Piccola Venezia Room

Piccola Venezia Room occupies a historic palazzo on Calle Fidado, in the centre of Chioggia, a hundred metres from Ponte di Vigo and the column with the lion of Saint Mark that closes Corso del Popolo. The red façade, with pale stone window frames and wrought-iron balconies, is typical of the lagoon's town houses; all around are Canal Vena and the San Domenico canal, the fishing boats and the fish market.

The house is run by Valentina and Riccardo, who have created six rooms and three apartments across the floors of the palazzo. There are no hotel-style common areas: hospitality here means a personal welcome on arrival and advice on how to enjoy the town. Sottomarina beach is about 2.5 km away, and Venice is an easy day trip across the lagoon or by bus.

Valentina and Riccardo, husband and wife, look after their guests personally: beyond check-in, they share suggestions on routes, lesser-known corners and things to do in town and on the lagoon. Check-in and check-out are private, with key handover.

Pets are welcome; the whole property is non-smoking. Walking and cycling tours, excursions and local culture experiences can be arranged through the house.

The Classic Rooms (201, 301 and 401, 16 m²) and Comfort Rooms (202, 302 and 402, 19 m²) have a king-size bed, private bathroom and a welcome tray; some overlook the rooftops and calli of the old town. The Murano, Giudecca and Torcello apartments, about 45 m² each, add a fitted kitchen and a sofa bed, suited to families or longer stays.

Facilities: air conditioning, heating, free WiFi, flat-screen TV, wardrobe, private bathroom with shower, bidet and toiletries, bed linen and towels, daily cleaning. The whole property is non-smoking and some rooms are soundproofed.

Piccola Venezia Room has no restaurant and does not serve breakfast: rooms come with a welcome tray and the apartments have their own kitchen. For breakfast, the cafés and pastry shops along Corso del Popolo are a few steps away.

Chioggia is above all a fish town: the trattorias and osterias around Canal Vena and the fish market serve the catch of the lagoon, from sarde in saor to risotto di gò and, in season, moeche. Valentina and Riccardo are happy to recommend the right addresses.

Chioggia is the southernmost town of the Venetian lagoon: a historic centre laid out in a herringbone pattern along Corso del Popolo, crossed by canals and narrow calli running down to the water. Worth seeing are the Cathedral, the church of San Domenico with Carpaccio's Saint Paul, the Museo Civico della Laguna Sud and the fish market on Canal Vena.

Sottomarina beach is about 2.5 km away. Venice can be reached across the lagoon, on the line via Pellestrina and the Lido, or by bus to Piazzale Roma (just over an hour). By car, Padua is about 50 km away, the Po Delta about 30 km and Marco Polo airport about 60 km.