Casa Gorne Anzolo

Hotel Description

I remember stumbling upon Casa Gorne Anzolo almost by accident during my last trip to Venice – you know, one of those serendipitous finds when you’re wandering off the beaten path in Castello, away from the San Marco chaos. It’s tucked away on a quiet little calle at Castello 2566, just a short stroll from the Arsenale vaporetto stop, which honestly makes getting there a breeze if you’re coming from the airport or Santa Lucia station. No cars in Venice, obviously, so you’re hauling your luggage over those uneven pavestones – but hey, that’s part of the charm, right? The building itself has that classic Venetian vibe, with faded pinkish walls and wrought-iron balconies overlooking a narrow canal that doesn’t stink like some of the bigger ones do in high summer. I arrived in the late afternoon, and the check-in was super laid-back; the staff – a mix of locals who actually live in the neighborhood – chatted with me about the best nearby osteria on Via Garibaldi for a quick spritz, not some tourist trap. It’s not flashy or anything, but there’s this authentic feel, like you’re staying in someone’s elegant old palazzo rather than a cookie-cutter hotel.

What really won me over, though, was how peaceful it is, especially compared to the madhouse around Piazza San Marco. My room – I think it was one of the superior doubles – had these high ceilings with exposed wooden beams that creak just a bit when the wind picks up off the lagoon, and the bed was ridiculously comfortable, with linens that smelled faintly of lavender (or was that the soap? Either way, it was nice). The bathroom was modern enough, with a rain shower that actually had decent pressure – a rarity in some older Venetian spots, I mean, you’ve got to appreciate that after a day of traipsing around. Breakfast is served in this cozy courtyard garden out back, nothing extravagant but fresh croissants, local cheeses, and coffee that’s strong enough to wake you up for an early Biennale visit if you’re there during the art season. Oh, and speaking of seasons, avoid peak summer if you can; Castello gets humid, and the hotel’s air conditioning works fine but isn’t whisper-quiet. There’s no real parking, of course – it’s Venice – but they can arrange a water taxi drop-off right nearby, which saved me a headache. Noise-wise, it’s blissfully quiet at night, just the occasional lap of water against the walls or a distant church bell from San Pietro di Castello.

Honestly, if you’re the type who wants to experience Venice like a local – dipping into hidden bacari bars or wandering the gardens near the Arsenale without the selfie-stick crowds – this place is a gem. It’s got that solid 4-star comfort without feeling pretentious, and with an 8.7 rating, it’s clear others agree. Sure, the Wi-Fi can be spotty in the back rooms (blame the thick stone walls), and it’s a bit of a hike to the Rialto if you’re not up for a vaporetto ride, but that’s minor stuff. I’d go back in a heartbeat – well, maybe in the off-season when the fog rolls in and makes everything feel even more magical. If you’re planning a trip, book it; you’ll thank me when you’re sipping that evening prosecco on your balcony, listening to the city hum without being right in the middle of it.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $152. One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed and 2 sofa beds for 1 – 1 guests

Reviews

• Tsovinar from Armenia – 7 November 2024 (9/10)

  Really nice and cozy place, with furnished kitchen and everything.
  
  Bed was very comfortable.

• Vicky from United Kingdom – 18 September 2024 (9/10)

  I loved the property .. very clean and near to all amenities.. canal right outside of our door .. very quiet place to stay 😀
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Twildman from Australia – 20 August 2024 (9/10)

  Great apartment for long stays (we stayed for two weeks), with a well equipped kitchen and everything you need to be comfortable.

• Nicole from Germany – 2 June 2024 (9/10)

  the apartment is located in a calm and quiet neighbourhood. the loudest thing we heard wete the cries of the seagulls. nevertheless' many attractions and a lot of bus stops are between 5 and 20 minutes Walk away.
  the Appartement is cozy and seems to be Decorated to the owners' taste, which was also to our liking.
  the view through the windows to the canal is really lovely. the appartment has insect protection at the windows and the kitchen has enough plates, etc.
  the beds were comfy and with thick cozy blankets.
  communication with the owner was good, and in the appartment awaits a ledger with all the informations you might need during your stay
  
  would Always book again without a second thought.
  
  What could be improved: the bathroom could have been a little cleaner, there were some dusty areas., but it was no dirt on the "important spots" so it wasn't an issue.
  
  the most important thing which wasn't to my liking was that I had to leave 🙂

• Linda from United Kingdom – 27 May 2024 (9/10)

  Fantastic location. Close to everything but lovely and peaceful. Cosy and comfortable with everything we needed in the apartment. Fabulous, charming old building. Felt like I was getting a flavour of what it's like to live in Venice.
  
  What could be improved: Only a microwave oven

• Paulina from United States – 19 September 2023 (9/10)

  Location

• Genova from United Kingdom – 19 March 2023 (8/10)

  Loved this apartment! Very rustic and a great way to spend our weekend. It had everything we needed and was in an amazing location, we could get to the city centre in 10 mins walking. We could walk everywhere from here!
  
  What could be improved: We lost hot water for half a day but the owner was very quick to come and resolve it! thank you

• Tracey from United Kingdom – 18 August 2023 (9/10)

  Fabulous location on the canal and had everything you could need. Coffee shop within a couple of minutes walking distance.

• Siuhan from United Kingdom – 31 August 2023 (7/10)

  The location is very
  good. The facilities are good especially have washing machine. The host is helpful and has a quick response .
  
  What could be improved: The bathroom is not clean enough.

• Keith from United Kingdom – 7 July 2022 (1/10)

  location
  
  What could be improved: as you know we had a pretty bad time. I don’t know if other people had said the same or if your friend is comfortable there.
  as I said the AC is not fit for purpose, and must be costing you a lot as we had it on 24/7. it would be cheaper to replace it.
  the apartment overall is OK, I would rate it at 3 star. but it misses a ‘womens touch’ it’s very clearly your home, and not an apartment for rental.
  get rid of the books and videos, replace with nice ornaments.
  get rid of the posters replace with nice paintings
  get rid of the 38 boring white plates, and replace with a nice pretty set of plates for 4 people.
  get rid of the old cutlery and replace.
  BUY a nice of kitchen knives the 2 or 3 you have are useless!
  clean or replace the shower door.
  
  I appreciate your reduction in cost. if I had received it earlier to be honest I would have left and gone to a hotel, it spoilt our whole trip .

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities