Locanda Sturion Venice: 13th-Century Inn Overlooking the Grand Canal

Overview

Locanda Sturion (Antica Locanda Sturion) is a small romantic inn set on the third floor of a historic palace overlooking theGrand Canalin Venice, Italy, a short walk from theRialto Bridgeand market. The property traces its origins to the late 1200s, when the house of the Sturion was used to house foreign merchants trading at the Rialto market under the Serenissima Republic of Venice. Today the inn offers eleven rooms decorated with Murano glass chandeliers and brocade fabrics, along with a breakfast room that has a direct Grand Canal view, while preserving centuries of Venetian hospitality traditions.

Verified Location

The official contact page lists the address as Calle del Sturion, San Polo 679, 30125 Venice, Italy. The structured place record places the hotel at coordinates 45.437748, 12.334286 within the San Polo sestiere of Venice. Access directions from the hotel's own site describe the entrance at the end of Calle dello Sturion, reached via Riva del Vin after crossing the Rialto Bridge on foot.

History and Character

According to the official site, Antica Locanda Sturion is described as the last remaining of the 24 Historic Inns established in the 13th century by the Most Serene Republic of Venice. The first mention of the Albergo Sturion goes back to the end of the 1200s, when the house faced the Grand Canal from above the arcade of Calle Sturion and was used by the Doge of Venice to house foreign merchants coming to the Rialto market. The building was rebuilt at the end of the 1300s and reached its period of greatest fame in the 1400s, when it hosted seven ambassadors from Friuli with an escort of fifty persons. The property was rebuilt again in the first half of the 16th century and continued to be mentioned through the end of the 18th century, after which the Sturion Inn became a private residence before returning to inn use in 1950 in the same location and on the same foundations. An independent guide notes the property has been taking in paying guests since 1290, making it one of the oldest hotels in Venice, and mentions that the inn even appears in Renaissance paintings in the Accademia Galleries.

Rooms

The hotel offers eleven rooms in total, according to both the official rooms page and the independent overview. All rooms include a private bathroom with shower or bathtub and are decorated with classic details such as brocade fabrics and Murano glass chandeliers. The official rooms page names four categories: a Junior Suite with Grand Canal view (around 28 sqm), a Charming Double Room (around 19 sqm) overlooking a typical Venetian calle or quiet rooftops, a Charme triple room (around 24 sqm) overlooking Venetian rooftops, and an Economy double room (around 17 sqm) overlooking a typical and picturesque Venetian calle. Only two of the rooms, the Junior Suites, enjoy views of the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge, while the rest of the guests can enjoy rooftop panoramas and the Grand Canal view available from the breakfast room. Rooms are located on the third floor without an elevator, according to the official hotel description.

Distinctive Features

The property is described on the official site as a small romantic hotel overlooking the Rialto Bridge and Grand Canal, with attention to details such as Murano glass chandeliers, fine fabrics and original period floors. The breakfast room overlooks the Grand Canal and is transformed daily into a Tea and Reading Room where guests can relax after long walks around the city. The hotel sits within a historic palace without an elevator, and the third-floor location means guests should be prepared for a climb.

Services and Facilities

The official services page lists air conditioning in all rooms (subject to local rules and seasonal dates), free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, a 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, a small library of texts on Venetian history, art and architecture, and a non-smoking policy throughout the building. Breakfast is described as a rich Italian and Continental offering with sweet and savory items, with fruit arriving daily from the nearby Rialto Market and gluten-free products available upon request. Pets are welcomed free of charge, with small and medium-sized animals accepted. Discounted parking arrangements are available at Piazzale Roma and at Isola Nuova in Tronchetto. A reception style described on the official site as sober and elegant has distinguished the property since 1978, when it began offering a familiar and personalized atmosphere to guests.

Nearby Transport

The official contact page provides directions from each major arrival point into Venice. From Santa Lucia train station, vaporetto number 1 runs along the Grand Canal to the Mercato stop, from which the hotel is a two-minute walk along Calle dello Sturion. From Piazzale Roma, the same vaporetto line 1 reaches Rialto Mercato, again followed by a short walk. From Tronchetto, vaporetto number 2 reaches Rialto, with the hotel about a five-minute walk across the Rialto Bridge. From Marco Polo Airport, the Alilaguna Orange Line connects to the Rialto boat stop, after which guests walk to the Rialto Bridge, cross it, turn left onto Riva del Vin and find Calle dello Sturion on the right. From Treviso Canova Airport, an ATVO shuttle bus connects to Piazzale Roma in around 40 minutes, where the water-bus route can be picked up. An independent directions page suggests using the center staircase of the Rialto Bridge when carrying luggage, as the narrow stairs by the water can be more crowded.

Practical Considerations

The hotel sits on the third floor of a historic palace without an elevator, so guests should be prepared for a climb. Because Venice's historic centre bans cars, all arrivals require either walking from a vaporetto stop, a water taxi or a transfer from Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto, where discounted parking is offered. Facilities, room categories, services and policies may change over time, so it is advisable to confirm current details directly with the hotel through its official website or by phone before traveling. Specific amenity details, room counts and category names