“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
– Confucius
Venice’s other islands
It’s easy to become swept away in the excitement and allure of Venice upon first stepping foot on its canal-filled streets. You’ll undoubtedly find yourself mesmerised by the traffic of queueing gondoliers or compelled to explore every mysterious side street.
From its impressive bell-towers and treasured art galleries, to its extraordinary palaces and overall romantic aura, Venice has lots going on to keep you busy, that’s for sure!
There are however, many more sides to Venice that most travellers don’t get to see, or miss out on seeing on their first visit. While Venice is the capital of the Veneto region, the Venitain lagoon actually consists of 118 small islands ready and waiting to be explored!
Watch the number of tourists dwindle the further away you travel by boat from St Mark’s Square towards Venice’s other islands…
Murano
Murano, located to the north of Venice, is a collection of 7 individual islands joined together by a series of bridges and is most well known for its history in glassmaking.
Glass was initially produced in Venice, but its production was relocated to Murano during the 13th century to ensure that the city wasn’t accidentally burned down. At the time Venice’s buildings were made of wood which meant they were prone to fires caused by the furnaces needed to manufacture glass.
Over the centuries Murano has earnt an international reputation for their glassmaking expertise. There is no better place to take a tour to see how various glass products are made – a once in a lifetime opportunity. Be warned, however, a glass making demonstration gets very hot, especially if you’re visiting in the summer!
Be sure to keep an eye out for local glass factory owner Simone Cenedese’s Comet Glass Star sculpture located in the middle of Campo Santo Stefano square – it’s a truly impressive!
Burano
You’ve almost certainly come across photographs of the Burano’s iconic rainbow-coloured houses on social media. I can confirm that they are just as vividly bright and beautiful in real life too!
Legend has it that the multicoloured houses came to be as a way of helping fishermen navigate their way through the lagoon on days when visibility was reduced and the weather was foggy. Today a council dictates what colour each of the 3,500 residents can paint their homes.
Colourful architecture aside, Burano is also very well known for its lace-making, a craft that has made the island famous since the 15th century. The main street of Baldassare Galuppi is the ideal place to shop for lace goods and souvenirs.
Be prepared – Burano is a 40 minute vaporetto ride away from Venice, but is so well worth the leisurely boat ride there. Packing your camera for the day is not optional!
San Michele
Perhaps one of the most unique of all of Venice’s ‘other islands’ is San Michele, a walled cemetery put in place to separate the deceased from the mainland during the 1800’s (prior to which it was a monastery).
The island is now occupied solely by chapels, tombs and foliage (and lots of little lizards too!). The cemetery is divided into many subsections (for example Protestant, Catholic etc) and with the tombs being arranged in long rows. Many are decorated with elegant inscriptions, statues and even include photographs of the deceased.
I’ll refrain from posting more photographs of San Michele as it’s considered to be a sacred place and not a tourist attraction. With that being said, I think paying the island a visit to appreciate the history of the place and the people commemorated within its walls is important.
Lido
Lido is the perfect place to seek some respite from days spent on your feet exploring the busy capital of Venice. This uniquely shaped island is 11 km long, just short of being 2 km wide and is split into three areas – Alberoni which has a golf course, Malamocco a pretty fishing village and Lido which plays host to the Venice International Film Festival.
Lido is one of Europe’s oldest beach resorts and acts as a barrier between the Venetian Lagoon and the Adriatic Sea.
This island is far removed from Venice city in the fact that it offers a much slower pace of life. Its coastline boasts an immaculately clean, long and sandy beach and its main street, Viale Santa Maria Elisabetta, has countless cafes in which to watch the world go by.
Just a boat ride away
Each of these islands can be accessed easily by the vaporetto, Venice’s public water bus system. While it may initially appear intimidating to navigate the routes offered by the flotilla, believe me you will soon embrace the freedom they offer when it comes to exploring all the unique and diverse islands in Venice’s archipelago.
Until next time,
Lica xoxo
