Skip to content
Al Ponte Antico Photos

Al Ponte Antico Hotel

Trip Over to Venice

Arriving in Venice at around noon after a 3 hour drive from Como with Milan from Como Limousines, Milan showed us to a water taxi and our Venetian adventure began, it was hard to know whether to just look and take it all in or keep taking photos of this magnificent old city.

As we navigated the Grand Canal I caught sight of the Rialto Bridge in the distance, so knew we were nearly at the Al Ponte Antico Hotel, it came very highly recommended by friends in Sydney who had recently stayed there.

Oliver came out to meet us as our water taxi pulled up, it was like walking into another world as we entered this beautifully renovated palace from the 1500s through the centuries old gates. He took us upstairs and served coffee on the terrace where again we sat agog at the view of the Grand Canal, as we took in how this city of no roads goes about its day. Matteo, the most charming, calm, eloquent, gracious and sartorial elegant gentleman you could ever hope to meet, the owner of the hotel came out to introduce himself to us. He told us a bit about Venice and very proudly, (and rightly so), all about the hotel and the restoration he had done to bring it from the crumbling old palace he bought to the fine example of traditional Venetian interior design it now is.

Matteo then left us back with Oliver who recommended we go and have lunch at La Cantina, while our rooms were made ready. He gave us a map, and told us, “Getting lost in Venice is what everyone does, so don’t worry, it’s really just exploring.” It all looked fairly straight forward on the map, and we went out and promptly got lost! Eventually getting back on track after many more deviations for more photos, we had a very enjoyable lunch, sitting outside looking over Strada Nova watching the people go by. Looking at the map to find our way back to the hotel, I can’t believe we got lost, it’s almost a straight line!!

Oliver had finished his shift by the time we returned, we were welcomed back by Alex who showed us to our rooms – absolute heaven, I never wanted to leave, the furniture, the Murano Glass Chandeliers, the fabric wall coverings with corded edges – I couldn’t stop walking around the room admiring everything.




Breakfast is cooked every morning by Matteo, he whips up eggs and pancakes however you like them and there is the buffet selection (sorry, my photo shows empty plates – but that happens when the food is that good!) of juices, cold meats, fruit and pastries. Coffee is made in the vintage espresso machine and served on the terrace. At this point I very quickly realised that to see Venice I could just stay on the terrace all day watching the Grand Canal and how it is the life force of Venice. Water taxis, gondolas, ferries, barges delivering building materials and produce, barges taking garbage away, water ambulances, water fire engines, water police, water council rangers – everything we have on the roads, they have on the water. As you can see from my many photos taken from the terrace, even though the background is the same, the water traffic is always changing.

The Rialto Bridge was not looking its best as it was undergoing a major restoration while we were there, courtesy of the Diesel Fashion House, but Venice needs constant maintenance and the fashion industry often steps in providing the funds to see that this happens, all over Italy. I have heard criticism of these fashion houses for putting up advertising during the restoration and leaving a small sign afterwards. Personally, I can’t praise the Diesel enough for putting up the money, without them the alternative would be to let history crumble away leaving nothing for future generations to admire, they deserve to use the advertising space, they’re paying an absolute fortune for saving these monuments for all of us.

Alex and Oliver were never short of dinner recommendations, everything from modern pizza restaurants, to traditional home style Venetian food. They are full of information about where to go and what to see, when there will be less crowds, they are both born and bred Venetians and it is lovely chatting with them about Venice in their childhood, compared to now. There is a lot more to Venice than the Grand Canal and Piazza San Marco.

One of the most impressive things at the hotel was all the staff always call you by name, without waiting to be introduced. We did find out their secret when we returned late one night and Thomas, the night watchman, who we had not met before, greeted us with a hearty, “Good evening Lyn and Christine, have you had a good dinner?” How did he know our names and that we had been out for dinner? We got chatting with him and he revealed that when we give a photocopy of our passports on arrival, they copy the photo to leave at the front desk and put any relevant notes with it so the change of shift staff are aware of anything they need to know. Perfect, it adds an extra touch to the customer service and is very much appreciated.

Matteo had told us about other hotels that he and his family own, one other in Venice, one where he comes from on the coast north of Venice and a new one he is renovating in Tuscany. I’m sure all Peruch Boutique Hotels will be as fabulous as Al Ponte Antico.

Book a tour on your Trip Over to Venice

Itinerary for Trip Over to Italy – Milan, Como and Venice

Qantas flight (Emirates code share) to Milan (Malpensa) from Sydney via Dubai
Stayed in Milan, Airbnb, for a week before going to Como
Picked up in Milan by Como Limousines and driven to Como
Stayed in Como, Airbnb, for 3 weeks
Picked up in Como by Como Limousines and driven to Venice
In Venice, water taxi to Al Ponte Antico Hotel for 3 nights and water taxi back
Picked up in Venice by Como Limousines and driven back to Como
Picked up in Como by Como Limousines and driven back to Milan (Malpensa) Airport
Qantas flight (Emirates code share) to Sydney via Dubai

The gardens at Sydney's Government House and into the Royal Botanic Gardens on the edge of Sydney Harbour.#royalbotanicgarden #sydneylocal #sydneyharbour #sydneylife #walkinthepark
At the top of Wenceslas Square stands the National Museum in Prague, an impressive building with breathtaking views from the Cupola.#praguenationalmuseum #solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Just blew the days food budget on Sacher Torte and Coffee at the Sacher Hotel because......why not??? Priorities, priorities!!#sachertorte #sacherhotel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme
Budapest Central Market Hall built in the late 1800s, extensively damaged in WWll, left in ruins until the late 1900s when it was returned to it's former glory.....only to now be mainly selling tourist trash.#budapestcentralmarket #budapest #traveltheworldwithme #solotravel
The largest synagogue in Europe, built in the 1850s, has been witness to unmentionable horrors during WWII including being bombed. It borders the ghetto where the Jews were left to die. In the garden cemetery there are tens of thousands of nameless bodies and a few that could be identified.There us a very powerful museum housed here too.#dohanystreetsynagogue #budapestarchitecture #budapest #soloadventure
The moon stole the show at Vivid Sydney, rising up over this tree in front of Governnent House near the Sydney Opera House. Always need a full moon when there is a light show in Sydney!!!#vividsydney #fullmoon #sydneyoperahouse #sydneyharbour #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Hofburg Palace, the Habsburgs' stunning Vienna residence until 1918. Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) indulged in royal luxury here and spent summers at Schonbrunn Palace. What a life!#hofburgvienna #sisimuseum #soloadventure #vienna
As promised, a beautiful sunny Easter Sunday in Vienna ☀️☀️☀️ After being in Palermo last Easter, where it was underwhelming, Vienna really knows how to take Easter to the extreme!!!#easterinvienna #eastermarkets #soloadventure #vienna
Budapest's streets are full of art✨️ apparently there are mini sculptures scattered everywhere, and I've found one of them so far!! The hunt continues.....#artinthestreets #budapest #solotrip #neverstopexploring
The gardens at the Governor Generals house in Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens are open to walk around most weekends.✨️ Feels weird to go and sit on the balcony of someone else's house and look out at the harbour, but it's a very relaxing way to spend a bit of time!!#royalbotanicgarden #fountains #beautifulgardensoftheworld #seeeverythingdoeverything
Chilly morning in Vienna today, but apparently its going to warm up big time tomorrow! First stop Naschmarkt, then strolling past Karlskirche on my way to Schloss Belvedere.......#naschmarkt #karlskirche #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme
Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens on the edge of the CBD and Sydney Harbour all sparkling on an unseasonably hot day for June ✨️ Who would have thought hats and sunscreen would still be the order of the day, I would expect hats and coats at this time of year!!! #royalbotanicgardens #urbanoasis #walkinthepark #sydney #sydneyharbourwalks
On my solo adventure in Palermo, Quattro Canti became a familiar spot I visited almost daily ✨️ This iconic intersection of Via Maqueda and Corso Vittorio Emanuele is the center of the city's historic quarters - Kalsa, Seralcadi, Albergaria, and Castellammare all meet here. In the evenings, it's the perfect spot to soak up the atmosphere and plan a night out at one of the many restaurants on Via Maqueda.#solotravelinsicily #palermo #traveltheworldwithme #solotrip #quattrocantipalermo
The streets of Valletta, Malta. Endless hours of exploring this amazing place. A wonderful place for solo travellers, easy to get around and very safe. Something for everyone, especially for history buffs!!#solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotravelinmalta
Leaving Budapest from Keleti station, I found my ticket gave me access to the Business Lounge waiting room!!Next stop on my solo adventure - Vienna🥂!!#solotravel #budapest #keletistation #travelbytrain #traveltheworldwithme
Everywhere you look in Budapest the buildings are amazing ✨️ so ornate, full of character, luckily the city is very walkable!!#budapestarchitecture #budapest #solotravel #walkingthestreets
🏰 Budapest has another castle… and of course I had to go and find it!Even though the weather was looking a little gloomy during my time in Budapest, it certainly wasn't going to keep me indoors. So I headed up to City Park (Városliget) to discover the city's other castle — the enchanting Vajdahunyad Castle.And what a beautiful surprise!Built between 1896 and 1908 as part of Hungary's Millennium celebrations, Vajdahunyad Castle is a wonderfully eclectic mix of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architectural styles. Rather than being an ancient castle, it was originally created as a temporary exhibition — but Budapest obviously decided it liked it too much to let it go!Today, its fairytale towers, turrets and lakeside setting make it one of the most photographed spots in City Park.The gloomy skies actually added a little atmosphere to the castle… although I wouldn't have complained if Budapest had turned the sunshine on for me! ☁️😂If you're planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you'll find the link to my website in my bio.#Budapest #VajdahunyadCastle #HungaryTravel #SoloTravel #VisitBudapest
✨ A little taste of Paris… in Budapest!I stumbled upon Párisi Passage in Budapest and, honestly, this is one of those places where you walk in and immediately forget where you were going!Tucked beneath the impressive Párisi Udvar building, this spectacular glass-roofed passage is a feast for the eyes, with its ornate Art Nouveau and Neo-Gothic details, beautiful mosaics, stained glass and sparkling chandeliers.The building dates back to the early 20th century, when Budapest was enjoying its golden age and competing with the great European cities for architectural bragging rights. And I think it did rather well!Today, the passage is home to a beautiful café and hotel, making it the perfect place to stop for a coffee and admire the architecture from the inside.Sometimes the best discoveries are the ones you weren't actually looking for! ❤️Would you add Párisi Passage to your Budapest itinerary?If you're planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you'll find the link to my website in my bio.#Budapest #ParisiPassage #BudapestTravel #HungaryTravel #SoloTravel
Cesky Krumlov, a quaint medieval town in the south of the Czech Republic, a simple day trip by train from Prague....then lots and lots of walking on cobble stone paths!!#ceskykrumlov #daytripfromprague #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
✨ A little medieval magic in Budapest…While exploring the grounds of Vajdahunyad Castle, I came across this beautiful little gem — Ják Chapel.With its Romanesque arches, stonework and wonderfully atmospheric entrance, it looks as though it has been lifted straight from a medieval village in Hungary. And there's a reason for that!Ják Chapel was inspired by the 13th-century Benedictine church at Ják, one of Hungary's finest examples of Romanesque architecture. The chapel we see here was designed by Ignác Alpár as part of the Vajdahunyad Castle complex, created for Hungary's Millennium celebrations in 1896.And with the rather gloomy Budapest weather, the medieval atmosphere was even more convincing! ☁️🏰Another beautiful discovery in City Park. ❤️#Budapest #VajdahunyadCastle #JakChapel #HungaryTravel #SoloTravel
Czech artist, David Cerney, famous for his politically opinionated art works.✨️Here showing King Wencelas riding an upside down dead horse into battle. Hanging in the Lucerna Palace, Prague.✨️Then 2 men (politicians??) pissing on the Czech Republic!! This one is outside the Kafka Museum across the Charles Bridge.#davidčerney #politicalart #prague #solotrip
A castle, a mysterious writer… and a politician! 🏰📚Exploring the grounds of Vajdahunyad Castle, I discovered a couple of bronze characters that definitely caught my attention.First up is the wonderfully mysterious Anonymous — a hooded figure sitting quietly with a pen in hand. The sculpture was created by Miklós Ligeti in 1903 and represents the unknown author of the medieval Hungarian chronicle Gesta Hungarorum. No one knows exactly who Anonymous was, which makes this rather spooky-looking fellow even more intriguing!The polished pen is said to bring good luck to writers and students, so naturally it seemed only polite to give it a little rub. 😉Nearby is a statue of Ignác Darányi, a Hungarian politician who served as Minister of Agriculture. Created by sculptor József Róna, the bronze statue was unveiled in 1907.I love finding these little stories hiding amongst Budapest's grand buildings. You can wander into a place expecting castles and turrets and end up meeting medieval chroniclers and 19th-century politicians!If you're planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you'll find the link to my website in my bio.#Budapest #VajdahunyadCastle #BudapestSculptures #HungarianHistory #HungaryTravel
A table for one… and a very good reason to book it! 🍽️✨After admiring the beautiful Párisi Passage in Budapest, it was time to experience it from the inside — this time with a delicious three-course set menu and a table for one.And what a setting for dinner! Surrounded by the spectacular architecture, ornate details and warm atmosphere of this magnificent restaurant ✨️ Three courses of beautifully presented food, a lovely atmosphere and plenty of time to sit back and enjoy the experience. ❤️And yes… I may have taken photos of every course before eating it! 📸😂Great food, a beautiful setting and a memorable evening in Budapest. The perfect end to a big day exploring Budapest.If you're planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you'll find the link to my website in my bio.#Budapest #ParisiPassage #BudapestFood #SoloTravel #SoloDining
Hotel Pension Suzanne in Vienna is in the perfect location, walking distance to everything, surrounded by restaurants, cafes, shops and museums. ✨️Safe, quiet and comfortable, all requirements of the solo traveller✨️Click the link to my website in the bio for more information on the hotels I stayed in on my recent solo adventure to Budapest, Vienna and Prague.#hotelpensionsuzanne #solotravel #solotrip #vienna #traveltheworldwithme
Explored the stunning Belvedere Palace in Vienna, a former imperial residence that's truly breathtaking. The gardens were gorgeous, especially with the ponds and fountains coming to life now that winter's loosening its grip, slightly....!!#belvedere #schlossbelvedere #vienna #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme
Beautiful Prague in spring was the next stop on my recent solo adventure to central Europe, where I stayed at Hotel Grandium ✨️ Lovely place in a great location and nice and close to the station, perfect if you arrive by rail.✨️Check out the hotels I stayed in by clicking the link to my website in the bio.#grandiumprague #solotravel
Back to Schonbrunn Palace to see the Imperial Apartments. Gold was definitely the order of the day ✨️ but I reckon I could live there quite comfortably with a few more mod cons!! #schönbrunnpalace #imperialapartments #traveltheworldwithme #solotrip
Budapest was an amazing place to begin my solo adventure to Central Europe.✨️ Hotel President was in a great location for exploring, walking distance to most places, or handy to the metro or buses.✨️For more info on the hotels I stayed in click the link to my website in the bio.#hotelpresidentbudapest #solotravel #solotrip #soloadventure #budapest
The best part of the day trip from Vienna to Bratislava was the boat trip back to Vienna on the Danube!! The hydofoiling catamaran was fast, about 90 minutes, the crew were great. It was freezing cold and windy outside, but I couldn't help myself, I just had to keep going out to take photos, then running back in to sip my wine 🥂!!!Great for solo travelers, I met so many other travellers onboard.#cruisingonthedanube #twinliner #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme
Caught the train from Vienna to Bratislava for a day trip. Walking up the hill to visit the castle is not for the faint hearted!! And the walk back down 🥴 brutal on the dodgy knee!!! But I made it 😃!!!#bratislava #daytripfromvienna #daytripfromviennatobratislava #traveltheworldwithme #solotravel
Finally a sunny day in Budapest, strolling on Margrit Island, great weather, no complaints, perfect!#margritisland #budapest #soloadventure #seetheworldthroughmyeyes

Recent Post Cards

Join my email list below and get exclusive updates & news straight to your inbox. I will never give away, trade or sell your email address. You can unsubscribe at any time.