Hotel Ca’Sagredo :

Some cities are worth exploring over and over again.

I don’t think I could ever get enough of Berlin, Paris, or New York City. Does Venice belong on this list? I think it does. My recent trip reinforced this idea: I saw things I hadn’t a clue existed on my first trip, and came up with a list of things to do when I find myself wandering the streets of Venice once again.

The magic began with my hotel, located right on the Grand Canal.  Hotel Ca’Sagredo infused history and elegance into my trip. Staying in this converted 15th century palazzo revealed what life would have been like for Venetian nobility centuries ago. 

Arrival and Highlights
Stepping off the Vaporetto (water bus) we arrived to Ca’Sagredo after dark. This made our first glimpse of Venice on this trip all the more remarkable – light danced on the water and in October – we were the only passengers on the boat.

Ca’Sagredo is fantastic for more than its location on the Grand Canal. Breakfast here is served in an elegant room with frescoed ceilings while opera music plays in the background. Go ahead and ask for an extra morning cappuccino, the lovely staff seem to genuinely want guests to enjoy every moment of their stay.

Room Details
As you can imagine, each room of this converted palazzo has its own character. If I had to choose just one for every return trip to Venice for the rest of my life, it would be the Library Suite, with a view overlooking the Grand Canal. How often do you have the chance to sleep in a historic suite packed with books? This suite is every writer’s dream.

Rates: Prices range from 250 – 1500 euros per night, depending on season and room choice. Ca’Sagredo offers a range of accommodation from rooms to junior suites to suites.

Ca’Sagredo, Campo Santa Sofia, Ca’D’Oro, Venice
Website: http://www.casagredohotel.com/

If you’re heading to Venice, I’ve got 2 lists of things to explore: popular attractions that are worth a look and unique things to do in Italy’s most mysterious city.

Popular Attractions Worth A Look

1. Nico: For gelato: On a sunny day stroll across the Accademia Bridge and make your way through Dorsoduro to the edge of the Giudecca Canal. Here, located right behind the Zattere Vaporetto stop, you’ll find Nico, one of the most popular gelato spots in town. There’s almost guaranteed to be a line, and you can choose to order a couple scoops at the counter or sit down at a table to enjoy a sundae or coffee with your gelato. Saying the flavors is almost half the pleasure…stracciatella.. bacio..

Gelateria Nico, Dorsoduro, Venice
www.gelaterianico.com

Prices: 4 to 10 euros, depending on number of scoops and toppings.

2. Il Campanile: For one of the best views in town: Walking through Piazza San Marco, you might notice a line of people coming out of one of the buildings that’s not the Basilica. Or maybe you’ll get lucky and there won’t be a line for the elevator that will bring you 20 stories above the city for a mere 8 euro. You can linger as long as you like, and telescopes help you to make sense of the layout of the city. You might be surprised how canal-less the city looks from above.

Saint Mark’s Belltower, Piazza San Marco, Venezia
Price: 8 euros for a single entry.

3. Ride the Vaporetto: Water buses provide quick, efficient transportation throughout the city. If you’re lucky enough to have a stop near your hotel, you’ll be glad at the end of a day walking and climbing over bridges. The savvy budget-traveler will take advantage of a Vaporetto pass. *These can be purchased online at least a week in advance of your trip for even further discounts* and can help to make the Vaporetto affordable. On my recent trip, I waited until my last 36 hours to purchase that pass – and enjoyed cruising the canal after days of walking. 

Vaporetto: water bus throughout Venice.
http://www.venicewelcome.com/actv/vaporetto.htm

Unique Things to do in Venice

1. San Giorgio Maggiore: for a quiet, bird’s eye view of Venice: While you’re enjoying that ice cream cone from Nico, use your Vaporetto pass to cross the Guidecca Canal over to San Giorgio. The church here also has a belltower with great views looking across the canal at Piazza San Marco. From the Vaporetto, walk through the magnificent church and pay just 3 euro for a ride to the top. It is guaranteed to be less crowded than its neighbor in San Marco, and the views are spectacular. If you’re there at the top of the hour, be prepared for ....