Views on Venice was founded in the late 1990’s when the concept of short term apartment rentals was in its infancy and rarely considered an option by most visitors to the city. As a ‘thirty-something’ Venetian excited by the new business and communication opportunities offered by the internet, I decided to link up with a close childhood friend in creating a partnership which, at the time, was a novelty in Venice. The idea we had in mind was to approach the traditional management of my family’s apartments from an entirely different angle, while at the same time resisting the attentions of those wanting to transform my family's palazzo into a prestigious hotel. Our aim was to offer these apartments, as well as those of friends, for rental to an international clientele who’d take pleasure in the comfort, freedom and authenticity of ‘living at home as a Venetian’ rather than merely observing the city from the confines of an anonymous hotel room or suite. The common denominator then, as now, was to offer ‘something extra’ amidst an already extraordinary city - an added dimension which turns a ‘stay’ into an ‘experience’ and a 'dream' into 'reality'.

A beautiful canal side address to impress – the epitome of style and understated elegance on the Canal Dei Greci with its famous leaning tower nearby. This really is the best of both worlds… less than ten minutes from all the must-see sights of St Mark's Square (including the Basilica, the Doge’s Palace and the Clock Tower) and yet right next to the quieter, more atmospheric neighbourhood of Castello. Fans of Donna Leon’s fictional crime-buster, Commissario Guido Brunetti, will certainly feel at home here. The offices of the “Questura” where he works are a few doors away. Ca’ dei Greci is an unusually light and airy apartment with lovely views over a wide canal - gondolas glide past and a water taxi can drop you at your front door. It offers spacious and classically Venetian surroundings for up to eight guests with four very private bedrooms and three bathrooms.

Space and relaxed grandeur in a fabulous spot… A short walk to the atmospheric Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni and its wonderful Carpaccio paintings, the monumental Dominican Basilica di Santi Giovanni e Paolo (one of the largest churches in Venice and burial place of no fewer than 25 Venetian Doges), and to Campo Santa Maria Formosa (site of the Querini Stampalia) passing Palazzo Grimani on the way. And even closer to home - moments to the imposing façade of the cavernous Church of San Lorenzo (just visible from the apartment but now closed to the public, the church was the supposed resting place of famous Venetian explorer Marco Polo before his body was lost during its rebuilding) and to the Museo di Dipinti Sacri Byzanti (Museum of Icons) just along the canal. Also within easy reach of the local Punto supermarket for easy self-catering and to the vaporetto (water bus) stop at San Zaccaria for easy travel around the city.