It is precisely this lesser-known side of the city that the Avani Rio Novo Venice hotel wants to showcase. To do so, it has opted for more than just accommodation: a programme of activities designed to help its guests discover Venice as if they were locals.
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The programme includes activities as varied as sunrise running sessions, Venetian mask workshops, glass-making courses in Murano, hands-on experiences working with traditional lagoon wood and Italian cooking classes.
They all share the same goal: allowing visitors to connect with the city in a deeper, more authentic way.
Becoming Venetian for a day
"We want our guests to feel a bit more like locals, like real Venetians," explains Elisa Necci, head of customer relations at the hotel, in an interview with Euronews.
According to Necci, the philosophy behind these experiences is to go beyond conventional tourism. "It is a way of seeing and experiencing Venice from a totally different perspective," she says. "It is not just something touristic. Visitors can get hands-on with the objects, learn the story behind them and feel part of it."
The clearest example is the Murano glass workshop. Instead of simply buying a glass piece in a shop, participants have the chance to discover the craft from the inside and create their own work under the supervision of local artisans.
"It is not just about buying a typical souvenir," she explains. "They can try making it themselves, learn how glass is worked, understand the history of this tradition and take home something they have created with their own hands. That makes the experience far more intense and personal."
The same applies to the Venetian mask workshops, one of the city’s historic hallmarks. "Making a mask connects you with Venice’s past. It is also an activity you can share as a family and it creates very special memories," she adds.
The city before it wakes up
Perhaps the most distinctive experience is the so-called Sunrise Running Tour, a guided route for running through the historic centre while the city is still asleep.
At first light, when the café terraces are still closed and the big tour groups have yet to arrive, participants run through some of Venice’s most iconic spots, accompanied by a professional guide.
"Venice is usually full of tourists, boats, noise and movement. Seeing it at dawn is completely different. You are practically alone in the city and can feel its quieter side, as if you really lived here," Necci explains.
The guide leading the activity, Denys Bukovskyi, has been living in Venice for more than 16 years and combines his work as a tour guide with his passion for athletics.
"I am delighted to offer an unforgettable experience through the historic centre early in the morning, showcasing the main attractions of the city from a different perspective," he says. "Plus, you start the day with physical exercise and a sense of wellbeing that stays with you all day long."
Bukovskyi stresses that the activity is designed for all levels. "It is a fun way to discover Venice while doing sport at the same time. You make the most of the moment when the streets are empty to visit places that are packed with people during the day. The routes are adapted to each participant’s pace, running faster, slower or even walking. What more could you ask for? An incredible setting and a healthy activity."
For those who only know the city from the perspective of the summer crowds, the experience offers a radically different picture: silent streets, empty bridges and the first rays of sunlight reflecting on the canals.
Touching history with your own hands
Another of the activities offered by Avani allows visitors to discover one of the most characteristic elements of the Venetian landscape: the old wooden posts that emerge from the lagoon to mark out the channels.
At the Lunardelli workshop, participants work with this historic wood to turn it into decorative, functional pieces. "It is closely connected with the Venice experience because it comes directly from the lagoon. Guests can touch a piece of the city’s history with their own hands," Necci explains.
The hotel representative stresses that behind every activity there is a clear desire to forge an emotional connection with the destination. "We do not just want people to listen to a story. We want them to become part of it. To go home with a memory that is meaningful and reminds them of what they experienced here," she concludes.
Experience-based tourism
This strategy also responds to a shift in the way people travel. Increasingly, tourists are looking for immersive experiences that allow them to get to know destinations from a more authentic perspective.
According to Necci, interest comes from travellers with very different profiles. "We welcome guests from Spain, Latin America, the United States, Germany or France who are looking for something beyond visiting St Mark’s Square or taking a gondola ride. They want to understand what the city is really like and connect with it."
That approach is precisely what the hotel wants to turn into its main distinguishing feature in a city with one of the widest ranges of hotels in Europe.
"We do not want to be just another Venice hotel. We want to become a reference point for those who want to experience the city in a different way. The important thing is not only to offer a room or a service, but to create an authentic connection with the place," she says.
In a city where it is easy to follow the same itineraries as millions of tourists before you, experiences such as running at dawn through empty streets, making a handcrafted mask or learning the secrets of Murano glass offer the chance to discover a different Venice. A city that still exists beyond the postcards and that, for a few hours, allows visitors to feel part of it.