Residenza la Torretta

Hotel Description

I remember stepping off the vaporetto at the San Stae stop – you know, that little landing right on the Grand Canal in Santa Croce – and weaving through those narrow calli to find Residenza la Torretta tucked away at 2060 Santa Croce. Honestly, after the chaos of lugging my suitcase from Piazzale Roma (the only spot in Venice where cars can actually pull up), it was a relief to spot the place. It’s not one of those flashy hotels screaming for attention; more like a restored old palazzo with this charming stone facade and a little tower – hence the name, I suppose. Check-in was a breeze, even though I arrived mid-afternoon during that summer rush when everyone’s scrambling for shade. The owner, this friendly local guy named Marco (or was it Matteo? Anyway, super welcoming), handed over the keys with a quick rundown of the neighborhood – like how to dodge the tourist traps and hit up the real bacari for cicchetti nearby. The lobby’s got that authentic Venetian vibe, with worn marble floors that echo a bit when you walk in, and a faint salty scent from the canal just outside. No elevator, mind you – it’s an old building, so stairs it is, but they helped with my bags, which was a godsend after a long flight.

What really sold me on Residenza la Torretta was how it felt like a quiet escape in the middle of Venice’s madness. My room overlooked a tiny courtyard – well, more of a hidden garden patch with ivy climbing the walls and the occasional pigeon cooing in the mornings. It was spotless, with these high ceilings and exposed wooden beams that make you feel like you’re in a piece of history, not some cookie-cutter spot. The bed? Oh man, plush and comfy, though the pillows were a tad firm for my taste – nothing a quick request couldn’t fix. Breakfast is served in this cozy communal area downstairs, nothing extravagant but solid: fresh cornetti, cappuccino that actually tastes like it’s from a neighborhood bar, and those little jars of apricot jam that remind me of my nonna’s kitchen. You’re steps from the Rialto Bridge if you cut through Campo San Polo (avoid the main drag during high season; it’s a mob scene), but Santa Croce itself stays pretty mellow, especially in the evenings when you can hear the distant hum of boats on the canal without the constant buzz of crowds. I mean, it’s not dead quiet – there’s the odd church bell or neighbor chatting – but compared to staying near San Marco, it’s a breath of fresh air. And parking? Forget it; Venice is car-free, so if you’re driving in, leave it at Tronchetto and hop the ferry. One minor gripe: the Wi-Fi can be spotty in the upper rooms during peak hours, but hey, who comes to Venice to scroll Instagram all day?

All in all, if you’re after that genuine Venetian stay without the over-the-top luxury price tag – it’s a solid 4-star with a 9 rating for a reason – this is your spot. I left feeling like I’d actually lived a slice of local life, wandering to hidden spots like the nearby Jewish Ghetto for a sunset spritz. Sure, it’s not perfect (those stairs might tire you out after a day of exploring), but for couples or solo travelers wanting charm over glitz, Residenza la Torretta nails it. Book early for shoulder season in spring or fall; that’s when Venice feels magical, without the sweaty hordes. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $159. Superior Apartment with 2 × 1 extra-large double bed for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• Exceptional – Towne from United States – 8 June 2025 (10/10)

  Excellent location!!! Very clean. Very comfortable!
  
  What could be improved: Poor communication with host.

• Very good – Barros from Portugal – 24 May 2025 (8/10)

  What could be improved: the house needs air conditioning

• Superb – Kyle from Australia – 11 May 2025 (9/10)

  Amazing 3 story apartment in beautiful Venetian building. Great location and apartment layout – Comfortable and spacious.
  
  What could be improved: 2 sets of keys would be nice

• Superb – Anna from United States – 8 May 2025 (9/10)

  Spacious apartment on three levels. Nice bathrooms.
  
  What could be improved: Need to bring garbage to the garbage boat from 6:30-8:30 am, no paper towels, bring your own toiletries

• Great quiet location, well positioned and super hosts, great for friends sharing a base. – Toni from United Kingdom – 6 May 2025 (10/10)

  The apartment was lovely and clean, and well decorated, with excellent en-suite facilities. Beds were big and very comfortable, and rooms were great size. Kitchen was well designed, plenty of crockery for sorting breakfast and the "odd glass of wine". Hosts were friendly and easy to contact. Nicole was great coming to "rescue" us when we could not quite pinpoint the apartment, on arrival and Carlo sent through some luggage storage areas which were easy to use on our last day (though be prepared to pay around 6 euro a bag for a day' storage). Super views and quiet neighbours.
  
  Local supermarket – Co-op was only 5 mins away and had everything you would need.
  
  Located in a quiet part of Venice but only 20 mins to Rialto, we found the location perfect for us to use as a base to explore all of Venice, there were lovely local bars and restaurants that were less touristy that those nearer to St Marks Square. But during day we were able to easily get to St Marks Square and visit all the sights.
  
  What could be improved: Hard to think of any negatives – we had taken coffee/tea ourselves – which was good as none supplied, but that was no big deal. Interesting to note that not allowed to use Air conditioning until June – and on arrival (early May) the top floor was quite hot, but soon remedied by pulling shutters during hot times of day.

• It was an excellent place to stay in Venice and I highly recommend it. – Helen from Canada – 30 April 2025 (9/10)

  The place was spacious with two separate bedrooms on different floors and a kitchen and living space on the top floor. Very comfortable and lovely view of an inner courtyard from the living area. Kitchen had everything you need if you to cook a meal. The bathrooms were great, lots of hot water and the beds were comfortable. Very quiet neighborhood close to a vaporetto stop and within easy walking distance of restaurants, stores and shops.
  
  What could be improved: A few very minor things. Need a shelf or counter in the bathroom for toiletries. Clear instructions for the washing machine would be great. And I couldn’t find the iron.

• Really nice apartment for families. – Anand from United States – 11 April 2025 (9/10)

  Everything was great! Comfortable home in a quiet, but great location…

• Very beautiful property with exposed beams. 3 levels of living and spacious. Privacy and security plus location was an e – Dillon from Australia – 24 January 2025 (10/10)

  Beautiful property and very secure and private.
  Central location close to the waterbus that takes you to and from the Venice airport.

• Great apartment in a good location. – Elizabeth from Australia – 11 January 2025 (9/10)

  This is a lovely apartment, with spacious rooms on 3 levels, close to the Stae Vaporetto stop and an easy walk to Rialto. The bedrooms and particularly the beds, were comfortable with ensuite bathrooms to both bedrooms.
  There is a Nespresso machine which takes the older, readily available pods.
  There is a good washing machine, you will need your own detergent.
  Good directions to the apartment from Carlos, easy self check in.
  We would stay here again.
  
  What could be improved: The dishwasher requires some repair/maintenance, it is not secured in its space and the door would not close tightly to allow the cycle to start. This was not a big problem for us as it was easy to wash up the few things we used.
  A drying rack for clothes washing would have been useful, as we prefer not to use a dryer.

• Great Venice Apartment – Michael from Australia – 3 January 2025 (10/10)

  Spacious apartment in a quiet location. An easy 10/10
  
  What could be improved: May be nice to have a twin bed set up in one room, for families, but not a big issue.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities