5 Best Hotels in the Dorsoduro Venice

Venice is a picturesque destination that is as popular with newly-weds as it is with tourists in search of the must-see canals and life on the water. The Dorsoduro area is a quieter district than some other tourist zones, and has become a favourite of many visitors to the city as an introduction to the canals, museums and local restaurants. Below are five hotels that win high praise from online reviewers.

Centurion Palace

If you want to feel rich, take a private water taxi to the door of this majestic hotel on the Grand Canal. When making reservations, try to get a room with a canal view for the ultimate Venice experience. Rooms reflect a surprisingly modern and eclectic design in an Old World setting. The hotel has a private garden and gourmet restaurant specializing in Mediterranean and “creative” cuisine, according to the hotel’s website.

Hotel Palazzo Stern

Hotel Palazzo Stern is just steps from St. Mark’s Square. The hotel’s 24 rooms reflect a more traditional Venetian style, so if you want authentic, romantic Venice, ask for a room with a terraced balcony and canal views. You also might enjoy having breakfast on the hotel’s terrace.

American Dinesen

This is another hotel where you can experience terraced room balconies with spectacular views. The facility has a private loading wharf so you can arrive by gondola or water taxi in front of the hotel. Many tourists note that this place, for the quality of rooms and location, is a hidden gem of a bargain.

Charming House 

Charming House is a tiny boutique hotel offers contemporary design and is near the Peggy Guggenheim Collection gallery. The interior mixes a love of art with modern sensibilities. Tourists note that the site offers peaceful surroundings and an indulgent breakfast buffet./

Hotel Moresco

Hotel Moresco boutique-style hotel is less than a five-minute walk to Piazzale Roma. You can indulge your sweet tooth here with complementary cookies and tea served daily, according to tourists’ reviews online. You may want to ask for a room overlooking Rio Nuovo and enjoy breakfast in the hotel’s garden. Guests note that there are plenty of good restaurants nearby to enjoy, and they praise the hotel’s location for convenience.

Rialto Market for the avid Shopper

You must visit the Rialto in Venice, Italy for two good reasons: the Rialto Bridge and the markets. It is often said that the Rialto has something for everybody, whether you are looking to admire the architectural beauty of the bridge or go grocery shopping for local produce. Gourmets, tourists, shoppers and locals frequent the Rialto area and it is a wonderful way to feel the pulse of the city.

Getting to the Rialto is easy and you can take the Vaporetto lines along the Grand Canal and then cross the Rialto Bridge to reach the markets. The Rialto markets have been the lifeline of Venice ever since 1097, with people visiting them for their daily fish, fruits, vegetables and other produce. A visit to the Rialto markets is the best way to really understand this fascinating and romantic city. You will be able to spot fresh farm products being unloaded from the barges, food shoppers examining fish for freshness and quality, handcarts packed with vegetables and fruits being pushed around and many more fascinating market sights on your trip there.

I recommend an early morning visit to the Rialto markets. I found my before-breakfast visit quite rewarding because there was hardly any crowd around which allowed me to see the market at its best. The restaurant chefs and the stall owners were the only people around and the fruits, vegetables and fish stocked there were absolutely fresh. In addition to this, some of the stall owners had their music on and were singing along to Opera and Italian songs.

The Rialto market is the very heart of Venice and a walk along the Rialto Bridge in the early morning will grant you some fantastic views of the area. The crowds start pouring in after breakfast and then you can really view Venice at its busiest. The area is also home to San Giacomo, one of the most ancient of Venetian churches dating back to the eleventh century. I purchased some great fruit for a picnic I was planning and enjoyed an espresso in a coffee shop before leaving the market.

3 events to make sure you do not miss this August in Venice, Italy

The Venice events calendar has something scheduled no matter when you might choose to visit the city. August is an especially busy month, with many kinds of attractions across the city taking place to suit a variety of different interests. There are some however, that are suited to virtually everybody. Here is a roundup of three important events in the city during August that anyone in the city must attend.

Possibly the most colourful events in the city are the Village Festivals. During the month of August, the city of Venice comes alive with a number of local festivals. These festivals are marked by their colourful fireworks and fanfare and many of them even have boat races. Since there are a number of them across the region, it is possible to find one close to where you are staying.

The second event that is worth attending in Venice in August is the Venetian Jazz Festival. This festival starts in the last week of July and extends to first week of August and sees a number of international and local artists perform at this festival. These performances take place at the Teatro La Venice as well as at the Cannaregio area. Apart from the concerts, there are a number of exhibitions of artwork, readings and parties around the city.

On the first of August every year, the Pellestrina Regatta takes place on the island of Pellestrina.

It takes place on the day of the feast of Madonna Dell’ Apparizione and is one of the most important regattas during the rowing season in Venice. To watch the regatta, you will have to find a spot on the shore of Pellestrina. Along with the regatta, there are also a number of stalls and general fanfare, which makes it a very exciting day trip idea for the entire family.