Although we were exhausted upon our arrival in Venice, taking the water taxi from the airport to the hotel was the perfect antidote. We stood outside the small cabin and watched enthralled as we made our way across the water highway from the mainland and through the smaller canals of Venice. It was like nothing we have ever seen, anywhere.

Our water taxi pulled up to the dock/patio of our hotel, Ca Sagredo. As with many of the buildings that line the canal, the hotel did not look like much from the outside. In the interior, we found a combination of a museum and an art gallery; gorgeous murals, paintings, architecture, and staff who were obviously proud of their surroundings.

We were early so our room was not ready. It was not, however, too early to enjoy a glass of wine on the terrace. We sat mesmerized by the scene in front of us – the Grand Canal. To the left was a gondola station; to the right was a vaporetti stop; across the river was the market; and everywhere we looked was a panoramic photograph waiting to be taken.

Our room was ready shortly before the check in time of 2:00 p.m. What a room! We were taken to Room 204, the Sala di Sebastiano Ricci (now called the Historical Grand Suite). The whole ceiling was a stuccoed masterpiece; antique furniture/fabrics/decor and Murano glass replicated the ambiance of the 17th century. The modern bathroom appeared to be recently renovated and provided us with the luxurious amenities one finds in any five star hotel. Windows that opened allowed us views over Campo Santa Sofia as well as side views of the Grand Canal and the gondola station.

After spending many hours walking the districts in Venice, we concluded that the Ca Sagredo location on the Grand Canal was perfect for us. The Piazza San Marco, in the heart of the tourist area, was always congested and filled with tourists and tour groups. Piazzale Roma, the area where conventional transportation (roads and rails), was also extremely busy. The Ca Sagredo’s central location between Piazza San Marco and Piazzale Roma was much quieter yet, within a couple of minutes, we were in the shopping area on the way to the Rialto Bridge. There were many trattorias and other eateries for when we wanted to leave the hotel.
We had a fabulous chef’s choice dinner created by Chef Klostermaier at the Ca Sagredo L’Alcova restaurant. The giant shrimp in a caramelized sauce was a highlight and is something that I will try to reproduce once I am home.
We made the most of our time in Venice and walked through the majority of the city. It was stunningly beautiful and every corner, nook and cranny, had some hidden gem just waiting to be found. When we first arrived, we met a couple who were just leaving. They told us to follow the crowds and we would never be lost. It was true. However, we also decided after our first day to spend some time not following crowds and getting lost wandering the back streets. We felt like we were immersed in the “real” Venice. We also took a gondola ride and would not hesitate to take another one if we were to return to Venice. (A word of caution for first time visitors to Venice, make sure that you arrange to be picked up and dropped off at the same stop.)