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.
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. It is not just something touristic. Visitors can get hands-on with the objects, learn the story behind them and feel part of it," she says.
