Colourful houses and lace
In the northern lagoon, about forty minutes by vaporetto from the Fondamente Nove, Burano is perhaps the most cheerful place in Venice: an island of fishermen whose small houses are painted in bright colours, red, blue, green, yellow and purple, reflected in the canals. Tradition says the colours helped fishermen recognise their homes in the fog; today residents must ask the municipality for permission to repaint, and the colours are assigned to preserve the harmony of the whole.
Burano is also famous for its lace, the "punto in aria" (point in the air), made with a needle and thread without any support, a craft that reached its peak in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, when Burano lace was sought after by the courts of Europe. The Museo del Merletto, in the old lace school, displays precious pieces and sometimes hosts lacemakers at work. The main street, Via Baldassarre Galuppi, named after the composer born here, leads to the church of San Martino with its leaning bell tower. Burano is also known for its seafood restaurants, especially for risotto di gò, made with goby fish, and for the "bussolai", ring-shaped butter biscuits.
Tip: a short wooden bridge connects Burano to Mazzorbo, with a vineyard and a quiet atmosphere; from there boats also leave for Torcello.
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