Ca Giardini Apartments in Biennale by Bricola Apartments

Hotel Description

You know, I stumbled upon Ca Giardini Apartments in Biennale by Bricola Apartments almost by accident during a solo trip to Venice last spring – I was dodging the San Marco crowds and needed something quieter, more lived-in. Tucked away in the Castello district on this little square called Campazzo de l’Erba (it’s number 404, if you’re mapping it out), it’s just a short walk from the Giardini Vaporetto stop. Honestly, arriving by water bus felt like the perfect intro – you hop off, weave through those narrow calli with their faded ochre walls and hanging laundry, and suddenly you’re in this peaceful campo that smells faintly of salt from the lagoon and fresh bread from the bakery around the corner on Via Garibaldi. The place is managed by Bricola Apartments, and check-in was a breeze; they sent a code for the door ahead of time, no fussing with a front desk, though I did have to lug my bag up a flight of stairs – fair warning if you’re traveling heavy.

What really won me over was how it felt like borrowing a local’s spot rather than some sterile hotel room. These are proper apartments, you see – mine had a full kitchen with one of those old-school gas stoves (I whipped up pasta with clams from the Rialto market, which is just a 20-minute stroll away), and a living area that opened onto a tiny private garden patch. Well, sort of a garden; it’s more like a courtyard with potted herbs and vines climbing the walls, but in the evenings, with the distant hum of boats on the canal and church bells from Sant’Elena chiming softly, it was pure magic. The neighborhood’s a gem for that authentic Venice vibe – less touristy than Dorsoduro, closer to the Arsenale and the Biennale gardens (perfect if you’re timing your visit for the art festival in odd-numbered years; it gets lively but not overwhelming). I mean, you can grab a spritz at that unassuming bar on Riva degli Schiavoni nearby, or wander to the quiet paths in Parco delle Rimembranze for a breather. Noise-wise, it’s pretty serene, especially off-season – though summer might bring more foot traffic from day-trippers heading to the exhibits. The beds were comfy enough for a 3-star spot, with crisp linens that didn’t feel mass-produced, but the bathroom was on the compact side, and hot water took a minute to kick in – nothing major, just real-life quirks.

All in all, if you’re after that immersive stay without the Piazza San Marco chaos, this place delivers. It’s rated around 8.1 for good reason – solid value, especially for families or couples wanting space to spread out (mine slept four easily). I’d go back in a heartbeat, maybe in autumn when the fog rolls in and the whole area feels like a secret. Just pack light, embrace the walkability (no cars in Venice, obviously), and you’ll get why Castello’s the underrated heart of the city.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $107. Double Room with 1 large double bed for 1 – 2 guests
• Estimated price from: $107. Large Double Room with 1 large double bed for 1 – 2 guests
• Estimated price from: $150. Apartment with 1 extra-large double bed, 1 single bed and 1 sofa bed for 1 – 2 guests

Reviews

• Paulina from Germany – 2 May 2024 (9/10)

  The property was clean and big enough for 5 people. The person showing us the apartment was very nice and gave us recommendations and was greatly available over WhatsApp. He also help us when we forgot something in the apartment after checking out.
  
  What could be improved: As already known before it was further away from the city so it was fine. The t was pricy but that’s normal in Venice. So nothing to complain about

• Joanna from Poland – 4 September 2024 (9/10)

  The apartament is located in a quiet residential area, a few steps from one of the entrances to Arsenale and 10 mins walking distance to Giardini, so an ideal spot if you plan to visit Biennale dell’Arte. It is well equipped, both kitchen and bathroom have everything that we needed. A/C is effective, and wi-fi is ok in the living room part. Our host Enrico was caring and helpful, thank you for hosting us! 🙂
  
  What could be improved: The apartament is a bit dark, especially on the mezzanine, as there is only one window in the kitchen annex.

• Jaco from South Africa – 22 July 2024 (9/10)

  The apartment is located on the east side of Venice, which seems to be mostly for permanent residents, so no tourists running around. You could live here for a long stay, as the apartment has a dining area and a full kitchen. There is a supermarket nearby that is very affordable.
  
  What could be improved: Not much to complain about. If I had to say something, the mattress could be upgraded, I guess.

• Keeton from United States – 4 June 2024 (9/10)

  The location was great, the property was spacious and my family were very comfortable. We enjoyed our stay while in Venice.
  
  What could be improved: The only thing I would mention, is that there is no place to put your essentials (shampoo, conditioner, soap) while in the shower. It needs some sort of shelf or suction holder, instead of having to place things on the ground. But overall a wonderful stay, pleased with the property.

• Melody from United Kingdom – 15 April 2024 (7/10)

  The picture above is not the property we stayed in but it was clean and in a quiet area.
  
  What could be improved: Just the kettle needs changing and the second room was really small.

• Gianluca from Germany – 7 January 2024 (9/10)

  Nice ground floor apartment, clean and very well equipped.
  It is located in a hidden and therefore very quiet calle a stone's throw from Via Garibaldi. Ideal for those who want to visit the Biennale. In the area there are several bars and restaurants that are not very touristy.

• Yamamoto from Australia – 28 October 2023 (7/10)

  Clean,big space and quite
  
  What could be improved: Bathroom’s drainage has issues, be need to fix.
  That will be perfect if it has microwave and sofa.

• Brooke from New Zealand – 24 October 2023 (9/10)

  Spacious, clean and dry. Great storage.
  Beautiful wooden beams in the ceiling.
  Host was nice and provided lots of excellent recommendations. Fairly close to waterbus stops.
  Note: the check-in process was a bit bizarre, it involved coordinating to meet the host in a nearby park. I suspect this is because previous guests struggled to find the place themselves.
  
  What could be improved: Washing machine doesn't have detergent included – unfortunate for us as we didn't have any!
  During the daytime, the neighbours' radio was clearly audible (Italian pop and classics). We actually enjoyed this but something to note. Totally quiet at night.

• Jonathas from Brazil – 8 October 2023 (8/10)

  The host was very helpful during the delivery of the keys. The place is close to good restaurants with good prices.
  
  What could be improved: It's not so easy to come to the hotel with the luggage (but Venice is like that)

• Aiste from Lithuania – 2 September 2023 (9/10)

  Great location, lots of locals around, nice kitchen to hang around for a group, comfy beds.
  
  What could be improved: The airconditioning is in the second floor and doesnt cool down the first floor. Also, there was only 2 little shampoo packs for 3 nights 3 people stay and there were no capsules for washing machine.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities