Watch skilled lace-makers ply their traditional craft and try delicious local delicacies on this pretty island in the Venetian Lagoon.
The beautiful island of Burano has been the home of handmade lace since the 15th century, and the same traditional techniques are still practiced by many local residents. The island is a magnet for visitors, with its rows of brightly coloured houses decorated with flower-filled window boxes and ornamental shutters. It is said that the houses were brightly painted so that the local fishermen returning with the day’s catch could spot them in the distance and make speed for home. The characteristic colours have become such a feature of Burano that residents have to check with the local council before repainting their homes, and many photographers and artists have spent happy hours capturing the vibrant panoramas across the Venice Lagoon.Burano is actually not one but four islands, linked by footbridges and separated by canals. The main street, Via Baldassare Galuppi, is lined with shops selling items made from the island’s famous handmade lace. At the end of the street is the Lace Museum, where you can view the collection of the 19th-century Burano Lace School and learn more about the art of lacemaking. Nearby, the leaning bell tower of San Martino’s Church provides another popular photo opportunity.No visitor to Burano should leave without trying the delicious local delicacy, a cookie-like sweetmeat known as a “bussolà” or its variant, an “esse”, so called for their characteristic S-shape. There are also several picturesque fish restaurants where you can enjoy the fresh catch of the day.The journey from Venice to Burano takes around 40 minutes by vaporetto (water bus), departing every half-hour from the Fondamente Nove. Burano is also linked by bridge to the neighbouring island of Mazzorbo.
