Casa Corte delle Ancore

Hotel Description

I stumbled upon Casa Corte delle Ancore during a rainy October trip to Venice – you know, that time of year when the crowds thin out a bit and the fog rolls in off the lagoon, making everything feel like a scene from an old movie. It’s tucked away on a narrow calle off San Marco, right at 895, just a stone’s throw from the bustling Campo San Moisè, but honestly, it feels worlds apart from the tourist chaos around St. Mark’s Square. I mean, you’re only about a five-minute wander from the basilica’s bells chiming away (they’re especially magical at dusk), yet the hotel sits in this quiet little corte – a hidden courtyard – where the only sounds are the occasional splash from a passing gondola or the chatter of locals grabbing espresso at that tiny bar on the corner. No parking to worry about, obviously – it’s Venice, so I arrived by vaporetto from the train station, dragging my suitcase over a couple of bridges, but the staff were waiting with smiles and helped haul everything up the stairs (yeah, no elevator, but it’s a historic building, so what do you expect?).

What really won me over was how the place blends that classic Venetian charm with just enough modern comfort to make you forget you’re in a 16th-century palazzo – or whatever age it actually is; the exposed wooden beams and creaky floors give it this authentic, lived-in vibe, like you’re crashing at a friend’s elegant apartment. My room overlooked the corte, with these tall shuttered windows that let in the salty sea air mixed with hints of baking cornetti from the bakery down the way – sensory overload in the best way. The bed was plush, the bathroom spotless with those heated towel racks that are a godsend after a damp day exploring, and breakfast? Oh man, it’s served in this cozy communal space with fresh pastries, prosciutto, and coffee that’s strong enough to power you through a full day of dodging pigeons in the piazza. I appreciated the little touches, like the free Wi-Fi that actually worked (unlike some spots in town) and the insider tips from the front desk on avoiding the overpriced restaurants along the Grand Canal – they pointed me to a hidden osteria near Rialto where the cicchetti are dirt cheap and delicious. Sure, the walls are thin enough that you might hear your neighbors’ footsteps late at night, but it’s nothing earplugs can’t fix, and the overall peacefulness more than makes up for it.

Look, if you’re heading to Venice and want something that feels real – not one of those glossy chain hotels plopped on the outskirts – this is your spot. It’s got that high 9.3 rating for a reason: the location puts you smack in the action without the overwhelm, and the staff treat you like family. I’ve stayed in fancier places, but honestly, waking up to the soft glow of morning light filtering through those ancient windows, with the whole city at your doorstep, made me wish I could’ve extended my trip. Just book early if you’re going in high season; summers get packed, and this gem fills up fast. You won’t regret it – well, unless you’re allergic to charm or something.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $244. Apartment with 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• Exceptional – Anca from Romania – 2 March 2025 (10/10)

  Amazing location and extremely comfortable, nice, excellent choice for a family trip.

• nice property in a great location with a market and food nearby. – Joseph from United States – 19 October 2024 (10/10)

  excellent location. friendly and helpful owner. The decor is a tad eclectic but in a nice fun way.
  I suggest you take the water taxi to Rialto. We arrived at 5pm and getting there through st marco Square wasn't great.
  
  What could be improved: it's a 5 story walk up. I missed that in other reviews but it was quiet even as close to St Marco as it is.

• A real gem in the heart of Venice – Jms from Australia – 13 October 2024 (9/10)

  Spacious and stylish with lots of room, including a fully equipped kitchen.
  Quiet but only a few minutes from San Marco. Listen to the bells ringing.
  
  What could be improved: 5 flights up is something to consider but it's well worth the climb.

• Everything about this apartment was fabulous! – Gemma from Australia – 30 September 2024 (10/10)

  Amazing apartment in a fantastic location. We loved our stay here, had good facilities and was tastefully decorated.
  
  What could be improved: Loved everything, nothing bad to say at all!

• Perfect location near Plaza San Marco, comfortable and well-equipped apartment – Yu-chen from United States – 21 August 2024 (9/10)

  Unbeatable location. So close to San Marco Square. It is hard to find a similar price with such a great location. The host was very nice and friendly. She gave great instructions on locating the room and getting keys. This is basically an airbnb where you get to stay in a local resident's apartment. It is nice to pass through other residents on the stairs up to see what kind of place they live in. Very comfortable room and nicely decorated. Well-equipped kitchen. Comfy beds.
  
  What could be improved: We don't think any of these take away the value of the apartment, but just some facts to be aware of.
  – It is on the fifth floor with only stairs. We are young and fit people so moving luggage up the stairs and going the 5 flights of stairs every time we go out was not a problem.
  – The air conditioning is not very strong. We appreciate the air conditioning but it can still get hot on hot days
  – This is basically someone's apartment. So during busy season when it is fully booked, there is no option to leave the luggage if you have an early arrival or late departure. The host kindly allowed us to leave the luggage on our check-out day until 2 pm but not longer. We ended up having to pay for a separate luggage storage service. I will still stay in the same apartment given this extra inconvenience but just want people to be aware of it.

• It was excellent! – Anthony from Australia – 11 July 2024 (9/10)

  Everything was perfect, location, cleanliness style.
  
  What could be improved: I would have given it a 10 instead of a 9 if it had a clothes washing machine.

• Excellent apartment in a good location. Not suitable if you struggle with climbing stairs. – Ann from United Kingdom – 5 July 2024 (9/10)

  It was clean and spacious. Everything was provided, toiletries etc. Very good location just off St Marks square.
  
  What could be improved: It was on the 5th floor

• Fantastic appartment, very spacious, aircon was great, location is fantastic. – Alexander from Australia – 30 June 2024 (10/10)

  The video of how to enter was perfect, I think without that it would have taken us much longer to work it out.
  
  What could be improved: The only negative was the 5 flights of stairs. Being young people we managed well but if we were old this would be difficult. From what I hear this is very normal for Venice.

• Exceptional – Attia from United Kingdom – 16 June 2024 (10/10)

  The location of this property was amazing, the location could not have been better. It was within walking distance from all the main spots. The cleanliness of the property was amazing and felt like we really hit the jackpot with this find. Lidia was the best host, she was very responsive and provided so much useful information to help us enjoy the trip. I would definitely recommend it to anyone!

• A beautiful taste of Venice – Jannine from Australia – 5 May 2024 (9/10)

  The apartment was beautifully presented and was in an amazing location, just a minute from St Mark's Square. As well as lots of restaurants close by, there was a grocery store nearby as well.
  
  What could be improved: Be aware… It is on the 5th floor with no lift.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities