Ca Serenissima

Ca Serenissima Overview

First Impressions

Walking up to Ca Serenissima, you’ll immediately notice how it blends seamlessly into the historic fabric of Castello — honestly, that’s part of its charm. This three-star hotel sits on Salizada San Zanipolo, and I mean this in the best way possible, it feels like you’re staying in someone’s beautifully restored Venetian home rather than a typical tourist hotel. The entrance is understated but elegant, with that weathered stone facade that tells you this building has stories to tell.

Location & Neighborhood

Here’s what I love about this spot — you’re in Castello, which locals will tell you is one of the most authentic sestieri in Venice. The hotel’s location score of 9.4 isn’t just numbers on a page; you’re actually a pleasant stroll from St. Mark’s Square but far enough away to escape the cruise ship crowds. The nearby Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo is where you’ll find real Venetians grabbing their morning coffee, and the Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo (which locals just call San Zanipolo) is practically next door. You know what’s great? You can walk to the Rialto Bridge in about ten minutes, but when you come home in the evening, the streets are quieter and more residential.

The Rooms

The rooms at Ca Serenissima have that classic Venetian character — think exposed beams, traditional furnishings, and windows that actually open to let in the lagoon breeze. I’ll be honest, they’re not huge (this is Venice, after all), but they’re thoughtfully designed and comfortable. Some rooms have canal views, others look out onto the charming courtyard or neighboring buildings, and each has its own personality. The bathrooms are modern enough without losing the historic charm, which is a balance many Venice hotels struggle with.

Daily Life at the Hotel

What strikes me about staying here is how the staff genuinely seems to care about your Venice experience — they’re not just checking you in and out. The breakfast is served in a lovely room that feels more like a family dining area than a hotel restaurant, with fresh pastries and good coffee to start your day of wandering. There’s something refreshing about a place that doesn’t try to be everything to everyone; instead, Ca Serenissima focuses on being a comfortable, well-located base for exploring the city.

Why Couples Love It

It’s no surprise that couples rate this place so highly — there’s an intimate, romantic quality to the whole experience. The quieter location means you can actually have a conversation on your evening walk home, and the authentic neighborhood setting makes you feel like you’re living in Venice rather than just visiting it. The combination of reasonable rates, excellent location, and genuine Venetian atmosphere creates exactly what most travelers are hoping for when they dream about staying in Venice. You’re not paying five-star prices, but you’re getting something arguably more valuable — a real sense of place in one of the world’s most magical cities.

Ca Serenissima Accommodations

Reviews of Ca Serenissima

• Samantha from United States – 10 September 2024 (3/10)

  The location and size were amazing. Loved the authenticity of the building and that there were three full bedrooms and baths, perfect for our family size.
  
  What could be improved: The issues itself were with the apartment appliances/facilities. The apartment is listed as being air conditioned, however the A/C is only for the two bedrooms on the right and the common area. The bedroom on the left with walk in bathroom has no A/C and the room was 80 degrees our entire stay. My children (2 and under 1) woke up sweating and it was very uncomfortable. The A/C unit has also not been cleaned and you can see mold/excessive dust in the unit. They obviously know this is an issue as they have 3 fans placed in the room which did little to help.
  
  I also specifically asked (and paid!) for two pack and plays. I was reassured with messages in advance they would be there. When we arrived there were no pack and plays and only after 6pm was just one delivered. We never received a second for the duration of our stay.

• Carla from Philippines – 26 July 2024 (6/10)

  The location is excellent. The apartment is very spacious and perfect for a large group (we were 8). The host was responsive to messages about things that were not working and had a boiler replaced while we were there, as initially there was no hot water in two of the bathrooms.
  
  What could be improved: The apartment is quite dated and needs maintenance and a thorough clean. The kitchen was equipped but could be improved with some basics like regular drinking glasses (there were plenty of stemmed glasses) and tea mugs/cups (only coffee cups available).

• Sam from United Kingdom – 29 January 2024 (8/10)

  The apartment was excellent! We went to Venice for a friend's birthday. There were 8 ladies and it was perfect!
  All the beds were extremely comfortable, towels were good quality and the hosts had even left toiletries which was a nice touch. The kitchen was stocked better than my own at home! It had everything you could possibly need! The apartment was very clean and extremely spacious. And the hosts were excellent, luckily we didn't need them during our stay but before we got there they were very helpful and answered all my questions within hours of asking. It's in a nice location, it's a quieter area but still plenty of coffee bars and restaurants around and literally 5 mins walk to Rialto Bridge. I would highly recommend this apartment, we had a fabulous stay, thank you Marco and Ca Serenissima for letting us stay in your wonderful apartment!
  
  What could be improved: Maybe consider changing the shower heads as more water came out of the pipe rather than the shower head itself.

• David from France – 20 November 2023 (8/10)

  Excellent location, at the heart of Venice in a wonderful place!
  
  What could be improved: Probably because of the season, the place was a bit damp (water on the floor of the entrance, some smells coming from the backyard)

• Gaynor from United Kingdom – 3 June 2023 (6/10)

  Location was excellent
  
  What could be improved: Unable to use third bedroom with en-suite because it smelt so bad

• Aditi from United States – 27 May 2023 (7/10)

  What could be improved: The Google map location on booking.com is inaccurate.

• Jade from United States – 23 May 2023 (7/10)

  The location is absolute perfection, located right across from a church. It was located far enough away from the touristy locations (St. Mark's square) to be very comfortable but still a walkable distance. There are many restaurants nearby, and the hosts provided information on where to find a supermarket which was very helpful. The information packet sent in advance was thorough and contained everything we needed ahead of arriving.
  
  The apartment itself was incredibly spacious, way more than enough for 4 people, however the photos make the ceilings look much higher than they really are (wasn't a big deal). We liked that there was a private entrance requiring a code before the front door which required a key – it felt particularly safe and secure. We loved that this location had 3 bathrooms and a large kitchen with ample seating areas. There is also a washing machine, but we did not use it. We did not get cell service in the unit, but the fast wifi solved for this.
  
  The owners were always very responsive via whatsapp (even on weekends), and were kind enough to assist with organizing a water taxi for our departure to the Venice train station. We also appreciated the early checkin since no guests were present the night prior to us.
  
  The apartment was a great value for my party of 4 for a 2-night stay (it could easily fit double the amount of people). If I were staying longer as just a couple, I would probably opt for a hotel though for comfort reasons.
  
  What could be improved: Cleanliness could use an improvement. I wiped everything down (new habit of mine after COVID19) and there were some dried food stains in the kitchen/on the dining table. The curtains were also quite sheer, so we didn't feel comfortable using the bathtub in one of the bathrooms since other apartment windows could potentially see in.
  
  Very small body wash soaps were provided and no hand soap. Be sure to bring your own.
  Do note that stairs are at the entrance of this property and there is no lift, for anyone reading this with mobility concerns.

• Olivia from Ireland – 8 April 2023 (6/10)

  Great location
  
  What could be improved: Not very warm

• Valentina from Italy – 17 November 2022 (8/10)

  Huge apartment, with all the comforts, in a great position! Really clean and gorgeous.

• Fr from United States – 1 July 2022 (8/10)

  Excellent location in a relatively quiet area of central Venice. Well furnished and comfortable apartment with plenty of space. Owners were very responsive to any questions.

Surroundings

Facilities