Venice: Islands of the Lagoon?
 

Has anyone visited the islands near Venice, Burano, Murano, etc.? Would you recommend it? If so, which one or ones?

I was in Burano last year.Very pretty village,pastel colored homes,canals,and very clean.

Cindy<BR>See the other posting <BR>titled "Only 3 days in Venice...what island...?)

Cindy---<BR>Besides the Lido, the main islands are Murano, Burano, and Torcello. You can reach any of them by water taxi or water bus, or a combination. All of them are very small and easy to explore in less than a day each. If you like this sort of thing, if you like little isolated pockets of civilization (with good connection to the rest of the world) then give them all a try. They are all different, yet they all possess that same character of independence from the rest of the world.

Cindy:<BR><BR>My favourite is Torcello, today nothing more than a couple of houses, a church and a cathedral.<BR><BR>This place rivalled Venice in the 8th to 11th century as centre of the lagoon and is thought to have housed more than 20,000 inhabitants during its best times.<BR><BR>The cathedral has wonderful mosaics almost 1000 years old.<BR><BR>A magnificent place to reflect on the futility of power and glory (and also to have an excellent meal at Locanda Cipriani).<BR><BR>The island is easily reached by water bus #12 (at least last time I was at Venice). All passes are valid on this line.<BR><BR>Enjoy your trip<BR><BR>Phil

If you head out early, you can visit Burano and Torcello and be back in Venice for a late lunch. Allow at least two hours for Burano - definitely more if you want to buy lace or other items. Allow at least an hour for Torcello, preferably two. There are restaurants on Torcello between the boat landing and the cathedral. They are so close together that it would be a shame to visit one without the other. You can depart from San Zaccaria (beside the San Marco stop) or Fondamenta Nove (on the opposite side of the island). The latter is a shorter route but may require a lot more walking depending on where you are staying. The trip is about 40 minutes from the latter and just over an hour from the former stop. I have a few photos of both islands on my Web site at www.oneeyed.homestead.com.

Thank you so much for all the help!

Murano is the island of glassblowers. When you get off the vaporetto, there are several factories nearby. You can visit them to see the glassblowing and buy their products. It's divided by a canal, so cross the bridge and visit both sides, wandering into the backstreets away from the tourist area (the glassblowing factories). When we were there, we saw bricola (the wooden posts in the water) being shaped...on boats; a couple, all dressed up for dinner, arrive by motorboat...their own. We were fascinated to watch everyday activities revolve around a water culture.<BR><BR>At Burano, the vaporetto stop is, of course, surrounded by lace shops. Walk straight back from it and see this beautiful island - all the buildings are painted crayon colors (a photographer's paradise - you'd have to work very hard to NOT take incredible photos). We saw produce being delivered to a grocery store...from a boat, men were offloading watermelons and peppers and crates of lettuce.<BR><BR>Not an island, but a mini-Venice about an hour away from Venice (by vaporetto or land bus), is Chioggia. There must be more bicycles per square inch than anywhere in the world. Beautiful churches and old buildings, and a whole life going on without tourists. Across the bridge is Sottamaria, which has lots of beaches and a whole culture around that.<BR><BR>There are small islands, like Pellestrina, that run west from the Lido, with beautiful churches and houses. Lots of bicycles!<BR><BR>