BURANO

Description

Essentials about Burano in brief

Lovers of colorful houses and of lace should definitely make a trip to Burano during a trip to Venice. The small island in the northern part of the Venetian Lagoon can be reached in about 40 minutes by water bus. True to the motto “colorful, more colorful, Burano”, the place is famous for its fishermen’s houses painted in bright colors that cover almost the entire color spectrum and are beautifully reflected in the water of the canals. In addition, Burano is world famous for its traditional handmade lace, such as tablecloths and cloths.

The location of Burano

Those who speak of the island of Burano are actually wrong, because in fact it is a group of four islands close to each other, separated by three channels and connected by eight bridges. Located to the northeast of the historic center of Venice, the islands of Burano cover an area of about 21 hectares and are one of the most densely populated group of islands in the Venetian Lagoon, with a population of almost 3,000.

The attractions of Burano

The colorful houses

The colorful houses are undoubtedly the main attraction of Burano. Most of the houses are painted in a strong color contrasting with the respective neighboring houses. This blaze of color is a paradise for painters and amateur photographers. A particularly beautiful effect is created when the colorful houses are reflected in the sun in the water of the small channels that run through Burano.

Why the inhabitants of Burano traditionally paint their houses colorfully has not been clearly explained to this day. One theory is that it allowed the island’s fishermen to better make out their island and house when visibility in the lagoon was poor. Another theory is that the fishermen found their home easier after a night of drinking. Which theory is more plausible, every visitor must judge for himself. Many of the (fishing) boats in Burano are also painted in bright colors.

Lace

The second attraction of Burano is the handmade lace. Already since the 16th century, lace embroideries, such as garments, tablecloths and cloths, have been made in Burano using a very elaborate technique. However, the lace craft in Burano is threatened with extinction. Because of the extremely intricate handwork, only a few people still master the traditional method of lace embroidery. The production of a single lace can take weeks, even months. Accordingly, the prices of genuine lace from Burano are often in the four or five digits. Since few visitors can afford it or want to, many of the laces on offer are not traditional handicrafts, but machine-made products from Asia.

Anyone interested in lace should definitely visit the Museo del Merletto (Museum of Lace). Magnificent examples of traditional lace embroidery from Burano are on display there. In addition, you can watch some ladies at their craft in the museum.

San Martino

The third sight of Burano is the church of San Martino, inside which you can admire a variety of works of art. Especially famous is a crucifixion scene by the famous painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. Even more famous than the church itself is the tower (campanile) of San Martino. The campanile, already visible from afar, is strikingly leaning, similar to world-famous Tower of Pisa.

The neighboring island Mazzorbo

By the way, if you want to relax a little from the tourist hustle and bustle in Burano, you just have to walk across a bridge to the neighboring island of Mazzorbo. Mazzorbo is about the same size as Burano in terms of area, but much more sparsely populated. Here, visitors can expect plenty of tranquility and green spaces where vegetables and wine are grown. Those who wish can discover the island by bicycle.

The gastronomy on Burano

There are no longer many fishermen left in Burano. Nevertheless, the island is known far beyond the Venetian Lagoon for its dishes with freshly caught fish and seafood. So if you have a little extra time, you should definitely sit down in one of the restaurants on the island and eat one of the classics of Venetian cuisine, such as Fritto Misto (mixed fried seafood) or Spaghetti Vongole (spaghetti with mussels). Some people also say that the risotto in Burano is the best in Italy.