Burano
The first settlements on the isle were made of pile dwelling houses with walls and roof made with mud and canes, around year 1000 the first brick and stone houses saw the light. The autonomy of the islander ended soon under the control of Venice to whom Burano has been ever connected.
This splendid and colourful isle is one of the major isle of the northern lagoon of Venice, actually is populated by 3000 inhabitants and it is considered a fraction of Venice together with the close isle of Mazzorbo which is linked by a little wooden bridge.
The bright colour of the houses are a particular unique of Burano isle, it is say that the lively colours helps the fisherman to find their way home from the fog of the lagoon.
As the city of Venice, Burano is divided into “ sestieri” : Sanm Martino Sinistro (left), San Martino Destro (right), San Mauro, Terranova and Giudecca (not to be confused with the homonymous venetian island).
The isle was primarily an establishment of fishermen and it is characterized by the multitude of small and colourful houses, it is famous for it great cooking tradition and the artisan saw of the laces, since del XVI century.
The centenary school of lacework of Burano has origins from a curious and romantic legend, that well suit the atmosphere of the Isle: a fisherman left the isle of Burano to go fishing when sudden he was attracted by the singing of the sirens trying to bewitch him, the love for the woman he left on the island was stronger so he resisted to the malefic attraction, the queen of the sea prized him with a sea foam crown which he should have taken to his beauty once returned to Burano, the friends of the lucky woman were so envious that they tried to reproduce the crown with needle and thread, and the Burano laces was then born.
The unique church on the Isle is the San Martino one, its bell tower is characterized by the inclination due to the sinking of the ground.
As all other Venetian islands the best period to visit Burano is certainly from springtime to the first autumn days, the temperature is perfect and it’ s not foggy.
Burano can be easily reached by public boats leaving form the isle of Murano or Venice itself.
If you want to take with you a part of tradition, laces apart, you can buy athe “Bussola” a tipical biscuit, a donut made of eggs, flour, sugar and butter, not to be conused with the “Bussola’ “ of Chioggia, a toasted bread shaped as a donut as well.
