Venice Lagoon
Find out everything there is to know
The Hidden Gems of the Venetian Lagoon
The three main highlights of the Lagoon—namely the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello—often form the basis of a single day tour.
Murano isfamous for its centuries-old glassmaking tradition: as far back as 1295, all of Venice’s glassworks were moved to the island due to frequent fires, and the Republic began training master glassmakers in a meticulous glass-decorating technique that, over the years, has enabled the creation of works that are unmatched anywhere else in the world.
Even today, the glassworks are still in operation, and some of them are open to the public: a visit to watch the master glassblowers at work and witness the glassblowing process is a must.
Murano is also home to one of the oldest churches in the area, the Cathedral of Saints Mary and Donatus, which dates back to the 7th century and houses the remains of Saint Donatus.
Burano, on the other hand, is famous for its brightly colored houses and traditional lace-making, which is so renowned that it has come to be known as “Burano lace.”
Just like Murano glass, lace from this Venetian island was once renowned worldwide, so much so that it was exported to all the major European courts.
Today, lace-making has almost completely ceased, yet you can still see some lace-makers atwork outside their workshops; to gain a better understanding of this fascinating history, be sure to visit theLace Museum.
Finally,Torcello: unlike the other two islands, this one is almost entirely uninhabited, but it boasts a unique archaeological heritage, as it was the first inhabited island in the area.
It later became a thriving Byzantine center, but experienced a rapid decline in the 15th century due to the gradual swamping of the area.
Several monuments have been preserved in excellent condition: the most important is undoubtedly the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, which features a massive mosaic depicting the Last Judgment inside. The Devil’s Bridge is also worth a visit; it features the typical Venetian characteristic of having no railings and is said to have been built by the devil in a single night.
But exploring the Venetian Lagoon doesn’t end with these three islands. After all, we’re talking about 55,000 hectares of history and tradition, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
That’s why we recommend exploring places like San Lazzaro degli Armeni and its library, Sant’Erasmo—nicknamed “Venice’s garden”—as well as Valle Averto, a WWF nature reserve, and the Lio Piccolo and Lio Maggiore areas, which are connected by bike paths starting from Jesolo.
Here, where land and water intertwine to the ancient rhythm of the tides, you can explore the lagoon however you like: on foot, by bike, or by boat. Check out the map below to see everything there is to do and see in the lagoon:
For more information and details, visit the website: lagoonofvenice.org