Al Campaniel, our B&B in Venice

A perfect location situated mid-canal, this B&B is run by a native Italian who spent most of his adult career running a hotel in London. Marco's English language and taste are impeccable. After my stay there in 2006, I will forever consider this my little place in Venice.

Marco and his wife returned to Venice about 8-10 years ago to run a small pension their way. The building itself is full of angles and garrets (the dining room is on the top floor) and every room has full tea service available at the end of each day. When I was there in January, hot tea was a GODSEND in the bone-shaking dampness. The B&B couldn't be easier to get to with luggage (a major concern in Venice), plus it is located steps from a chocolatier and hand-made leather purse store. Like the adage says, "location, location, location." ;D

Of his hospitality, Marco, like Loredana in Rome, is modest:

"AL CAMPANIEL is a small Guest House located a few meters from Campo San Toma'', near Campo dei Frari, famous for its majestic church and bell tower and the ''Scuola di San Rocco'' with its Tintoretto paintings and a minute from the vaporetto (water bus) stop on the Grand Canal, 10 minutes walking from Rialto bridge and 20 minutes from San Marco square.

The rooms are attractively furnished. Air conditioning is available in summer.
The rate includes continental breakfast and, tea/coffee making facilities in the room."

We won't be in Venice as long as we will be in Rome or Florence, especially because my mom doesn't want to spend time in museums, so we plan to spend most of our time getting lost in the narrow alleyways that connect the piazzas and finding out-of-the-way places to eat. Venice is so special that I know every second will be a treasure.

Our itinerary has taken shape

While we will be staying in the larger cities in the north of Italy, we will be taking day trips into the countryside in order to see as much as we can. I have been to Italy twice before, but my mother never has. She doesn’t want to spend a lot of time in churches or museums, but would rather see houses and gardens. That works well because I’ve done the church/museum thing--although I do want to take her to the museum of science in Florence right around the corner from the Uffizi with no line to get in.

Our rough itinerary, including B&Bs and proprietors, looks like this:

Sunday, July 6-Monday, July 7
Pompeii

Certe Notti
(Antonio & Ione)
Via Nolana 128
Pompei IT 80045
+39-081-8636667


Monday, July 8 through Thursday, July 10
Rome

Maryelen B&B
(Loredana)
Via Principe Amedeo 85/A
Roma, IT 00185
+39-06-4460626


Friday, July 11-Sunday, July 13
Florence

Il Salotto di Firenze
Via Roma 6
Firenze, Italia 50123
+39-055-218347

Monday, July 14-Tuesday, July 15
Venice

Al Campaniel Venezia
San Polo n. 2889
(Marcos)
Calle del Campaniel-San Toma
Venezia 30125
+39-041-2750-749
Fax +39-02-700-539-748

I’ve stayed with the same hosts in Rome and Venice before, and can highly recommend them, so I feel comfortable going back.