Evening Standard, London, 6 August 2008
Grand pleasures
...“Life is definitely lived at a calmer, slower pace in Venice,” says Ann-Marie Doyle of Venice Estates. “Most of the locals have known each other from school days and, like all Italians, they are a social lot who take the time for simple daily courtesies.”
Venice Estates sells property starting at about £700,000, though its average sale price last year was a whopping £5.6 million. A two-bedroom fourth-floor apartment close to La Fenice Opera House and five minutes from St Mark’s Square costs £713,000 (all property prices in euros), or one of a similar size in Cannaregio, on the grand piano nobile (first floor) of a 17th century palazzo with balcony, marble fireplaces and frescos, cost £1.19 million.
Palazzo Pauly is only a few steps from the bustle and beauty of St Mark’s Square in one of Venice’s prime positions. Made up of three buildings, the oldest dating from the 15th century, Pauly is nearing the end of a thorough, two-year renovation overseen by the city’s Superintendent of Fine Art.
This is a rare project for Venice: a palazzo restored to the highest level with Sansorino mantelpieces, terrazzo flooring, Murano chandeliers, restored frescoes and bags of hi-tech extras. First planned as a members club, the 22 flats are now for sale priced from £712,800 for a 1,350sq ft apartment to £7.7 million for a 3,810sq ft flat overlooking the Bridge of Sighs...