Venice draws millions of visitors each year, yet the city's true character often remains hidden behind the crowds at St Mark's Square and the gondola queues. The Avani Rio Novo Venice hotel aims to change that with a programme of activities designed to let guests experience the lagoon city as locals do.
Becoming Venetian for a Day
Elisa Necci, head of customer relations at the hotel, explains the philosophy: 'We want our guests to feel a bit more like locals, like real Venetians. 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.'
The programme includes workshops where participants craft their own Venetian masks, take glass-making courses on Murano, work with traditional lagoon wood, and join Italian cooking classes. Each activity aims to forge an emotional connection with the destination.
In the Murano glass workshop, guests don't simply buy a piece from a shop. Under the guidance of local artisans, they learn the craft and create their own work. 'It is not just about buying a typical souvenir,' Necci says. '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 mask workshops tap into one of Venice'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 offering is the Sunrise Running Tour. At dawn, when café terraces are closed and tour groups have yet to arrive, participants run through the historic centre with 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, Denys Bukovskyi, has lived in Venice for more than 16 years and combines his work as a tour guide with a 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. Plus, you start the day with physical exercise and a sense of wellbeing that stays with you all day long,' he says.
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 know Venice only from 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 activity allows visitors to work with the old wooden posts that emerge from the lagoon to mark channels. At the Lunardelli workshop, participants turn this historic wood into decorative and 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.
This approach reflects a broader shift in travel. Tourists increasingly seek immersive experiences that offer authentic connections. Necci notes that interest comes from travellers across Europe and beyond: '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.'
The hotel's strategy also responds to local tensions around overtourism. In recent years, Venice protesters have greeted luxury yachts with signs reading 'Make America Read Again', highlighting the friction between mass tourism and local life. By offering experiences that respect the city's fabric, Avani aims to stand out in a market with one of Europe's widest ranges of hotels.
'We do not want to be just another Venice hotel,' Necci concludes. '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 place to sleep, but to create memories that last.'
