Venice city center Vacation Rental apartment: venice city centre

My partner and I, together with my fit, senior parents, stayed at the apartment for three nights in June 2009.
Nicoletta met us at the water bus stop as arranged and escorted us to the apartment which was essential and a real value add to a first time visitor to Venice. The apartment was spotlessly clean, spacious and well appointed and the air conditioning in the bedrooms was welcome after full days of sightseeing in the warm and humid June weather.
The location of the apartment in a more residential area really added to our experience of Venice. We loved walking to the local shops and markets to purchase our daily supplies and we loved exploring and mixing with local residents rather than being confined to tourist haunts. We also loved the atmosphere of daily banter and comings and goings amongst the local residents in the surrounding apartments, buildings and laneways. We felt like, for that short time we were part of the community, not simply visitors. Despite being located in a residential area it was only a 5-10 minute walk to San Marco and the Grand Canal as well as Rialto Bridge and markets and the Vaporetto stops to travel to Murano and Burano etc.
We would certainly stay again and recommend it to friends and family. The only aspect I would highlight to potential visitors is that the apartment is reached up two flights of stairs with no lift so may not be suitable for those with mobility issues or an inability to carry luggage up stairs.