Olimpia Hotel, near Venice port

In a sheltered area in the Santa Croce neighborhood, in the peace of a silent fondamenta, Hotel Olimpia is a few minutes on foot from Basilica dei Frari – one of Venice’s main churches – and Scuola di San Rocco, theater of Tintoretto’s extraordinary works. A short distance away lies Scuola di San Giovanni Evangelista which hosts conventions and important seminars in its splendid frescoed halls; beyond Campo San Polo is the Rialto.

Rialto and its bridge are one of the symbols of Venice, in addition to the famous fish market, its environs include, cafes and restaurants, souvenir stands and high-end gift shops with glass and gold items. Shopping continues in the mercerie, the city’s historical shopping street which, amidst boutiques and shops selling Italian leather goods and shoes, ends at Piazza San Marco, the city’s salon, decorated with the basilica’s astonishing facade and Gothic profile of Palazzo Ducale.

If you want to spend a romantic and charming vacation, Venice is the city for you: from Hotel Olimpia walk towards the Zattere and enjoy a cocktail at sunset, on the banks opposite the island of Giudecca. You’ll have an unforgettable experience. The historic Squero di San Trovaso boatyard was where the Cadore workers built Venice’s boats; the carpenters came from the Cadore mountain areas to supply the city with enormous quantities of wood. The squero, which has the typical architecture of Cadore’s houses, dates back to the 17th century and currently builds and maintains gondolas, the most traditional vessel on the lagoon.