The list is very long. The tourist usually arrives in the capital of Veneto with a very clear objective: to discover in an exhausting marathon the most emblematic corners of a city whose attractions have placed it among the most important destinations in the world. St. Mark’s Square, with the Basilica and the Torre dell’Orologio, the Caffé Florian, the Grand Canal and the Bridge of Sighs by gondola, the islands that surround it… However, Venice is – and offers – much more .
There are, however, other types of travelers, those who flee from typical and clichéd places, and the presence of crowds; who seek to capture the soul of the city and savor its aroma calmly, without rushing. And the traveler with an indomitable spirit is not satisfied with simply seeing the city. He chooses to feel it and live it.
It does not respond to the archetype of the classic Venetian luxury hotel, with large curtains and baroque influences, however Ca’ di Dio has managed to capture the refinement of the city through its design and its freshness. The establishment, which occupies a 13th century building, a former pilgrim hostel remodeled by the Spanish Patricia Urquiola, is a tribute to Venice and its past. Located on Riva degli Schiavoni, in the well-known contemporary art district, it is, above all, modern, warm and welcoming.
Stay in one of its suites with altanas, the unique terraces that rise above the sloping roofs with a 360º view; enjoy its interior garden – a rarity in the Serenissima; tasting a dish with Apulian touches from chef Raimondo Squeo at the Vero restaurant, or savoring a modern cocktail at the Alchemia bar, make guests feel simply like guests. It has been this way since it opened its doors in 2021, and, two years later, Ca’ di Dio continues to be one of the best kept secrets in the city.
Like tango in Buenos Aires or karaoke in Tokyo, going to a bacaro, a small tavern where you can have a wine and the occasional cicchetto – a small appetizer-shaped dish – has become a must. At La Barrique, a place located on Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, the experience takes on another level.
Its excellent selection of wines from artisanal wineries in Veneto and its exquisite cicchetti, with raw ham as the star dish (some say it is the best in the entire region) justify a visit to this gastronomic bacaro.
It might seem easy when you watch the gondoliers maneuver their boat gently through the narrow canals, but voga veneta, the old rowing technique typical of the Venetian lagoon, requires some skill. Who wouldn’t want to become a gondolier and explore uncrowded canals?
Row Venice, a local non-profit association, offers the possibility of doing a fun and unusual leisure activity: learning to row. In private courses, on sunset tours along the Grand Canal, or in search of the best bacari, the initiative is a way to understand and experience the cultural heritage of Veneto.
Stacked on canoes, bathtubs or gondolas, this is the original solution that the Acqua Alta bookstore has found to protect its volumes from the rising tide, and this has become its attraction. The establishment, located on Via Longa S.M. Formosa, hidden between canals, specializes in second-hand volumes and out-of-print titles, in addition to hoarding a complete catalog of titles about the city.
One more curiosity: buyers will not only find books, but a legion of cats that move around the store like fish in water.
