Il Mercante Di Venezia, Venice

Advantages: Great food writing, delicious recipes, interesting factual stuff
Disadvantages: Not enough recipes; overly flowery descriptions; unappealing characters

...to a romance, and romance there is - in bucketfuls. This is a love affair not only between two people but between one woman and a city: Venice, arguably the most romantic city in the world. The book is an account of how chef and freelance food writer, Minnesota-based Marlena de Blasi meets a mysterious Italian who, it seems, knows that she is "the One". He follows her to the United States and within days they are making plans for the future; within months, Marlena has joined Fernando in Venice and the couple are making plans for their wedding. If it sounds a little crazy that's because it is. A middle aged woman seduced by a complete stranger and one with whom she has so little in common. De Blasi reminisces about the various family homes she has lived in with her two now grown up children; houses she has turned into homes, full... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Absolutely breath taking views around every corner.
Disadvantages: Very expensive packed during the day with day trippers.

...Venice. I was under strict instructions to make sure I was off duty for my birthday but unfortunately I was unable to arrange to have the time off until the following week for what was supposed to be a special birthday surprise. Unfortunately due to a couple of circumstances beyond our control I actually found out that my birthday treat was to be a trip to Venice. I couldn?t believe it as I have always wanted to go there but never imagined it would happen this way. I would have probably gone into heart failure had I found out about it at the airport so it was probably for the best I found out about it anyway. Unable to cancel the trip we decided to go ahead with the visit and boy was I surprised and excited. The night before the trip to Venice we had gone to London to see a show and to have dinner and due to an oversight... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Great location, comfortable, quiet, secure
Disadvantages: Single bedroom a little basic

...Last November I took my third trip to Venice. It hadn?t been my intention to go at all; this holiday was a joint birthday present from me to my parents but they insisted that I go along with them to show them around. Venice is a beautiful and unique city, so how could I refuse? ◄Discovering Hotel Campiello► I discovered the Hotel Campiello on my second trip to Venice a few years ago. We were on a 10 day trip to Italy and had decided to spend most of the time in Rome and Florence, trying to leave 2 or 3 days free to include Venice. We had booked our hotels in Rome and Florence in advance but left the booking of the Venice leg until we were in Rome. We were staying at Hotel Paba in Rome (itself a gem of a place) and told the owner that we were thinking of booking into one of the big luxury hotels in the Venice Lido for 2... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful