Hotel Papadopoli Venezia offers something unusually useful in Venice: a romantic canal-side setting that is also convenient when arriving with luggage. The hotel stands in Santa Croce, close to Piazzale Roma and within walking distance of Venezia Santa Lucia station, yet its theatrical Venetian interiors make the arrival feel far removed from a transport hub.

In this Hotel Papadopoli Venezia review, we look at the location, our canal-view room with balcony, service, breakfast and the Giardino d’Inverno. This MGallery hotel suited us particularly well as a short-stay base: comfortable, full of local character and close enough to the edge of the historic center to simplify both arrival and departure.

Location and First Impressions

Venice can turn a hotel transfer into the first test of a relationship, especially when suitcases, bridges and summer heat arrive together. Hotel Papadopoli Venezia avoids much of that drama. Piazzale Roma is nearby for guests arriving by road or airport bus, while Venezia Santa Lucia station is within walking distance across the Constitution Bridge. The position is less central for St. Mark’s Square, but the route there becomes part of the pleasure rather than wasted travel time.

The hotel sits beside the leafy Giardini Papadopoli, an unusual patch of green in a city defined by stone and water. Inside, the mood changes quickly. Murano glass, marble, chandeliers, velvet and references to masks and historic costumes create a richly layered version of Venice. It is not restrained, but it feels connected to the destination and has far more personality than a neutral international hotel interior.

The public areas are compact and easy to understand. Reception sits near the entrance, La Terrazza lounge bar provides a place for coffee or cocktails, and Giardino d’Inverno occupies the hotel’s celebrated Winter Garden. The scale feels intimate even though the hotel currently lists 100 rooms across six floors.

Check-In and Service

Our check-in was quick, efficient and genuinely helpful. The team supplied practical information about the city and a map, then offered a welcome drink that we could enjoy later at La Terrazza. That flexibility was thoughtful. After traveling, being told to consume hospitality immediately can feel surprisingly like another appointment.

We returned to the bar in the evening for cocktails accompanied by snacks and baccalà mantecato, Venice’s creamy preparation of salt cod. Service remained warm and confident throughout the stay. It had the polish expected from MGallery, but without becoming formal or distant.

Our Canal-View Room

Our room continued the Venetian story with a canopy bed, deep red velvet, carved wood and patterned fabric wall coverings. Gold thread linked the softer pastel tones with darker furniture, while a Murano glass lamp introduced a more contemporary note. It could easily have become a costume set, yet the room remained comfortable and functional.

The private balcony was the room’s defining feature. Looking over the canal made the hotel feel woven into Venice rather than merely located within it. Rooms at the property vary in outlook and size, so travelers booking for this experience should check the exact view and balcony details rather than assume every category includes them.

Bathroom and Amenities

The bathroom was compact but well organized, with a rainfall shower and bidet. There was no freestanding bathtub, and the room category would not suit guests who consider a long soak essential after crossing Venice’s bridges. Egyptian cotton towels and a useful selection of personal-care items helped the smaller space feel considered.

Tea, coffee, meringue cookies and C.O. Bigelow toiletries completed the amenity selection during our visit. We particularly appreciated the emergency kit, one of those unglamorous details that becomes important at precisely the moment nobody wants to search Venice for a pharmacy.

Facilities and Amenities

Hotel Papadopoli Venezia is designed primarily as an elegant city base. The current official facilities include a restaurant, bar, room service, Wi-Fi and a meeting room, but there is no swimming pool, gym or spa. Guests planning a longer hotel-centered retreat may find the offer limited. For a few days of walking, eating and getting pleasantly lost in Venice, the balance makes more sense.

The adjacent garden and canal views provide some breathing room around the hotel, while the lounge offers a comfortable pause before dinner. Still, Venice remains the principal facility. The hotel does not try to compete with the city, which is sensible when the city happens to look like this.

Breakfast and Dining

Giardino d’Inverno is the hotel’s most distinctive dining space. The Winter Garden was designed by Italian landscape architect Pietro Porcinai and gives breakfast and dinner a more romantic setting than a conventional hotel dining room. The hotel currently presents the restaurant as a showcase for regional Venetian cooking, while La Terrazza serves drinks and lighter food.

Breakfast at Giardino d’Inverno

During our stay, breakfast combined familiar international choices with Venetian specialties. Pinza, frìtole and panna cotta gave the buffet local identity, while detox juices, salads, cheeses, cold cuts, bruschetta and stuffed zucchini covered a broad range of appetites. The selection felt generous, although we would have welcomed a wider choice of Italian cheeses.

Breakfast worked because the local additions were easy to discover rather than hidden behind a generic international buffet. Current opening hours and dishes may change, but the official hotel information still lists hot and cold buffet options, including continental, American and gluten-free choices.

Is Hotel Papadopoli Venezia Worth Staying At?

Yes, especially for a first or short visit to Venice. Hotel Papadopoli Venezia combines a convenient arrival point with the atmosphere many travelers hope to find once the practical part of the journey is over. We remember the balcony above the canal, the canopy bed, warm service and breakfast in the Winter Garden more clearly than any minor shortcomings.

The limitations are straightforward. Our bathroom was small, leisure facilities were minimal and the interiors will overwhelm anyone who prefers pale wood and quiet minimalism. Yet the design has conviction, and that matters in a city where an anonymous room can feel like a missed opportunity. Hotel Papadopoli worked for us because it made Venice present even after we closed the door.

If the view is a priority, choose the room category carefully and confirm whether a balcony is included. For more of the city beyond the hotel, continue with our Venice photo essay.

Hotel Papadopoli Venezia Review Card

• 9.1/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 9.1/10
• 9.1/10
  CLEANLINESS – 9.1/10
• 8.6/10
  ROOM – 8.6/10
• 7/10
  FACILITIES AND AMENITIES – 7/10
• 8.8/10
  FOOD AND BEVERAGE – 8.8/10
• 9.6/10
  SERVICE – 9.6/10
• 9.4/10
  VALUE – 9.4/10

Hotel Papadopoli Venezia: Location, Price and Practical Information

We paid about US$250 for a room with breakfast before this article was first published. That figure is a record of our stay, not a current rate. Venice prices vary considerably with room category, season and major events, so compare the exact room view and inclusions when checking today’s rates.

The post Hotel Papadopoli Venezia Review: Venetian Style by the Canal appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

Venice is much more than just a canals and bridges

But arent they special?

History is screaming out of the facades

More you explore, more you are amazed

Not only by the architecture

But also art and food…

Sadly, some amazing places can be reached only by the water

Heads up, it is easy to get lost in Venice

And if you do

Try to get on higher ground and see where you are

Before the lights are out

This is the end of our first Venice photo essay. I hope you like it and you will see Venice once in your lifetime. Thank you for your attention, and see you next time. If you need any photography, Contact us and we will see what can be done. Stay safe!

The post Walking Through Venice – Photo Essay appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

To be honest, we didn’t argue much, but pack our stuff from a trendy Papadopoli Hotel and went home to dodge troubles instead. So Venice, a dream location for many travelers are closed. What does that mean for tourism and human migration? If you ask me, a huge cooldown is on the horizon.

Pandemic and Travel

If this novel coronavirus gets on the pandemic scale, tourism will be the first victim. People will not travel on a massive scale and the tourist sector will first feel the blow. A lot of good restaurants might close its doors, some boutique family hotels as well. Going out of business isn’t just a personal struggle of the involved; it affects the whole lot more.

Vulnerable Heritage

Times like this are very dangerous for world heritage and diverse culinary legacy. Incredible Peranakan cuisine can serve as an example. In Asia, there are only a handful of restaurants serving real Nyonya food and if we lose those… Mostly family-run restaurants are new to the scene; therefore, they are the most vulnerable. If they close their doors, a lot will be lost.

In addition to that, there might also be a big purge on the street food section. If one street food stall was making money exclusively on tourists, chances are it might get shut down in a crisis like this. Not to mention the governments push to clear the streets and issue the prohibition of street vendors. In Bangkok, this shift has already begun; the most sought-after street vendors have turned their mobile kitchen into a small restaurant. Even though it feels like a good idea, it is more to it than meets the eye. No one is considering the toll of long working hours, rising costs of rent, and commitment to a single location, to name a few.

It’s Just Media Fear Tactic

I don’t want to go into a debate about coronavirus conspiracy but rather the output of it. It is clear that the damage is happening no matter what. Travel bans are happening, that is a fact. It is on us how everything will play out when this outbreak will be under control and eradicated.

Is There Any Positive Side of This Novel Coronavirus Outbreak?

Is there anything good we can get out of a “great tourist crisis” that might come? Yes, tourism will have a reboot, and I hope it will be reborn in a most majestic way. The absence of one million Instagram posts of literally the same thing gives me hope. Hopefully, people will abandon the “let’s travel around the globe in three months” idea, and there will be fewer buses of people that stop only at the most popular locations and ignore everything else… I am thinking about wholesome tourism, which is rewarding for all parties.

Be a Smart Traveler

Tourists should have a slow pace and focus on travel quality rather than quantity. I can’t stress enough how the instant mentality of “doing that, check that off my list, jump here and pose there” brings terrible pollution and dangerous ignorance. When you go somewhere you haven’t been before, please keep your eyes open for more than just selfies.

Dive deep into the living culture and place’s history, do some research on local food and support outstanding restaurants. By doing so, you’ll enjoy your holidays much more and exceed all prior expectations. Even when you step outside your home, try to keep an open mind and think about what you leave behind. Massive tourism is killing traveling joy and this should be changed.

Everything is Better Without Massive Tourism

At the time of our visit to Venice, the number of tourists was down to about 70%. For the first time, we felt the ultimate romantic vibe of Venice and enjoyed the eco of locals chit-chat down the canal. As a photographer, I must have “a rich traveling experience.” Richness comes through the place’s character and its unique culture. I need to get familiar with local faces, and I need to know their habits. Clearly, we fell in love with Venice and need to get back there when things get back to normal again. Hopefully, we’ll be able to live there for a month or two and finally put out some decent photo material.

Death of Travel Bloggers?

Let’s take a look at some black scenario outcomes and visualize what would happen to many travel bloggers and influencers out there. Probably, most of them will simply stop existing. Without traveling, there is no material and without content, there is no audience. My thoughts and prayers are with all Instagram “models” and bimbos out there. Brace yourself for reality! On the other hand, I might be too optimistic; after all, butts are still the most sought after. What does this mean for our blog, will it die as well or we’ll have to invest into Vivi’s bum?

Novel Coronavirus and Wild’n’Free Diary

What is our plan in the case of a “great tourism blackout”? Well, we have a lot of material on stock, all of it still needs to be edit and posted, plus a few of our other projects are taking a lot of resources anyway. The bottom line is, you don’t have to worry; we have you covered with tons of travel posts weekly.

The post We Ran Out of Venice, Now What? appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

To be honest, I’m afraid to walk down the street and look for a good pizza place. This city is dirty and full of homeless people: a lot of them allegedly emigrated from Africa. I’ve read that the mafia has a major influence in the town and that here their laws apply. Holes made by bullets in a shop window or in an entrance door are not a rare sight. Just like security or police located close to ATM machines to make sure that your money withdrawal really stays yours.

But what I miss the most is that there is no greenery. I haven’t seen a single green park where I could go jogging. Every now and then I ask myself: “Where am I wandering?” I’ve surprised myself because I’m not locked in an apartment, all scared and hiding under the blanket. Well, even though nothing happened to me, it’s still a horrible feeling. When panic hits me, I just look at Ian. His calmness instantly affects me. We decided to visit a nearby castle, so I could see a nicer side of this city. A view from the top of the castle opened up widely. Silently, I watched this big city and the majestic Mount Vesuvius in the background. He explained to me that Vesuvius is still alive and an eruption considered a threat. That made me think about the connection Naples-Vesuvius and I can say that the city radiates the energy of the volcano. Here, people live in uncertainty. They don’t know if evacuation will happen in their lifetime, or it will be a part of the next generation. It may also never happen. No one knows. Volcano aside, each one of us has an uncertain future: what matters is how you handle the present. What if someone went on a journey and lost everything due to the eruption? How would he accept this fate and the hint of the gods? Would he become angry and devastated or would he realize that he is the lucky one because his life has been spared?

Exploring the streets has become great fun and I’ve got rid of the unjustified fear. What if we somehow influence bad things happening to us just by thinking about them? The best way to comfort my soul when I host my own pity party is a good dessert: it always has been and it always will be. Some things just don’t change. There is nothing that a gourmet dessert can’t fix. And here, I can choose from a wide variety of sweets. The streets are full of pastry shops: everything looks yummy and it’s hard to decide which one to pick. However, what about the famous pizza?

We were wandering in a small street and looking for a good place, where you get that real Italian pizza. In some restaurants, you can see pictures of famous persons, who were eating there. However, our attention was drawn to a pizza place with a long waiting line. Well, if everybody’s waiting just to get some pizza, it must be good! And it really was. There, I ate the best pizza of my life. The crusty and soft dough, and, at the same time, just a few tasty fresh ingredients on the top. Oh, the place was called Gino Sorbillo.

Video

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Pizza is the ultimate comfort food. I haven’t heard that there is a person who doesn’t like pizza. OK, I know one such person, and even he had some overeating pizza with a ton of liquor situations in the past. The pizza fanbase came up with lots of creative varieties. Some focus on the dough, others on the topping, and, again, others on crazy variations, such as Hawaiian pizza. My favorite was the one with some salami, mushrooms and fresh rocked. However, since I tried the true Margherita, things have changed. That simplicity made an impression that is stuck with me. Good ingredients and perfection in making it are the main keys to this god’s favorite.

The person who perfected the whole process was a genius. The first thing that makes pizza outstanding is a wood-burning oven. The heat that oven must withstand to bake a pizza in less than a minute is extremely high. Some ovens are actually modified industrial ovens with more than an 800 degrees Celsius or 1472 degrees Fahrenheit. So pizza goes in and out in less than a minute. This high-temperature condition makes dough crunchy on the outside but still soft and moist on the inside.

Pizza

We tried a few different Margheritas in 4 or 5 places but the best one was in a Gino Sorbillo, which is in Via dei Tribunali Street. Don’t worry, you don’t need the exact address. You will know where that place is by a group of people waiting for their table. Yes, you heard me right. Outside, there is a doorman, who takes names and later calls you to your table. But don’t panic, the pizza is fast food and the service looks like you are in the picnic, so the progress to the table is fast. We were waiting only for 20 minutes, which was enough time for Aperol spritz in the bar on the other side of the street.

“Don’t worry, you don’t need the exact address. You will know where that place is by a group of people waiting for their table.”

Naples

Let’s talk about pizza. Yes, the dough is extraordinary, just like I said before. Crunchy outside and soft and moist inside. The topping is just right, there isn’t too much cheese and the palate is sweet and sour just right. Not to mention the unami! On the top, there was some fresh basil and this is it. Simple and extremely good. All the ingredients from this pizzeria were organic, which is a big advantage. So, yes, I ate a lot of pizza, however nothing was even close to this one. The Napoli pizza really is different. It’s totally worth visiting this “creepy” city just to try this treat. And, of course, all the desserts they offer, not to mention their gelato!

Naples pastries

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The post And we found the best pizza in the world ! appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.