Ca' Mainella Grand Canal Venice - Apartment

Easy to love and hard to forget!


Occupying a pole position on the Grand Canal within the 19th century Casa Mainella aka Palazzina Marioni * - an exquisite waterside palace designed by architect Lodovico Cadorin, restorer and redecorator of rooms within Venice’s illustrious Caffè Florian in St. Mark’s Square - offering Venice text-book views and unadulterated elegance right in the heart of our beloved Dorsoduro.


Subject of a recently unveiled head-to-toe restoration and exhibiting the indelible stamp of superb craftsmanship, imaginative design and not to mention major investment throughout, this air-conditioned apartment offers gracious Venetian living for up to eight lucky guests in a fabulously memorable and sophisticated setting.


On the second floor and running the entire depth of the Palazzo, the cool, sleek and oh-so-chic accommodation is dashingly decked out in biscuity champagne colours picked out in deep pomegranate pinks with all the mod-cons you could wish for dotted around or cleverly disguised within its custom-built fittings.


Indulge your inner aristo as you make yourself at home!


Offering plentiful space and comfort for each and every guest, accommodation is as flexible as it is attractive and comprises a main sitting room with polished plaster walls, comfy sofas, a classy chandelier and traditional terrazzo flooring, plus a beautiful white marble feature fireplace vying for your attention between two large windows overlooking the Grand Canal towards the noble palazzi opposite and lying to each side.


Just off the sitting room sits the stylish kitchen/dining room - neat and well-groomed with a dining suite seating eight for breakfasting each morning as the Grand Canal springs to life outside your windows or gradually winds down at the close of each day.


Accessed via a short internal hallway and restfully situated to the side of the Palazzo is a relaxing double bedroom in easy-on the eye colours with terrazzo flooring, a double bed (which can be made into twins - simply ask when booking) and a separate brand new and beautifully decorated bathroom with shower.


Dividing the above accommodation with that lying to Ca’ Mainella’s rear is a lockable door leading to 2 further double bedrooms - one simple, uncluttered and with a double bed, and the other overlooking the Palazzo’s shaded private garden** with a rococo-style double bed which can also be made into twins - again, simply ask when booking.


And also to the rear, a really rather special double bedroom/studio with views of the garden...


… bright, spacious and super-adaptable, the room has gorgeous wooden parquet, a sofa bed sleeping 2, a concealed kitchen area to the rear, and a simple dining suite for six which can be folded and stowed away when not in use so freeing up all available space to the max - sheer genius! - while Ca’ Mainella’s second bathroom with bathtub and shower over and ‘tapestry’ mosaic wall completes the accommodation.


* Featured on the front cover of the book ‘I Silenzi di Venezia’ by Gian Antonio Cibotto and Giustino Chemello.


** Featured as ‘giardino Balboni a Dorsoduro’ in the book ‘Giardino Segreti a Venezia’ by Cristiana Moldi-Ravenna and Tudy Sammartini.


Our Comment


An apartment all set to become a firm favourite! and a great choice for a larger party who, at times, would like to divide into 2 for a greater degree of privacy.


BIG on style, simplicity, location and views reaching from the Palazzo Grassi Museum of Modern Art to the left to the Accademia Bridge to the right, with VOV’s Palazzo Cerchieri just next door!


A short stroll to the stunning Zattere waterfront with its fabulous panorama across the wide Giudecca Canal, and to the Squero San Trovaso - founded in the 17th century and the oldest of only a tiny handful of working gondola boatyards still left in Venice today, where skilled local artisans continue to craft, maintain and repair gondolas by hand using century old methods.


Moments to an excellent variety of interesting small shops, bars and restaurants including Enoteca Ai Artisti, Taverna and Ristorante San Trovaso, La Bitta and Locanda Montin… and not forgetting Cantinone Gia Schiavi-Al Bottegon for super cicheti and Bar alla Toletta with its array of tramezzini.


Also within a short walk of the much-photographed fruit and vegetable boat moored at San Barnaba and a well-stocked Punto supermarket in Campo Santa Margherita.


Conveniently close to two vaporetto (water bus) stops for easy travel around the city - one at Accademia and the other at Ca’ Rezzonico (next to the Ca’ Rezzonico Museum of 18th Century Art).