There are places you visit once, perhaps twice. And then there are places like Venice—the kind of city that reveals itself slowly, inviting you to return, wander, and uncover its many layers. This weekend guide offers an intimate, lived-in Venice, one that doesn’t rush or crowd. It’s a Venice that feels real, away from the obvious paths, while honoring the city’s unmistakable magic.

There’s a rare magic when a hotel gets it just right—when grand gestures of hospitality in a historic manor are infused with genuine generosity by a warm team of staff, and the experience feels more like being a guest at a family estate rather than a transient visitor. After spending my 35th birthday weekend at Son Net, here is my hotel review – a soulful estate dating back to 1672.