Mask, glass artworks, refined fabrics… this list might go on forever. Venice has still several artisans boutiques you should pay a visit to during your stay, which remind of its previous commercial power.

We would like to show and suggest you some of the most iconic and beautiful boutiques in Venice, that will make you lose in a world most of the people ignore.

Bottega del Tintoretto

You certainly have heard about one of the greatest Venetian artists, Jacopo Robusti, called Tintoretto. He was born in Venice, in Cannaregio, right behind the Fondamenta della Misericordia. His palace is now the headquarters of Bottega del Tintoretto, a graphic studio where you can learn the traditional techniques of paintings and lithography.

Design and painting courses are organized every year.

Address: Cannaregio, 3400, 30121 Venezia

Riccardo Guaraldi Liutaio Venezia

Have you ever listened to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons? The red priest, as he used to be called for his red hair, used to play violin in theaters and churches, in fact, Venice was pretty famous in the industry of instruments at the time.

Riccardo Guaraldi is a talented lutist who’s bringing on the ancient art of making string instruments. It’s boutique is located near the Basilica of San Giovanni e Paolo, not far from our hotel.

Address: Castello, 6282, Corte Botera, 30122 Venezia

Tessitura Luigi Bevilacqua

Venice wasn’t the capital of fashion during the Serenissima Republic, but it had a point about refined fabrics. At Tessitura Luigi Bevilacqua, a Venetian fabrics manufacturer, you can see 18th-century looms with you own eyes and learn more about about the traditional and centenary techniques, which made Venice famous for its fabrics around the world.

You can reach it in only 12 minutes from our hotel.

Address: S. Croce, 1320, 30135 Venezia

Mauro Vianello

We have already suggested you to visit a furnace in Murano to appreciate the difficult art of blowing glass, but if you don’t have enough time for a boat tour to the main Venetian islands, you can step by Mauro Vianello’s boutique.

Mauro is an artist who learnt how to create glass masterpieces when he was just a boy. His boutique is located in the Sestiere of Santa Croce and you can walk in to observe him while he’s creating one of this fascinating artworks.

Address: Santa Croce 2251, Calle dei Morti

Ca’ del Sol

Another artisans boutique in Venice you should step by is Ca’ del Sol, where you can see how the famous Venetian masks are created. In this small workshop, a group of artisans make new masks everyday. You can find the well-known bauta, the real Venetian mask or those of Arlecchino, Pulcinella and many more.

Address: Castello, 4964, 30100 Venezia

Organizing a perfect holiday in Venice is not hard if you have the right information, if you know where to stay and how to go around. We perfectly know that Venice is as beautiful as complicated, with all its labirythinc streets, but you don’t have to worry. Take a piece of paper and a pen and let’s start taking some notes.

How to choose the perfect area to stay
Venice is divided in six districts, called “sestieri”, depending on which you choose you will be closer or farther to the main attractions of the city.  The six districts are: Cannaregio, San Marco, Dorsoduro, Santa Croce and Castello.
Cannaregio, where our hotel is situated, is very close to the train Station and to the heart of the city. This area is well-known for its typical “bacari” (typical Venetians bar) and for the Jewish Ghetto. 

How not to get lost in Venice
We are always happy to help you understand the intricate net of street in Venice, but you can also make your life easier using Google Maps. There are a lot of direction signs almost everywhere, but it could happen that you take a wrong street once, just because you got attracted to a nice corner. Google maps can really help you find the right way back.
By the way, Venetians get lost in their city too. It simply happens, it’s Venice.

Sneakers are better than hills
Venice has no cars but a lot of bridges, wearing hill, unfortunately, is not the better choice you can make. Unless you only want to visit Venice on a boat or a kayak (link) – but it would be a pity – you should take a pair of comfortable shoes with you.

What is the best period to come
Organizing a perfect holiday in Venice means also considering the season when to come. As in winter as in summer, Venice is beautiful and surprising, but there are moments when living the city is harder than others.
From November to January, you could find the high tide. It’s a fascinating event, no doubt on it and we hope you could see it at least once in your life, but visiting the city could not be that easy.
If experiencing the high tide in Venice is one of the things you want to do, here’s all you need to know about.

Where to eat and what to visit in Venice
If you want to know what to eat in Venice, you can ask us and we will be happy to give you some pieces of advices.
Same if you need some suggestions about where to taste our cuisine and the main attractions in Venice.
In the maintime, you can have a look at this article we wrote.

Visiting Venice means also considering the idea of visiting its most known islands: Burano, Murano and Torcello. These three islands are not that far from Venice and are easily reachable by boat.

How to organize a day trip to Burano, Murano and Torcello
You have two ways to visit these three islands: enjoying a guided tour or going by yourself.
There a lot of guided tour that can take you to the islands, but most of them have a duration of 4 hours more or less. They are perfect if you are staying in Venice for just a weekend, but If you have more time and you don’t want to miss a thing, you should take advantage of the Venezia Unica City Pass.
Venezia Unica city Pass is a all-in-one pass that you can use for transportations and attractions. You can personalize your card, according to your plans, including a day-ticket to the islands.

What to see on Burano Island
Burano is, probably, the most famous Venetian Island. Its laces and its colorful houses are known all over the world.
Burano is a little treasure in the Venetian lagoon and the laces you can buy here are true pieces of art that you won’t find anywhere else.
Don’t miss to visit the Lace Museum, take a picture to the pending belltower and try a typical “Bussolà” (Burano’s cookie).

What to see on Murano Island
Murano is the island of the glass art, you have probably heard about the well-known Murano Glass already.
On this island you can visit the Glass Museum and see with your own eyes Glass Masters at work. They can model glass as if it was clay, it is really astonishing.
You can also step by the Church of Santa Maria e San Donato and the Church of St. Peter Martyr.

What to see on Torcello Island
According to the origin of Venice, Torcello island was the first place where Venetians, escaping from the barbarian invasions, settled down.
For centuries, Torcello island was the center of all commercial activities. Without Torcello, Venice would not have existed.
Devil’s Bridge is definitely a thing you cannot miss on the island. This bridge is related to several legends, all of them tell about a deal with the Devil in exchange of something.
The main attractions on the island are two old churches: the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the Church of Santa Fosca. The Cathedral shows the signs of the passing time, but it still beautiful and decorated with nice mosaics.
There is also the Museum of Torcello which preserves medieval and modern works of art and archaeological finds, taken from the surrounding region.
Last but not least, the so-called Throne of Attila, an ancient stone chair that actually has nothing to do with the king of the Huns, since it was placed there 100 years after his death.