Imagine the romance of travelling by water taxi past the emblematic dome of Santa Maria dello Salute and arriving to a warm welcome at the private jetty of your grand salmon pink palazzo before being ushered into a world of beauty and privilege. Caliera is a stunning third floor apartment just five minutes walk from St Marks square and Teatro La Fenice. A welcome hamper with fruit and a bottle of Bellini, fresh croissants each morning, maid service, concierge, air conditioning and high end beds with the finest Italian linen all contribute to that pampered feeling. A wonderful home with a remarkable history - the original medieval building at the mouth of the Grand Canal was transformed in the 17th century into a fine Renaissance palazzo and lived in by the same family for 200 years. It has recently been restored by local artisans combining classical style with contemporary features. Admire the expanse of panoramic wallpaper in the living and dining areas and look out onto the quiet square below. The candelabra, exquisite mirror back sideboard and some paintings are from the palazzos private collection and contrast beautifully with light modern furnishings. Each room has artistic splashes of colour such as sky blue and burnt orange, inspired by the 18th century frescoes of Tiepolo. The white open kitchen is fully equipped and blends well into the ambience of the interior. There is the luxury of a bath in the en-suite master bedroom and the gorgeously furnished double and single bedrooms share a fine bathroom. White wooden internal stairs lead to a small landing with a bright yellow shower room and a couple of colourful day beds, an ideal spot for reading or playing games. Here youll find your private terrace for relaxing with a glass of wine - look to the left to see the tip of Punta della Dogana and a touch of the blue lagoon beyond. Take early morning photos of the Doges Palace and Bridge of Sighs, sit with a coffee in St Marks Square before taking a cocktail at Harrys Bar or simply jump on a vaporetto with your map and day pass. Its an extraordinary experience in bewitching La Serenissima even if you dont visit many of the renowned galleries, restaurants, churches and museums. A quiet stroll past centuries of layered history always leads to yet another corner where youll find exquisite treasures tucked away from the tourist routes. #### Features Apartment Interiors Main Floor (3rd Floor of Palazzo) - Living-dining room - Small kitchen area, well-equipped including dishwasher, oven, fridge, freezer, kettle, Nespresso machine, microwave, toaster and blender - Master bedroom with double bed (200x200cm) and en suite bathroom with bath an WC - Bedroom with twin beds (100x200cm each, can be made as a double) - Bedroom with single bed (100x200cm) - Bathroom with shower and WC Top Floor (in the eaves, low ceilings) - Loft area (with two day-beds) - Bathroom with shower and WC - Access to roof terrace Outside Grounds - Rooftop terrace with lounge seating - Shared terrace (via a few steps from the third floor) with lounge and dining area Facilities - Wi-Fi - Heating - Air-conditioning - Bose Bluetooth speaker - Satellite TV and DVD player - Hairdryers - Lift - Safe - Double-glazed windows - Washing machine and dryer #### Location Caliera is a beautiful apartment set on the third floor of a prestigious palazzo on the Grand Canal. Its around a 30-minute ride in a water taxi from Venice Marco Polo airport and the palazzo has its own private jetty that guests can use on arrival and departure. Alternatively, the nearest vaporetto stop is a five-minute stroll away. Situated in the tourist heart of Venice, the whole of the city accessible to you via foot, vaporetto or water taxi. Even if you have been to Venice before, youll still want to take the five minute walk to St Marks Square and be overwhelmed by the spectacular domes and arches of the Basilica and the contrasting smoother design of the Doges Palace. The towering Campanile whisks you to the top by lift for spectacular views over the city and lagoon. Couples still kiss in front of the “romantic” Bridge of Sighs, despite the fact that this was the last bridge that many prisoners crossed! If you havent been to Venice before, the silhouettes of the iconic black gondolas lined up on the Grand Canal near your jetty are sure to tempt you to take a canal excursion hopefully accompanied by a singing gondolier - check the prices before you set off. While you are seeing the “sights”, dont forget the Rialto Bridge and its famous markets. Overwhelmed by all this beauty and history? Sip a Bellini cocktail at nearby Harrys bar, which was declared a National Landmark in 2001 and is renowned for its celebrity clientele which have included kings, queens, writers, artists and actors. Refreshed, take the vaporetto towards the symbolic lions of Venice which line the Grand Canal outside the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, a fine museum of 20th century American and European art. The Galleria dellAccademia has a fine collection of pre-19th century art in Venice and Northern Italy. Try taking indirect routes to find real life cameos, scampering cats, little churches and some spectacular views. Stopping for an aperitivo or two can easily become a pleasurable habit as you wonder how the buildings stand firm on their wooden stakes driven into the mud. You are sure to eventually find your way back to your enchanting apartment next to the Grand Canal in one of the most wonderful cities of the world.