Ground-level apartments in Venice--should I be concerned?
 

Hello all,

I previously asked if I should be concerned about a ground level apartment on the Grand Canal (it is on the same level as the canal), which I'm considering renting for 6 nights the last week of September. Specifically, I asked if I should be concerned about morning noise from boats and potential for flooding. I already received the excellent suggestion that if the fridge is on a platform, that's a sign of potential flooding and I shouldn't rent the place. In the photos I've seen, the fridge is not on a platform, so that's encouraging.

I'd just like to know if anyone has had any other negative experiences or advice specific to ground-level apartments in Venice, especially one situated on a canal. For instance--odors or plumbing issues? Forgive me if this is a ridiculous question--I've never been to Venice!

The apartment I'm considering has its own water door on the Grand Canal, and there appears to be only a tiny foyer separating the water door from the rest of the apartment (no second door betw the foyer and the rest of the apt). But the apartment itself looks lovely (and is not cheap!) I haven't seen any negative reviews of this place on TripAdvisor or elsewhere (other than a minor, administrativey-type complaint), and there are several positive reviews.

Thoughts? Thanks.

You might experience the same noise from the canal if you were on an upper floor as well--it depends more on the quality of the windows than the canal-side location. Based on more than a dozen trips to Venice, I think I would be more concerned about noise if my windows abutted a walkway--the clack clack clack of shoes, heels, carts, and such over the uneven pavement, and people chatting, all echoing between the stone buildings.

Can you share a link to the apartment? Some people may be able to advise about the particular apartment or at least the location.

Also you might check for its location on this interactive map. Use the arrow at right to raise the acqua alta and see how your location fares.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/20...nice-animation

ellenem,

Thank you so much for the link to the National Geographic interactive map--it's fascinating! Because it is hard to see the details on the map (couldn't seem to zoom in?), I am not sure whether the apartment is in one of the areas with the little dot and/or likely to flood when I raise the arrow--though it looks like it might be--so maybe I should be concerned? On the other hand, none of the 8 reviews on TripAdvisor mention flooding--and there was at least one reviewer who was there in winter.

Anyway, here is a link to the apartment from the Truly Venice website--I invite you and others to tell me what you think, especially if you've stayed there or are familiar with the area.

http://www.trulyveniceapartments.com...ment.jsp?id=40

Here's the link to the TripAdvisor reviews:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationR...ce_Veneto.html

I see now that there is actually a second door between the foyer and the rest of the apartment.

Also, if you look at it, it shows the entrance to the garden--I think that must be a different entrance than the water entrance. For one thing, if you look at the design detail of the water door and the garden entrance door, they are different.

Thanks much!

I rent an apartment just across the Grand Canal from the apartment that you are going to rent. It is also on the ground floor and on the Grand Canal.
You've chosen a great area of the GC....it's lovely!!
I agree with Ellen....the clack of heels and carts in calli are noisier than what you will hear on the canal. I sometimes hear my above-neighbor's heeling clicking...I often wonder when she sleeps..she must slip her heels on when she runs to the bathroom at 2 am....lol. (sorry...off point)
The apartment I rent is built up a step....because they were having occasional problems with acqua alta. The water has never come into my apartment while I've been there. I'm usually there in November. September incidences of acqua alta are on the low side.
But...I'd ask your landlord.
I will say that acqua alta has never stopped me from exploring the city....I may have to take a different path...take a break and have coffee/wine. But it passes within an hour or so.....
Enjoy your stay!
Here is a good site explaining acqua alta....http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/...acqua-alta.htm

Ahhhhh Venezia!! I love her so much I started a blog.
http://baileyzimmermansvenezia.blogspot.com/

Bailey,

How fortunate that you saw my post--thanks for the insider tips! I don't think that acqua alta will stop me from exploring the city either--I just don't want our apartment to flood. It does appear from the floorplan that there are some steps up from the canal to the apartment. Is that similar to what you meant when you said that your apartment is "built up a step?"

Regardless, I will ask the rental agency if the apartment has ever flooded.

No, those steps down to the canal are the usual steps and have nothing to do with your apartment being raised. Many water doors have steps to allow for the changing water levels. The tide heights can vary dramatically. I've experienced acqua alta in which I arrived one day at the water door with four steps above water level, and the next day only one step above water level.

Hi again.....
Make sure you have a meal at Acqua Pazza....it's steps from your apartment....save room for the lemoncello/melloncello.
http://www.veniceacquapazza.com/

Here is a site to check on the tide levels for the day.
http://www.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm.../IDPagina/1748

Before you rent, check with the owner/agency. Are you supposed to close up the shutters or take any other security precautions whenever you go out?

We rented a ground floor apartment in Paris for a month. It was fine except the conditions of the rental were that every single time we went out, all the security blinds had to be rolled down, even if we were just heading down to local grocery story for 10 minutes to pick up a few staples. It got old fast and we agreed never to rent a ground floor apartment again.

I had a screaming argument with a manager at Acqua Pazza in the piazza in front of the restaurant. They cheated us on the bill, so it was the most expensive limoncello you will ever drink. I wound up getting 50 euros back.

An Italian speaking friend heard the staff mocking an American tourist for choosing Chianti with fish.

Yes, it is full of happy tourists, and they love it on TripAdvisor, but I would certainly not recommend it.

ellenem,

I asked the property manager whether water had ever gotten into the apartment--that I was concerned given that the apartment is on the ground floor and on the Grand Canal. She said "no, that will not be a problem. There are barriers in case the water is high, which is anyway highly unlikely." I'm not sure what she means by barriers (any thoughts?) but she's saying no water will get in.

There are literal barriers that are slid into doorways to keep the water from getting in. Go to this link and scroll down to door barriers for a photo of an example.

http://www.libripublishing.co.uk/ven...ter2restr.html

ellenem,

Once again, thank you for the helpful information. I think these barriers must be what the property manager meant.

Living on the Grand Canal is noisy, at all hours. If you enjoy fresh air and your bedroom is near the water, you better plan to pack a good pair of ear plugs. The trash boats are particularly obnoxious, and they work before sunrise.

A general rule of thumb: Ground floor apartments that rent year round don't flood. Owners who rent apartments that flood in winter don't permit wood furniture to touch the floor. Flooding leaves stains on the wood and on the walls. The signs of flooding are difficult to conceal in a photo, especially if wood furniture is near the floor.

Last September saw an ungodly heat wave in Venice, breaking all previous records. The mosquito infestations also broke records. Even the Italians were complaining. By all means bring a good insect repellant and apply liberally if you run into a heat wave.