It all started with a book by an author who visited Venice seventeen times — Joseph Brodsky’s Watermark. And it turned out exactly as I’d hoped. We chose a hotel with antique-style furniture, classic Venetian décor, and a terrace overlooking the Grand Canal — for that film-star morning coffee and breakfast moment ✨️
We stayed at the elegant Hotel San Cassiano Ca’Favretto Venice 4* (Booking rating: 8.9). We booked a Single room and were given a lovely one.
I really enjoyed the hotel. The staff were friendly, and there’s luggage storage where you can leave your suitcase. The hotel isn’t new, but everything was spotless. Complimentary Wi-Fi, a kettle, tea/coffee/sugar, slippers, towels and toiletries; plus a mini fridge, hairdryer and air conditioning. It was warm and comfortable. The room was small, but the bed was wide and very comfy. The view wasn’t of the Grand Canal (those rooms are more expensive) — instead it overlooked a narrow inner canal where only a single small boat can pass. More than enough to feel the Venetian atmosphere. The location is genuinely great: slightly away from the busiest tourist crowds, yet close to the vaporetto stop for Murano and Burano. Breakfast deserves a separate mention ☕️🥪🍊
1) A dream come true — taking a private gondola ride 🛶 just for myself. Starting from the Rialto Bridge, we glided through the boats moving along the Grand Canal and into the charming smaller canals, where you can admire palazzi you can only really approach by gondola. Just me, Venice, and the gondolier — 45 minutes of pure joy. You simply have to see Venice from the water to feel its magic.
Private: €110–€130. Shared gondola rides for a small group: around €30 per person.
2) On the porter’s recommendation, dinner nearby at Ristorante Regina Sconta — delicious Venetian cuisine tucked away in the little lanes. Google rating: 4.7.
🐙🦞🥧🍷 We ordered:
fried octopus tentacles with mashed potato;
spaghetti in Venetian busara sauce (with fresh langoustines);
apple tart with vanilla and almond ice cream;
two glasses of Italian dry red wine.
“Absolutely worth the €75 bill.”
3) We bought an online ticket for a Vivaldi “Four Seasons” concert 🎻🎺
In 1745, near St Mark’s Square, the Venetian architect Giorgio Massari built the Catholic church of Santa Maria della Pietà in Italian Baroque style (Santa Maria della Pietà – Visitazione). In the adjacent institution, Maestro Antonio Vivaldi performed in the 18th century. Today, concerts of his music are held here regularly, and thanks to its superb acoustics, the church is often nicknamed Vivaldi’s church.
The concert was wonderful — shame filming isn’t allowed.
4) Another little dream — coffee in the most iconic place on St Mark’s Square. On 29 December 1720, Floriano Francesconi opened Caffè Florian, the oldest café in Venice, which has been operating for over three centuries. Venetian nobles 👑💎 once sat here alongside ambassadors, merchants and fortune-seekers. And now here I am, enjoying my cappuccino ☕️😋. If there’s a concert on St Mark’s Square, it’s best to reserve a table at Florian in advance (you can do it online).
5) On day three, I headed to colourful Burano. It’s quite a long journey — over an hour by vaporetto. A one-way ticket cost €9.50. Burano was a highlight!
Brightly coloured houses reflected in green water. Women sitting outside making and selling traditional lace. Fishermen unloading fresh catch from their boats. Look for the most vibrant house on the island — Casa di Bepi delle Caramelle (“the sweets house”), once owned by Bepi, who used to sell sweets. The lace museum is a must. For lunch, try Trattoria da Romano or Trattoria al Gatto Nero. If you want something a bit more refined (and a bit pricier), go for Osteria ai Pescatori or Osteria al Museo. Whatever you choose, you’ll enjoy it — without doubt.
6) Venice weather in the first days of the New Year: we were incredibly lucky! Day one was a bit cloudy, and the next two were beautifully sunny. Perfect. I even got a little chilly sitting on the open deck of the vaporetto — especially on the way to Burano.
My little Venetian dream came true 💗
