Hotel Ala, Venice

About Hotel Ala

Created from two 17th century buildings joined by a mezzanine, Hotel Ala, originally a Venetian palazzo, has been popular with Citalia guests for over 30 years.

A Venetian charm runs throughout the hotel, with spacious public rooms, and an interesting collection of antique armour and weapons displayed at the top of the stairs. There is also a spectacular Venetian chandelier hanging, created by the famous glassmaker Giorgio Ferro.

On the delightful rooftop terrace, start the day with breakfast there, or round off an afternoon after exploring the nearby sights with a glass of prosecco, the local sparkling wine. In the evening, why not head to the delightful Restaurant Da Raffaele, near to the hotel, with its fine regional specialities.

It is a superior 3* hotel and well-situated only 50m from the Santa Maria del Giglio vaporetto stop, with a 5 minute stroll to Piazza San Marco and a 10 minute walk to the Rialto Bridge.

Accommodation:

Rooms are welcoming and comfortable with classic Venetian décor. Facilities include a bath or shower, air conditioning in the summer, satellite television, minibar, hairdryer, safe and wifi access. All rooms have twin beds but double and triple rooms are available on request. It is possible to request interconnecting rooms or a triple room.

Superior Rooms
These rooms are more spacious than a standard room and some offer views onto Rio di Santa Maria Zobenigo canal or on Campo Santa Maria del Giglio.


Single Rooms
Single rooms are available with the same facilities as a standard room.

Supplements (from):

Superior £19. Single £29.

Facilities:

• Breakfast room
• Tarnowska's American Bar
• Lounge
• Lift
• WIFI Internet access (payable locally)

Information:

The hotel has 84 air-conditioned rooms. Transfer time from Marco Polo airport: 40 mins. Child prices apply to ages 2-11 years. Waterbus stop: Giglio. Buffet breakfast. Minimum stay 2 nights (3 nights for arrivals 28 Dec - 1 Jan). Official Rating 3 Star

About Venice

Built on stilts and forming an archipelago of 117 small islands, Venice reposes on a liquid tapestry of calm canals and lazy lagoons 2,5 miles (4km) from Venice's mainland. The city's luminous quality is glimpsed from gliding gondolas and explored on foot through narrow calli, linked to one another by ornate stone bridges. Painted palazzi, Byzantine basilicas and Baroque domes compete with the dove-flocked piazzas that reach the ultramarine waters.
The wealth of Venice is evident in Piazza San Marco and alludes to when the Venetian republic was a dominant mercantile power, trading silks, spices and gemstones carried overland by Bedouin caravans and shipped to Mediterranean ports. Nowadays, modern craft navigate between six ancient sestieri, bearing carefree stowaways to St Mark's Basilica, the Palazzo Ducale and on up the Grand Canal to the Rialto, where palazzi lining unhurried channels display architectural styles spanning five centuries.
Become tempted by Venice's food market below the Rialto Bridge and after having enjoyed a meal head to the shopaholic joys of the Mercerie, which runs between Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge. Perhaps cross the short stretch of water that leads to the glass-making island of Murano and the lace and linen enclave of Burano.
Venice Lido is the largest island here and benefits from an 8 mile (13km) long beach, which at the turn of the 19th century, created a premier resort for international aristocrats. Regular vaporetti, exclusive motor launches and public water buses transport visitor to another world in the time it takes to drink a cappuccino. Venice is a permanent carnival, rejoicing in a masked ball in February that swirls visitors into a sensual atmosphere peopled by gallant heroes and bewitching courtesans.