Named for the Renaissance poet and scholar who reportedly lodged here, the Hotel Casa Petrarca is housed in a 14th-century stucco building on a canal. Its small lobby is tastefully furnished with a marble-top burled-wood chest of drawers and silk upholstered armchairs arranged near a large, canal-facing window. Off the lobby is a small, high-ceilinged breakfast room with windows overlooking the canal. With its well-worn herringbone floor, cream-and-gold damask fabrics, and ribbon-tied chairs, the room conveys traditional elegance. The property's central location and reasonable rates make it a popular choice among budget-conscious international travelers, especially those seeking a tranquil spot in a busy city.

The Hotel Casa Petrarca is tucked away in a canal-side building in a quiet spot in the heart of San Marco, a five-minute walk to the famed St. Mark's Square and its cathedral of the Roman Archdiocese in Venice. The Teatro Stabile del Veneto, a theater with a range of performances, and Teatro La Fenice, the opera house, are both a three-minute walk from the hotel. It's a six-minute walk to the Rialto Bridge, where one can hop on a water bus. The opulent and history-laden Doge's Palace is about a seven-minute walk from the hotel. The Galleries of the Academy are an 11-minute walk. The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is 12 minutes away by water taxi. The glass-blowing studios of Murano are 40 minutes away by ferry, about the same distance as the Adriatic beach resort of the Lido. Marco Polo International Airport is a 52-minute drive on the road bridge. 

The seven rooms at the Hotel Casa Petrarca are not fancy, but with their high ceilings and painted or gilt-edged furnishings and nice fabrics, they convey an old-fashioned, modest elegance. The rooms with en-suite baths are spacious, with sheers and fabric-covered valences. The beds, with headboards either in painted wood or tufted fabric, are covered in spreads but have no accent throws or pillows. The closets are small armoires, sometimes unadorned. These five rooms have air-conditioning, but the remaining two rooms that share a bath are smaller and have ceiling fans, not air conditioners -- guests have complained that they get stuffy in hot weather. All rooms come with flat-screen TVs, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and mini-fridges. Bathrooms are plain and inexpensively appointed, with square beige tiles, stall showers with frosted sliding doors, bidets, and traditional, white porcelain fixtures. Some bathrooms have large windows with lace panels. Hairdryers and Argon Source toiletries are provided. 

This small, family-operated property serves a hearty breakfast of eggs, cured meats, cheeses, and fresh "cornetti" -- crescent-shaped pastries that resemble croissants. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout, and the hotel will store luggage. Late-arriving guests are left keys and instructions on how to reach their rooms. Suggested itineraries for finding the favorite Venetian haunts of famous visitors, including Casanova, Ezra Pound, and Ernest Hemingway, are offered to guests, and the owners are ready with travel tips and other advice about visiting Venice. Babysitting services are available for a fee.