Its an unforgettable experience approaching Venice by water taxi and arriving at the private jetty of a beautiful palazzo on the Grand Canal. Ballotte is a wonderful second floor apartment in an exceptional location just five minutes walk from the delights of St Marks square. Adding to this extra special holiday experience are the welcome hamper with Bellini and fruit, breakfast croissants each morning, daily maid service, concierge, air conditioning and sumptuous beds. The medieval building at the mouth of the Grand Canal was redesigned in the 17th century into a Renaissance palazzo and lived in by the same family for 200 years. It has recently been renovated and brought to life in fine classical style with contemporary features providing the ultimate in style and comfort. Leave bags, coats and boots in the entrance hall where the soft blue feature wall was inspired by 18th century Venetian artists. Two large windows in the comfortable living room overlook a quiet square - look out for the painting of a galleon from the fleet of the family whose descendants still live in the palazzo. The successful mix of old and new is well illustrated by the dining chairs, designed for the palazzo in the early 19th century, tucked under the practical modern table and the compact modern kitchen which blends in so beautifully. Strokes of soft green and bright orange brighten the en-suite master bedroom with the specially designed bed canopy inspired by Venetian tradition. The high end mattress is decked in finest Italian linen and the bathroom enjoys the luxury of a bath surrounded by marble and polished glass. The pretty en-suite double bedroom has a gilded bedside table from the palazzo collection. Take early morning photos of the Basilica and the Bridge of Sighs, enjoy people watching with coffee and cake in St Marks Square or sip a cocktail at Harrys Bar before jumping on a vaporetto with a map and day pass. Its an extraordinary experience wandering around the magical city even if you dont visit all the renowned galleries, churches and museums. A quiet exploration of the city nearly always leads to yet another turning where youll find lesser known treasures and delights. #### Features Apartment Interiors (104m2, 2nd floor of palazzo) - Entrance hall - Living-dining room - Open-plan small kitchen, well-equipped including dishwasher, oven, microwave, fridge-freezer, kettle, toaster and Nespresso machine - Master bedroom with double canopy bed (200x200cm) and en suite bathroom with bath and WC - Bedroom with twin beds (100x200cm each, can be made up as a double) - Bathroom with shower and WC Outside Grounds - Access to shared terrace with lounge and dining area Facilities - Wi-Fi - Air-conditioning - Central heating - Bose Bluetooth speaker - Satellite TV - DVD player - Hairdryers - Lift - Safe - Double glazed windows - Washing machine and dryer #### Location This exquisite 2-bedroom apartment can be found on the second floor of a grand Venetian palazzo in central Venice on the Grand Canal. Arrive in style from Venice Marco Polo airport by pre-ordering a water taxi which takes around 30 minutes – you can be dropped off at the palazzos own jetty which can be made available for your arrival and/or departure. If you prefer to arrive by vaporetto then the nearest stop is a five-minute walk away. This is the beating heart of the tourist centre with the whole of Venice easily accessible by vaporetto and water taxi. A good place to start is the five minute walk to St Marks Square to view the breath taking Basilica, Doges Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. A lift whisks you up the towering Campanile for spectacular views over the city and lagoon. Soak up history and beauty in the bustling atmosphere of the present day by taking coffee and cake at one of the famous cafes along the edge of the square. Explore the neighbouring streets and mingle with the tourists from all over the world as you visit the areas restaurants, shops and boutiques. Take the vaporetto to the Basilica di Santa Maria dello Salute, built as a votive of thanks after the plague in 1630. It quickly became an emblem of the city, standing like a sentinel at the mouth of the Grand Canal and so visible to approaching travellers. The nearby old customs house Punta della Dogana is now a museum and a must go place for architecture (Tadao Ando) and the Pinault contemporary art collection. There are great photo opportunities from here as you look across to St Marks square. After so much sightseeing, take a relaxing break at nearby Harrys Bar, a 1930s bar known for its Bellini cocktails, carpaccio and celebrity clientele of writers, artists, celebrities and aristocrats – it was declared a National Historic Monument by the Italian government in 2001. Perhaps you would prefer to take a light lunch near the Rialto Bridge, a stone arched bridge over the narrowest part of the Grand Canal, an amazing engineering and architectural achievement of the Renaissance. The famous Rialto market can be found north-west of the bridge and is an atmospheric place to buy your fruit, vegetables and fish. For a break away from the city, take a half day sightseeing tour to see the renowned glass blowers of Murano and the ornate palazzos, colourful houses, churches and lace making shops of Burano and Torcello. The Lido is also worth a visit – an 11km long barrier which hosts the annual Venice Film Festival each year. Here youll find a laid back holiday feel with beaches away from the bustle and its wonderful looking back at the sunsets over Venice.