PALAZZO DI CASTELLO Castello, Venice The chic modern interior by the noted Italian owner/designer is the perfect backdrop for Venice's glinting light. Come and go by boat whenever you like -- whether private taxi, vaporetto or kayak. Palazzo di Castello invites you to visit Venice in a new way - a more nuanced, local, playful and indepth way. If you want a car-free holiday exploring and living an Italian life in all its diversity, try La Serenissima. If you care about art, design, and architecture, Venice is now. And Palazzo di Castello brings it all together in a private and tranquil canal-side setting with the best of Venice at your doorstep.
PALAZZO DI CASTELLO OVERVIEW Palazzo di Castello is an invitation to re-visit Venice in a more nuanced, local, in-depth way. If you are one of the many who care about meaningful travel and an experience of 'place', you have described Venice. If you want a car-free holiday, exploring and living an Italian life in all its diversity, try La Serenissima. If you care about art, design, architecture, innovations and evolutions, Venice is now. Palazzo di Castello brings all these reasons together in a luminous, private and tranquil canal-side setting with endless fascination at your doorstep. Palazzo di Castello gives your group a chance to share an easy holiday together with plenty to do and yet also plenty of opportunity to kick back, relax and be together in a beautiful, distinctive place. Palazzo di Castello is in the still-local Castello, one of the sestiere where you can most immediately experience everyday Venetian life, shopping for your vegetables off a boat pulled up in the canal, walking under the snapping banners of laundry hung out to dry, hearing bursts of happy sound from a cafe where stories are being shared after a long day of work. Castello is where young, up-and-coming Venetians are living and working, appreciating their ability to enjoy all the best of this intriguing and ever evolving destination has to offer. The Palazzo's setting is pure Venice; the four-story building flanked by a 16th century church designed by Palladio, a 15th century 'campanile' by Codussi and a broad canal. If you are not sure, look it up in an art history book. On the outside it looks the same today as it did then. But everything inside has changed. The owner/designers signature style is contemporary; clean, bright and uncluttered. Largely white upholstery sets off the stunning red-orange handmade floors of travertino veneziano. The younger set will enjoy their own privacy in the Mansarda, designed as a 24/7 hangout for young lovers, young adults or youngsters. Enjoy a splendid terrace for dinner or drinks, overlooking water and rooftops, book, camera or paintbrush in hand. You can cook or be cooked for. You can host your own party, exhibition, yoga class or conference in the Cavana. All manner of service and support can be arranged. And San Marco? A 20 minute walk not allowing for window shopping or the nearly inevitable stop for a coffee. Three vaporetti stops are within an easy walk. Whether you are off to a museum, or the Lido for biking, beaching and tennis - or to visit the Jewish Cemetery -- it is easy to do. Plus you are an easy stroll to the Biennale and the Arsenale. For the late August-early September Venice Film Festival, a five minute walk and one-stop vaporetto ride will get you there. Private taxis arrive at your door for days exploring the food, wine and history of the lagoon. From Castello you can choose when and how to engage with Venice's cultural depths and her natural beauty. What is immediately striking about the Palazzo di Castello is the light and air. Here you are in a freestanding structure with a tree-shaded garden piazza to one side, a private garden on the other and a wide canal along the front. The effect is almost overwhelming. Where most homes in Venice have windows on only one facade, perhaps a few extra along a narrow side canal or little-used courtyard, Palazzo di Castello's First Floor has 15 windows ringing the perimeter -including windows in both ensuite baths set such that you can shower while contemplating the exceptional view. The entire Palazzo is suffused with that distinctive, glancing light that has illuminated the singular canvases of Canaletto and Guardi, both of whom painted this newly reborn Palazzo centuries ago. As with so many things in Venice -- nothing has changed but everything has changed. Come back to Venice for all that is new and stay to deepen your appreciation for the genius and drama of Venice's glory days. That light you see on the canvas? Come, here it is at the window of Palazzo di Castello. Beauty can be timeless, even in our accelerated world.
PALAZZO DI CASTELLO GROUND FLOOR FIRST FLOOR SECOND FLOOR Main entrance hall with access from adjacent treeshaded park -- dominated by a church designed by Palladio and a 15th century bell-tower designed by Codussi -- leads to the stairs and elevator. Very large, brick-vaulted, multifunction 'androne', originally the boat shelter for the palazzo. Indoor dinners for 16 comfortably accommodated on everyday basis. Ping-pong table. (The androne seats up to 50 guests for dinner or 100 for cocktails. Meetings and parties as well as musical performances, film screenings, yoga classes, etc. are welcome. Please discuss your interest.) Spa area with hot tub (2.5 mtrs square, heated to 40 degrees, with jets) and bathroom. Ground floor kitchen (stove, double ovens, fridge/freezer, sinks, dishwasher) adjacent to androne for ease of serving. Double doors open directly to public tree-shaded garden. (For staff and event use only.) Guest bath (with shower) Private boat dock along the canal fronting the Palazzo used by hired taxis, gives direct access to the androne. Elevator arrives into large central dining/studio space with two tables with a combined capacity for 20, open sidebar/bar. For a smaller group, the second table set functions well as work space. Printer. Double doors lead to shaded dining terrace for 16 overlooking canal and the rooftops of the adjacent Castello homes. Double doors open to balcony on opposite end of room, overlooking the tree-shaded campo. Adjacent sitting room with seating for ten and four windows providing exceptional views of the adjacent canal and the Codussi bell tower. TV with satellite and Sky service, DVD player. Guest kitchen (stove, oven, fridge/freezer, dishwasher) leads to primary staircase serving all levels. 'Terrace' Double bedroom (king) with water-view window and double doors open to the covered terrace. Private/ensuite bath (shower stall) can be used as guest bath without disturbing privacy of Terrace bedroom guests. 'Codussi' Double bedroom (French beds cannot combine) with ensuite bath (shower stall) overlooking adjacent campo. Lift and staircase arrive to central hallway. 'Channel' Double bedroom (king) with two windows overlooking the canal and single bed for a child. Ensuite bath (shower stall with Turkish Bath). 'Arsenale' Double bedroom (king) with four windows overlooking the canal and the piazza garden. Very large open plan ensuite bath (shower plus tub with hand-held shower) and balcony overlooking the piazza garden. 'Garden' Double bedroom (twins cannot combine) with ensuite bath (shower stall) Double bedroom (king) with open ensuite bath (shower stall) and three windows to the south. Cupboard kitchen (for drinks, coffee, snacks) Cleaning closet with small washing machine for guest use.
PALAZZO DI CASTELLO MANSARDA Stairs and lift arrive directly to open loft space created in the eaves with exposed beams (low clearance in places). Open kitchen (stove, oven, small fridge, dishwasher) with dining counter for 3-4. Living area with low couches for 8-12 and folding dining table for four. Fax machine. Flight of 11 stairs (shallow and steep but with railing) lead to open-air 'altana' on the roof for drinks and dining. Accommodates 14/16 guests at casual tables, light shade tent can be installed for summer use. Panoramic view of Venice including the Campanile of San Marco.
PALAZZO DI CASTELLO WHAT'S NEARBY Via Giuseppe Garibaldi (shopping, cafes) 5 minutes walk Vaporetto 5-10 minutes walk Biennale, Arsenale 10 minutes walk Piazza San Marco, Lido (Film Festival, beaches, biking) 20 minutes walk or 10 minutes walk and 10 minutes vaporetto Piazzale Roma (car rental pickup/return), Santa Lucia (train) 20 minutes by private water taxi Accademia, Dorsoduro 20-30 by walk and vaporetto Venice Airport 30 minutes by private water taxi ITINERARY RECOMMENDATIONS Head out with map in hand, a sturdy pair of walking shoes and a camera. Follow your senses until you are good and truly lost. Then enjoy getting found again. Guided neighborhood walks blend both historic and modern-day aspects of Venetian life. For all ages. Skip the gondola (unless you must) and ride the #1. Snag the front row seats as soon as you can and enjoy an unparalleled view of Venice. To be in Venice requires getting out on a boat for a distinctive and perception-altering experience of Venice. Spend a day on the Lido for biking, beaches, tennis, the Jewish Cemetery and know a different Venice. Visit the famed Rialto market -- and adjacent fish market -in the morning with a gastronomic guide. Hunt for lions with the help of a private guide or a selfguided tour from Save Venice. Be sure to take the traghetto across the Grand Canal -- standing up in a gondola!
PALAZZO DI CASTELLO WHAT TO KNOW Complimentary WiFi provided. Please note there may not be consistent coverage throughout the property. Please discuss your particular connectivity needs before booking. It is recommended to secure accommodations for Biennale, Film Festival and other major exhibition dates six months or so in advance. Please contact us for up-to-date availability. Homebase Abroad Trip Planning Services and Concierge are included with rentals of one week or more. Additional fees apply for Trip Planning and Concierge Services for stays of less than one week. Please inquire. Rentals can begin any day of the week. Arrival time is 4 pm- 5 pm; departure time is 10 am. TRAVELING WITH HOMEBASE ABROAD Homebase Abroad rates include our professional guidance and comprehensive travel planning - including preparation of your itinerary - for your time at your chosen villa. All arrangements are customized to the specific interests, needs and preferences of you and your guests. We draw from our extensive network of direct contacts as well as our personal travel experiences in Italy. Upon arrival, you will be met by a Homebase Abroad Concierge who is available to you throughout your villa stay, and will be your first point of contact for any questions and additional requests regarding both your villa and itinerary. We are delighted to assist with travel planning for pre- or postvilla stays in Italy for you and your guests. Please contact us directly to discuss the applicable fees.
PALAZZO DI CASTELLO INCLUDED: HEAT House and pool heating GAS ELECTRICITY WATER AIR CONDITIONING TELEPHONE/FAX Local calls INTERNET WiFi AVAILABLE: CLEANING All staff services must be paid directly by guests. Please inquire before booking. Additional maid service is available on request at 15 per hour. LINEN CHANGE Weekly on Saturday; services arranged by Homebase Abroad with outside providers Additional changes on request by additional payment PERSONAL LAUNDRY Available on request at 15 per hour WELCOME DINNER Arrival meal available. BREAKFAST Available on request for 18 per hour cook, and 15 per hour assistants, plus food and beverage LUNCH Available on request for 18 per hour cook, and 15 per hour assistants, plus food and beverage DINNER Available on request for 18 per hour cook, and 15 per hour assistants, plus food and beverage PROVISIONS Food and beverages at cost ADVANCE SHOPPING SERVICE Available on request for 18 per hour cook, and 15 per hour assistants, plus food and beverage SHOPPING SERVICE Available on request for 18 per hour cook, and 15 per hour assistants, plus food and beverage TRANSFER boat taxi transfer on arrival for host family, up to 16 guests WINE & LIQUOR The cellar is supplied with high quality red and white wines, whisky, gin, grappa, Martini, vodka and Limoncello. Only actual consumption (bottles opened) will be charged a corresponding price comparable to local merchants. PRINTED: 2/13/2017