The swirling detail of St. Mark’s Basilica feels close enough to touch from the balcony of this Venice apartment set in the shadow of the Campanile. While the villa is simpler than the ornate Italo-Byzantine flourishes and gold-winged statues of the cathedral, it’s elegant in its own right, with parquet floors and tall windows. Step outside to the Piazza San Marco and stroll to the Rialto Bridge.

Open the windows and let music float up from the piazza, or watch the sunlight stream across the stone from a private balcony with alfresco dining for 4. Though it’s surrounded by relics from centuries of Italy’s history, the villa has touches of decidedly 21st-century luxury such as a smart TV, Wi-Fi, an espresso machine, and air conditioning in every main room except the kitchen.

A wall of windows frames the views of St. Mark’s from an open-concept living and dining room. Simple yet refined details, from Lucite dining chairs to an Aubusson rug, let the church’s decoration take the focus. A family room off to one side is a cozy place to watch TV, and the separate kitchen has a sleek galley layout and is fully equipped.

This vacation rental has 2 bedrooms with queen beds: 1 with an ensuite bathroom and 1 that shares access to a hall bathroom. The other 2 bedrooms each have a twin bed and a trundle bed; one has an ensuite bathroom and the other shares the hall bathroom with the queen bedroom.

A stay at this villa puts you in the heart of Venice, with the Bridge of Sighs, Doge’s Palace, Rialto Bridge, and Canale Grande a 10-minute walk or less from your doorstep. Linger outside in the square in the evenings and listen to the orchestras of the Gran Caffe Quadri and Caffe Florian, or relive your honeymoon on a gondola ride. If you’ve brought the whole family on holiday, you’ll appreciate the supermarkets and vaporetto, or water bus, stops within easy reach.

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