Hotel Santa Marina ★★★★

Sailing into Venice’s port, watching the city unfold before me whilst the stretch of water grew slowly narrower and narrower was one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever encountered. We had arrived in the early evening, just as the sun was starting to set… a truly breathtaking first glimpse of ‘The Floating City’. Our water-taxi dropped us off just a two minute walk from the Hotel Santa Marina, a distinctive primrose yellow building with wooden shutters and pink flowers adorning the windows.

The hotel’s interior made an equally bold impression on us – red and white marble flooring, gilt-framed paintings, wooden panelling and Murano glass decoration created a warm and welcoming atmosphere, furthered by the friendly staff who filled us with helpful advice and information about our stay. We checked in and enjoyed our welcome drink (courtesy of VeryChic!) before being escorted to our elegant abode.

Our Classic Room was decorated in a typical Venetian style, upholstered in fabrics with soft, relaxing colours and overlooking Santa Marina square. The traditional 18th-century style furnishings created a romantic atmosphere, and meticulous attention had been given to every little detail in an effort to make an unforgettable stay. The room was of course fully-equipped with all the modern facilities you’d expect from a high-quality hotel, but we were determined to let Venice’s fascinating culture and history charm us, rather than spend our holiday glued to the satellite TV and free Wi-Fi!
We spent our first evening simply exploring the quiet streets, where masterpieces seemed to pop up everywhere we looked. We dined in a classic Italian pizzeria, then indulged in obligatory gelatos and headed to the theatre to watch a traditional opera which the staff had recommended. Venice was alive with colour and vibrancy, rightly reclaimed by the Venetians following the floods of tourists who overwhelm the city in summer. Little do they know, it’s even more magical at this time of year! After a nightcap in one of the little cafés on our piazza, we headed back for a good night’s sleep, ready to feel fresh and revitalised the following day.

With the heat of summer over, venturing outside to explore the city whenever possible was all too enticing. So after a leisurely breakfast on the terrace, we emerged onto the streets and within minutes, we were staring at the city’s best sights. We mingled with the Venetians on Piazza San Marco, we drank in the views from the Rialto Bridge, we learnt about Venice’s history in the museums, and we enjoyed a Gondola ride. Nearly everything was ticked off our must-see list already, but that’s not why we came - Venice is about so much more than that. It’s a lavish and indulgent place that fills you with nostalgia and an overwhelming love for the unique culture and way of life. We said ‘ciao bella’ to Hotel Santa Marina at the end of our adventure, but it definitely wouldn’t be the last time we stayed there. I’d already started thinking of another excuse to stay there during our journey back to the airport!