Everyone who visits Venice never fails to talk about how romantic the city is. Venice is undoubtedly a feast for the eyes and never fails to be photographed by even the most amateur of photographers. I witnessed this beauty for myself last summer as I stepped on the banks of the Grand Canal. It almost felt like I was in a world of my own.
As soon as I stepped foot on the Grand Canal, the sight of exotic buildings, boat traffic and diverse colours instantly caught my attention. The city dazzles day or night. With my luggage in hand, I headed directly to the water taxi to take me to the hotel much talked about for his exquisiteness and elegance – Hotel Ca’Sagredo.
The water route to the hotel was stunning with shops and markets lined along the beautiful canal. Hotel Ca’Sagredo was an ideal pitstop for me to explore Venice given its central location. Ideally located close to major attraction, my tour around Venice would be a walking tour. Hotel Ca’Sagredo is housed in a Venetian Palazzo of the 15th century and is only a short distance from the bustling St Mark’s square.
The first thing I did upon reaching the hotel was to check-in and then immediately head out to explore the sights and sounds Venice had to offer. I have been by many that the most ideal way to see Venice in its entirety is to get lost in the several labyrinthine lanes and to cross the several bridges built over canals. Even photographs fail to reflect accurately the sheer beauty that I got to see during this walking tour. I was determined to check out St. Mark’s Square and so I did. St Mark’s Square is situated at the heart of the city and is a must visit place for all visitors to Venice. This square is easily identifiable by the presence of arcades on 3 sides and St Mark’s church located on the eastern side of the square. The energy that is present when you visit St Mark’s Square is to die for.
Filled with people, music and pigeons, I found myself spending the entire day exploring this area, making visits to St Mark’s Church, Mseo Correr and Doge’s Palace. What an unforgettable visit to St Mark’s square this was as I stood stunned looking at the mesmerizing beauty of the monuments. The setting sun’s rays on the murals and lit up Doge’s Palace took my breath away. I also made it up to the top of the bell tower situated in the square to take in the most breathtaking view of beautiful Venice. As Napoleon aptly put it, St Mark’s Square is undeniably “the finest drawing room in Europe” with the rows of cafes and restaurants lined along it. I had to experience this culture and sat myself down in the historic Café Florian to enjoy a cup of coffee while listening to the open-air orchestra playing lovely music.
I definitely have to do justice to the hotel I stayed in by describing how ideal it was a haven to rejuvenate after a tiring day exploring Italy’s mysterious yet romantic city called Venice.
Hotel Ca’Sagredo, I instantly knew I made the right choice. A proud member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World brand collection consisting of more than 500 independent executive hotels spanning across more than 60 countries, Hotel Ca’Sagredo is truly a masterpiece! The lobby instantly catches your attention with elements of art and beauty put together in true Italian style.
One such feature is the grand marble staircase by Tirali. Several rooms and suites in this piece of art offer stunning views of the canal. I was lucky enough to have a peek at the grand suites which was reminiscent of ceilings and bas reliefs of the 18th century along with immaculately painted wall friezes. Every detail was carefully looked into to give each room a true Italian feel.
The Grand Canal in full grandeur was alive with gondolas and boats making their daily trips up and down the waterfront. Life by the canal had started with songs being played in Italian and markets buzzing with activity. I had my first breakfast in the hotel restaurant, L’Alcova. The passion to serve good food was clearly evident as I was served breakfast in true blue Venetian style. Open all year round, the restaurant is open to anyone who is waiting to have their palates satiated by good Italian cuisine served right from the heart. If you are lucky, you might be able to exchange a word or two with the reputed chef of the restaurant, Josef Klostermaier. Upon speaking to the chef, I found that out that much of the items on the menu have been influenced by his Bavarian culture and international experience.
After breakfast, I headed down to the Grand Canal, which was merely a few steps away, to catch a gondola to cross the Canal. There were several of these gondolas transporting passengers to the centre of the much-famed Rialto fish market. This is an iconic market which features a regular Italian lifestyle. Much of the produce found in this market is used in the dishes of many restaurants around the area.
