Casa Agostina

Hotel Description

I remember stumbling upon Casa Agostina during one of those misty autumn trips to Venice – you know, when the crowds thin out a bit after summer, and the air smells like saltwater mixed with roasting chestnuts from the vendors on Strada Nova. It’s tucked away at 491/A in Cannaregio, right in that authentic northern district where locals actually live, not just pose for selfies. I mean, it’s a quick stroll from the Santa Lucia train station – maybe 10-15 minutes if you’re not dragging a massive suitcase over the bridges – but honestly, that’s part of the charm. No parking headaches here, since cars are a myth in Venice anyway; just hop off the vaporetto at Ca’ d’Oro and weave through the narrow calli. The building itself is this unassuming Venetian palazzo, with those weathered brick facades that whisper stories of old merchants – and yeah, it’s got that 4-star polish without feeling stuffy. Check-in was a breeze; the staff (mostly locals, I think) greeted me with a genuine “buongiorno” and a quick espresso while sorting the keys, no long waits or awkward small talk.

What really sets Casa Agostina apart, though – and this is coming from someone who’s stayed in a dozen spots around the lagoon – is how it nails that balance of cozy and classy. The rooms are spacious for Venice standards, with high ceilings and these massive windows that let in the golden light off the canal (mine overlooked a quiet rio, where you’d hear the occasional gondolier humming in the evenings). The beds? Plush, like sinking into a cloud after a day of pounding pavements – though fair warning, the air can get a tad humid in spring, so crack a window if you’re sensitive to that. Breakfast is served in this charming courtyard – think fresh cornetti, prosciutto, and that strong Italian coffee that jolts you awake – and it’s included, which is a godsend when you’re budgeting for all those Aperol spritzes down at Fondamenta della Misericordia, just a five-minute walk away. That’s the spot for real Venetian vibes, by the way; grab a cicchetti at a bacaro there in the evenings, when the neighborhood comes alive with chatter and the clink of glasses, but it’s never as chaotic as San Marco. Oh, and noise-wise, it’s blissfully quiet after dark – no tour groups hollering outside, just the soft lap of water and maybe a distant church bell from the Madonna dell’Orto nearby. I did notice the Wi-Fi could be spotty in the upper floors (Venice’s thick walls, you know?), but who comes here to scroll endlessly anyway?

All in all, if you’re after a slice of genuine Venice without the tourist trap feel, Casa Agostina’s your spot – that 9.2 rating isn’t hype; it’s earned. It’s perfect for couples or solo travelers who want to explore the Jewish Ghetto or pop over to the Rialto Market early mornings for fresh produce. Well, sort of a hidden gem in a city full of them, and at that price point, it feels like stealing a piece of la dolce vita. I’d go back in a heartbeat, especially in off-season when the fog rolls in and everything feels a little magical.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $603. Apartment with Balcony with 2 × 1 extra-large double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 5

Reviews

• Katherine from United States – 9 October 2022 (10/10)

  Beautiful apartment with a gorgeous view of the canal. It was extremely clean and comfortable. Alessia was an amazing host – she gave us great recommendations and was quick to respond to any questions. We would love to stay here again someday.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing!

• Falconi from Switzerland – 7 November 2024 (8/10)

  Excellent location, spacious, charming, Alessia very helpful
  
  What could be improved: The price of a 5 stars hotel…

• Boyanna from Serbia – 26 July 2024 (9/10)

  Amazing hospitable and helpful hostess. Beautiful and very spatious apartment with a great view from the balcony. Inside the apartment, historical vibes are mixed with modern comfort in a really nice way. It's a bit on the outskirts of Venice so the location is not as crowded as the city center which makes it a bit quieter and easier to move around. San. Marco square is about 1.7km from the apartment so it's a bit of a walk but a lovely one.
  
  What could be improved: We wrongly took the People Mover train from Tronchetto parking so walking to the apartment from the station with all of the luggage was a bit difficult and lasted about 17min.. If you take the boat line instead it should make the walk shorter, at least to about half the time.

• Sandi from United States – 5 November 2023 (9/10)

  Wonderful location, beautiful apartment!

• Wayne from South Africa – 9 October 2023 (10/10)

  The entire apartment is spectacular
  
  What could be improved: Showers were small and one overhead shower was not working

• Marco from Australia – 24 June 2023 (8/10)

  Host was very helpful. Alessia suggested places to visit and things to see. She knew the transport system Insideout and passed on her tips to us to help us get around.

• Nino from United States – 19 June 2023 (10/10)

  Charming place. Immaculate, comfortable beds and with a beautiful view of the canal. The host, Ale, was very welcoming and nice. She gave us great suggestions on where to eat and how to get around. We will definitely be back for longer stay!

• Carol from United States – 3 June 2023 (10/10)

  I loved the location of this property. It is not right in the middle of the tourist areas and it’s less crowded but with a wonderful access to a beautiful canal and lots of little restaurants. Its a long walk to things like St. Mark’s Square but that was what we liked about it. But more convenient— it is close to the train station so it was relatively easy to get to it after arrival. Alessia is an incredible host and texted us frequently and arranged a water taxi for us to the airport. The living room was very nicely decorated and was good for socializing. The kitchen was very nice. The apartment felt very clean. they left snacks and helpful supplies in the bathroom such as Band-Aids, etc..
  
  What could be improved: The two bathrooms are at the end of the apartment away from the bedrooms, which was a little odd, but having two bathrooms was great . If you’re on the porches the view was great of the canal otherwise it was a bit hard to see out the windows from the living room. the porch was very small.

• Stacy from United States – 20 May 2023 (9/10)

  Very good communication throughout stay. Easy check-in and check-out, and per our request, host texted us local area recommendations. Location was great, easy to get to everything we wanted to do. The apartment was stocked with everything we needed, plus some snacks and juice. We had a great time. Enjoyable and comfortable stay for four of us. I would recommend.
  
  What could be improved: This was not the fault of the property, but we tried to use the laundry machine and did it improperly messing up the clothes and machine. I would recommend adding some instructions for visitors who are not familiar with this type of machine. The host was very quick to respond and assist, so it was handled very well! It was a lesson learned on our end.

• Lindsay from United Kingdom – 28 April 2023 (10/10)

  it is in a brilliant location, ideally situated for everywhere. It has everything you could need. It is spacious.

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