident last spring, when I was dodging the usual Venice crowds around San Marco and needed a spot that felt more like a local hideaway than a tourist trap. You know, Castello district isn’t the first place most visitors think of – it’s that quieter, artsy neighborhood east of the main drags, where you can actually hear your own footsteps echoing off the stone walls instead of tour groups chattering away. I arrived via vaporetto from the airport, hopping off at San Zaccaria and weaving through those narrow calli – Calle dei Furlani is one of those skinny alleys that twists right into the heart of it, at 3271, up on the fourth floor (or “piano” as they say here). No elevators, mind you, so pack light if stairs aren’t your thing – I huffed up with my backpack, but the host was waiting with a genuine smile and a chilled prosecco, which honestly made the climb worth it. The place isn’t some massive hotel; it’s more like a boutique suite carved out of an old palazzo, with that classic Venetian charm – think exposed beams and terrazzo floors that feel cool underfoot after a day of wandering.

What really hooked me was the terrace – oh man, that private outdoor space overlooking the rooftops and a sliver of canal. I spent evenings out there with a book and a spritz, listening to the distant hum of vaporettos on the lagoon and the occasional church bell from nearby San Giorgio dei Greci (it’s just a short stroll away, by the way, if you’re into Byzantine vibes). The suite itself is spacious for Venice standards – a comfy king bed with linens that smell faintly of lavender, a little kitchenette where I whipped up pasta from the market at Rialto (pro tip: it’s about a 15-minute walk, but go early to beat the lines), and a bathroom with one of those rain showers that make you forget the city’s humidity. Well, almost – summers can get sticky here, and without AC blasting 24/7, it might feel a tad warm, but the cross-breezes from the terrace help. Noise-wise, it’s blissfully quiet at night compared to the party spots in Dorsoduro; you might hear a cat meowing or laundry flapping, but that’s authentic Venice for you. I mean, it’s rated 9.8 for a reason – four stars, but it punches above with those personal touches, like the host sharing insider tips on avoiding the high-water acquaalta seasons (aim for April or October for fewer floods and crowds).

Honestly, if you’re the type who wants to experience Venice without the selfie-stick hordes, this is your spot. It’s not perfect – no on-site parking, obviously, since cars are a myth here, so factor in water taxis if you’ve got luggage – but that just adds to the adventure. I left feeling like I’d actually lived a slice of la dolce vita, sipping coffee on that terrace as the sun rose over the Arsenale shipyards nearby. Book it for a romantic getaway or solo recharge; you won’t regret ditching the big chains for something this intimate.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $429. Apartment with Terrace with 1 single bed and 1 extra-large double bed for 1 – 3 guests

Reviews

• Elaine from United States – 18 November 2024 (10/10)

  Quiet location, down a side street in the heart of the "real Venice", near the Biennale. Beautiful modern apartment and balcony. Very comfortable bed and enough heat via an adjustable thermostat. Helpful hosts. Christian and Francesca were always accessible via What's App and had many good suggestions for restaurants and neighborhood resources as well as helping us get a water taxi when none were otherwise available. We hope to stay here again.
  
  What could be improved: I didn't "dislike" this because it was good exercise, but guests should be forearned that there is no elevator in the building and the apartment is up several steep flights of stairs. Christian helped us with our luggage so this was not a problem for us.

• Neno from Austria – 29 September 2024 (10/10)

  the location is not in the middle of the tourist area which gives you the opportunity to take chill walks in the evening and feel the city vibe.
  
  If you need action tho, You can walk 10 mins to San Marco district and enjoy the more populated area with a lot of bars and restaurants.
  
  There are also good restaurants around the property 🙂 just ask Cris and Francesca (hosts) and they will name you a few places with very delicious food.

• Rúnar from Iceland – 12 August 2024 (10/10)

  Where do I start. The host Cris, who I now call a friend, is nothing but exceptional. He went WAY above and beyond to make this stay for me and my mom, perfect. The apartment is spotless, the upstairs pattio is amazing. The Location is fantastic. A lot of apartments charge you extra for a late checkin, he did not and even saved us an entire day with a late checkout. I have travelled all over the world. No one has taken better care of me. 1000/10
  
  What could be improved: Nothing.

• Andreea from Moldova – 18 June 2024 (10/10)

  Our stay at Ca' Francesca Suite Terrace in Venice exceeded all our expectations. The apartment was very comfortable, and we quickly found it and the key, which was securely stored in a lockbox. The location is excellent, with the center and San Marco just a 10-minute walk away. There are many supermarkets, pizzerias, and patisseries nearby.
  
  The host was extremely helpful and responsive, answering all our questions immediately and providing excellent recommendations for restaurants and supermarkets. We visited one of the recommended restaurants and loved it.
  
  The apartment was very clean and beautifully furnished, equipped with everything we needed. The highlight of our stay was the terrace, which was even more beautiful than we expected. We had a great time spending our evenings there.
  
  Overall, we had a fantastic stay and highly recommend Ca' Francesca Suite Terrace in Venice.

• Brendan from United Kingdom – 12 May 2024 (10/10)

  Everything! The apartment was so spacious,beautiful, spotlessly clean and ideally situated on a quiet street within easy proximity of Piazza San Marco and Arsenale…Cris and Francesca were lovely, generous and attentive hosts, sharing tips and recommendations as well as giving a tour on Murano..we had the most fabulous time and would love to return to such wonderful accommodation with a roof terrace that blows you away with views and comfort.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing…would go back tomorrow if we could!

• Shaun from United Kingdom – 21 March 2024 (10/10)

  A spacious property, glorious views from the roof Terrace and welcoming hosts.

• Elizabeth from United States – 10 October 2023 (10/10)

  Beautiful spot, lovely hosts, bright, clean and sunny! Perfection.
  
  What could be improved: Cost was a little high.

• Helen from United Kingdom – 7 October 2023 (10/10)

  The roof terrace made this appartment very special, the views over the city and garden below were wonderful.
  Christian and Francesca were extremely helpful, they made great recomendations and answered all our questions promptly.
  The location was ideal, a 10 minute walk to the vaporetti or to st Marks. A good area with a range of local restaurants and an excellent supermarket nearby. It is a very quiet area.
  Thank you, this was a really special place to stay in this wonderful city.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing really, but it should be noted that there are many steps to reach the appartment and this may be an issue for some travellers.

• John from United Kingdom – 1 October 2023 (10/10)

  What a marvellous apartment. Perfect for a quiet, relaxing holiday.
  
  It is in a quiet location, yet within easy reach of the Alilaguna link to the airport and is only a minute's walk from the supermarket and a bakers shop for fresh bread in the mornings. It is in an ideal spot, being midway between San Marco, Arsenale and the Giardino.
  
  The apartment is really quiet, with modern furnishing throughout and has everything needed for a self-catering holiday. Plenty of windows in every room let in the light, and give views of the local gardens below. The large, spacious bedroom has lots of storage space.
  
  The main selling-point has to be the marvellous roof-terrace, with its sun-loungers and easy-to-use awning, dining table and chairs and amazing panoramic roof-top views across Venice. Perfect for breakfast in the sun, and evening meals under the stars.
  
  Many thanks to hosts for making sure the booking and check-in process went smoothly, they were fantastic during the whole stay, from the welcoming prosecco, to the regular messages to check all was ok.
  
  Overall a wonderful experience.
  
  What could be improved: There was nothing to dislike.

• Katherine from Canada – 11 June 2023 (9/10)

  Wonderful quiet location close to everything we wanted to see, gorgeous floors and finishings including lovely glass features, beautiful rooftop terrace with nice furnishings and a big awning to regulate the sun (we didn’t need to use it as it was cloudy and rainy during our stay, but it looked like it would be great on a sunny day.) Loved the views from bedroom and living areas as well as the rooftop. Bedroom was very large with beautiful windows and lots of storage space. We were happy to meet our hosts in person, too. and appreciated the welcome Prosecco they provided.
  
  What could be improved: Somehow I missed in the description that there would be quite so many stairs to carry our suitcases up! We managed fine but it would be a problem for some people with bigger luggage. Not sure it would be as nice during the winter months if you weren’t able to use the roof terrace, but it was lovely for a spring/early summer visit.

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