ITALY - Best of Europe 2014 - page 1097

Nearby Laundries: Lavanderia Gabriella offers full service a few streets north of St.
Mark's Square (€15/load includes wash, dry, and fold; drop off Mon-Fri 8:00-12:30, closed
Sat-Sun; pickup2hourslater ornextworkingday;withyourbacktothedoorofSanZulian
Church, go over Ponte dei Ferali, take first right down Calle dei Armeni, then first left on
Rio Terà de le Colonne to #985; tel. [phone], Elisabetta).
Effe Erre, a modern self-service lavanderia, is near the recommended Hotel al Piave on
Ruga Giuffa at #4826 (€12/load, daily 6:30-24:00, mobile [phone], Massimo).
East of St. Mark's Square
Located near the Bridge of Sighs, just off the Riva degli Schiavoni waterfront promenade,
these places rub drainpipes with Venice's most palatial five-star hotels.
$$$ Hotel Campiello, lacy and bright, was once part of a 19th-century convent. Ideally
located 50 yards off the waterfront, on a tiny square, its 16 rooms offer a tranquil, friendly
refuge for travelers who appreciate comfort and professional service (Sb-€130, Db-€180,
cash discount with this topic if you reserve direct, air-con, elevator; just steps from the
San Zaccaria vaporetto stop, Castello 4647; tel. [phone], fax [phone],
www.hcampiello.it , [e-mail] ; family-run for four generations, currently by
Thomas,Nicoletta,andMarco).Theyalsorentthreemodernfamilyapartments,underrustic
timbers just steps away (up to €380/night).
$$$ Hotel Fontana is a nice, old-time, family-run place with 15 rooms near a school,
two bridges behind St. Mark's Square (Sb-€120, Db-€180, family rooms, cash discount,
quieter rooms on garden side, 2 rooms have terraces for €20 extra, air-con, elevator, free In-
ternetaccess,onCampoSanProvoloatCastello4701,tel.[phone],fax[phone],
www.hotelfontana.it , [e-mail] , cousins Diego and Gabriele).
$$$ Hotel la Residenza is a grand old palace facing a peaceful square. It has 15
small rooms on three levels and a huge, luxurious lounge that comes with a piano and
a stingy breakfast. This is a good value for romantics—you'll feel like you're in the
Doge's Palace after hours (Sb-€105, Db-€175-220, air-con, on Campo Bandiera e Moro
at Castello 3608, tel. [phone], fax [phone], www.venicelaresidenza.com ,
[e-mail] , Giovanni).
$$ Locanda al Leon, which feels a little like a medieval tower house, rents 13 reas-
onably priced rooms just off Campo Santi Filippo e Giacomo (Db-€150-160, Tb-€190,
Qb-€230, ask for Rick Steves price and show this topic if paying cash, air-con, Campo
Santi Filippo e Giacomo, Castello 4270, tel. [phone], fax [phone],
www.hotelalleon.com , [e-mail] , Giuliano and Marcella).
$ Albergo Doni is dark and quiet—a bit of a time-warp—with 13 well-worn, once-
classy rooms up a creaky stairway. It's run by friendly Tessa and her brother, an Italian
stallion named Nikos (S-€75, D-€105, Db-€130, T-€135, Tb-€170, ask about discount with