Between the "calli" of Levantine Venice, with its markets and shops, only 5 minutes on foot from the Rialto Bridge and fifteen minutes from Piazza San Marco, the Alloggi al Mercante are in an enviable position among the rooms for rent and the hotels in Venice, for experiencing authentic Venice.
Set apart from the throngs of tourists, just a few steps away from the market and fish market, immersed in Venice’s authentic atmosphere, the Alloggi al Mercante is the place for discovering the life of Venetian wine bars and the ritual of ombra and cicheto, of magical campi and campielli, where the slow rhythm of Venice can still be felt, you can hear the ciacole in the language of Goldoni’s plays, stop for a coffee or hot chocolate, which is a Venetian tradition that spans more than a century, and finally enjoy a golosesso in one of the may pastry shops in the area.
The calli and campi surrounding the Alloggi al Mercante are obvious proof of Venice’s merchant tradition, with their nizioleti: calle dei boteri, the manufacturers of fireworks who bought their oak beams here, the alleys of fruit and vegetable vendors, campi, bridges and calle of wine bars, butcher shops, and so many other varied denominations.
From the Alloggi al Mercante, a five minute walk takes you to the traditional commercial heart of Venice: Rialto and the San Giacometo Church, the oldest church of Venice, known as the church of the merchants, who gathered in front of the façade until the XII Century, and where it is still possible to read an evocation to God for merchants’ honesty and wisdom on the exterior apse under the cross. The stroll then continues across the Rialto Bridge among fanciful shops, and then descends to the Mercerie, a name coming from the historical Venetian merchants, which still recalls shop windows full of every whim, a true paradise for shopping up to the Piazza San Marco: international franchises, high fashion brands, boutiques of the most important Italian and international designers (Rolex, Gucci, Cartier, Krizia, Sergio Rossi etc.) and unforgettable handmade artisan goods, such as the carnival masks and Murano glass. Once you arrive in Piazza San Marco, the scene is truly breathtaking: the Basilica of San Marco, with its incredible façade of mosaics and precious marble, is crowned by the Procuratie like an elegant parlor ready to welcome its guests in the historic porticos and cafes.
BY PLANE
Take the ATVO shuttle for Venice and get off in Piazzale Roma, the auto and bus terminal. Then take vaporetto no. 2 for Rialto and get off at Rialto. Continue as described in the section BY TRAIN.
From the Treviso "San Giuseppe" Airport
Take the ATVO shuttle / Eurobus for Venice and get off in Piazzale Roma, the auto and bus terminal. Then take vaporetto no. 2 for Rialto and get off in Rialto. Continue as described in the section BY TRAIN.
BY TRAIN
From the Venice Santa Lucia train station, take the vaporetto no. 2 for Rialto / San Marco and get off in Rialto. Then proceed on foot: cross the Rialto Bridge, continue straight on and pass the Fish Market on the right, cross the Beccarie Bridge, go straight on, cross the Calle dei Botteri and turn right on Calle del Campaniel. You have arrived, Alloggi Al Mercante is at number 1770.
BY CAR
After exiting from the highway(A4 and A27), continue on the thruway and follow the directions to Venice. Cross over the long Libertà Bridge and park your car in Piazzale Roma (auto terminal) or in Tronchetto, just after the Libertà Bridge on the right. Both from Piazzale Roma and from Tronchetto, take the vaporetto ACTV no. 2 for Rialto (from Tronchetto you can change in Piazzale Roma) for Rialto and get off in Rialto. Continue as described in the section BY TRAIN.
