Dorsoduro, in which our apartment is located, has always been highly desired for its truly authentic Venetian ambience, and has attracted writers, painters and artists to its unique charms throughout the centuries.

We finally chose our home in this area, after viewing countless others throughout the city, as it met all the special features that we were searching for: a beautiful canal-side location, the distinct possibility of adding an altana (an outdoor room high above the city) to provide far-reaching views over the rooftops, but most important of all we are in a detached building with only 1 other neighbor downstairs..... a very rare advantage in Venice, where the majority of other apartments are in multi-story complexes, share many communal walls and can thus be dark and somewhat noisy. Additionally, our apartment is located well-above acqua alta levels, making it a safe refuge during high tides!

Our good fortune is that we are open to sunlight on all 4 sides, have commanding views of at least half a dozen nearby churches from our altana, can spend hours watching all manner of watercraft glide by, and yet fall asleep to the serene sounds of the canal lapping below!

To find our 'perfect' home took several years of searching, but we are thrilled with what we have been able to accomplish! As rental apartments become more prevalent within Venice, our rather unique situation has made us realize just how blessed we are to have chosen our home where we did, the vision we had to turn it into something charming and personal, and the pleasure it will provide for years to come!

Along with our aforementioned location and special building, creating a truly comfortable and welcoming home was of great importance to us.

Books on a wide variety of subjects fill our large library, Italian-themed films and music CDs are provided for further enjoyment, and an extremely comfortable sofa and chairs are all conducive to an evening spent snuggling at home!

Our ability to provide an altana - a much prized addition - offers guests a once-in-a-lifetime personal opportunity to view the city from a vantage point very few people ever have the chance to experience. Based on a 4-post design frequently seen in paintings by Canaletto and Guardi, it is a magical location, particularly at certain times of the day, when the church bells in the tower behind the apartment peel. Alternatively, it makes for an intimate space in which to enjoy a personal breakfast at sunrise, or for a quiet 'aperitivo' before heading out to dine at one of our nearby excellent family restaurants.

With all there is to see in Venice, we have placed great importance on providing the best, most comfortable, mattresses to ensure a good night's sleep at the end of each day! Our bed heads were specifically designed to represent a gondola seat, and with their undulating style guests are able to fully open the windows above for maximum air-flow; additionally, all bedspreads were created and personally made by the owners.

Century-old family-painted watercolors grace the master-bedroom walls, oil paintings by a favorite uncle (now deceased) are given pride of place in several rooms, and along with all our other much-cherished furniture, we can now surround ourselves in an environment born out of love and wonderful memories!

As some of our first guests are now returning to our special home for another visit we realize that not only does 'The Venetian Terrace, Dorsoduro' mean so much to us, but it has also captivated the hearts of many new friends we have made along the way!