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Fodor's Expert Review Al Palazzetto

Name: Al Palazzetto
Address: Calle delle Vele, Cannaregio 4057, Venice, Veneto, 30121, Italy
Telephone: 041-2750897
Price range: $

Calle delle Vele, Cannaregio 4057, Venice, Veneto, 30121, Italy See on Map

Liz Humphreys

Sometimes on your travels you just need a place to crash that’s simple, comfortable, and not too tough on the wallet. We’ve found just what you need in expensive Venezia—Al Palazzetto is a B&B set in an authentic 18^th-century palace that’s a little rough-around-the-edges, but great for a clean, quiet, and affordable place to hang your head while you explore the town.

Al Palazzetto is especially good for families and groups, since it offers triple and quadruple rooms in addition to double.

room

Large-sized rooms are done up in Venetian style, with traditional floors and period furniture. Some have beamed ceilings and canopy beds.

One of the rooms overlooks a lovely canal, so ask for that in advance if you wish.

bathroom

Modern, large-sized bathrooms come with either shower or tub/shower combo.

lobby

On the second floor (“first floor” in European speak), you’ll find the lobby and reception area, but it’s probably not a place in which you’ll want to spend much time.

YOU SHOULD KNOW The owner lives in an apartment on the top floor, so if you prefer staying in places where you can be anonymous and come and go without interacting with anyone, you may prefer to stay elsewhere.

dining

Though Al Palazzetto doesn’t have its own restaurant, it offers a simple breakfast spread each morning.

LOCATION

Getting Around

A ferry from the Ca’ d’Oro vaporetto stop (3-minute walk) will drop you off in San Marco and other locations around Venice, or hop on a traghetto from the nearby Santa Sofia stop (3-minute walk) directly across the canal to the Rialto. If you like walking, San Marco is about 15 minutes away.

Restaurants

Cozy Osteria Ca’ d’Oro alla Vedova (2-minute walk) is known for its polpette (fried meatballs) and local vino. Charming family-run Vini da Gigio (3-minute walk) offers tasty pastas and seasonal dishes with a great wine list. Reserve in advance for a great selection of traditional dishes—especially the seafood—at Osteria La Bottega ai Promessi Sposi (3-minute walk).

Bars

El Sbarlefo Cannaregio (5-minute walk) offers delicious cicchetti like the classic sarde in saor (sweet and sour sardines), plus a good choice of wines and cocktails, while petite wine bar Un Mondo di Vino (6-minute walk) is a great place to enjoy aperitivi (wine or spritz and bar snacks). VinoVero (7-minute walk) has a lovely selection of wines by the glass and tasty nibbles.

WHY WE LIKE IT

Al Palazzetto is a non-cookie cutter place, where everything’s not perfect but has character. It’s also one of the rare Venetian accommodations with enough space for families or friends traveling together, not to mention its splendid location off the main tourist track, but still with easy access to everything you’re in Venice to see.