The islands of Venice: Murano, Burano and Torcello
By vaporetto across the lagoon: Murano glass, the colourful houses and lace of Burano, the mosaics of Torcello cathedral
The Venice of the lagoon, for those who have already seen the city. From the car park at Piazzale Roma you take the vaporetto to Murano, the island of glass, where you watch a master glassblower at work in the furnace. Then Burano, the fishing village with houses in every colour and its lace, where you have lunch. In the afternoon Torcello, the almost uninhabited island where Venice was born, with the oldest cathedral in the lagoon.
When to goAll year round; loveliest from April to October
The plan from Bologna
Leave Bologna for Murano1 h 50 driving, 154 km
Murano2 h 40 of visits: A glass furnace, The Glass Museum and the Basilica of Santi Maria e Donato
Burano1 h 10 of visits: The coloured houses and the Lace Museum
Lunch in Burano1 h 00 of visits: in Burano: risotto di gò, fried lagoon fish, moeche in season, and bussolai, the biscuits of Burano
Torcello2 h 30 of visits: The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
Drive back to Bologna1 h 50 driving, 154 km
Back in Bologna
Times are a guide: driving times are worked out without traffic, then come the visits and ten minutes at every stop to park. In summer towards the coast and at rush hour allow extra time.
What you will see
1Murano
A glass furnace 30 min
In 1291 the Republic of Venice moved the glassmakers' furnaces to the island of Murano, for fear of fires in the city, and for centuries kept their methods secret: the master glassmakers were forbidden to leave. Even today in many furnaces you can watch the master take the molten glass with his blowpipe, blow it and in a few minutes turn it into a vase or a little horse.
Many furnaces offer demonstrations, often with a shop attached: ask beforehand whether the demonstration is free.
The Glass Museum and the Basilica of Santi Maria e Donato 45 min
The Glass Museum, in a palazzo on the canal, tells the story of Murano glass from Roman times to the present day, with chandeliers, mirrors and goblets. A little further on stands the Basilica of Santi Maria e Donato, from the 12th century, with its apse over the water: the mosaic floor of coloured marble, with peacocks, eagles and griffins, bears the date 1141. Behind the altar, it is said, lie the bones of the dragon slain by Saint Donatus.
The museum charges admission; the basilica is free.
2Burano
The coloured houses and the Lace Museum 50 min
Burano is the village of the lagoon fishermen: the houses are painted in the brightest colours, said to be so that the fishermen could recognise them from the sea even in fog. The bell tower of San Martino leans noticeably. The women of Burano worked needle lace, famous throughout Europe; the Lace Museum tells this story, and on some days there are still a few lacemakers at work.
The village is free; the Lace Museum charges admission.
3Torcello
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta 50 min
Before Venice there was Torcello: here, from the 7th century, came the inhabitants of the mainland fleeing from the barbarians, and the island had thousands of inhabitants. Today only a few remain, among the fields and salt marshes. The cathedral was founded in 639; inside are Byzantine mosaics from the 11th and 12th centuries, with the golden Madonna in the apse and an enormous Last Judgement on the entrance wall. Outside stands a stone seat called the Throne of Attila, and along the canal the Ponte del Diavolo, without parapets.
The cathedral and bell tower charge admission.
Tips
The day ticket for the vaporetto is good value: in one day you make at least six journeys.
Check on the Venice City Council website whether your chosen day is one of those with an access contribution for day visitors, and who has to pay it.
If you want less time on the boat, you can skip Torcello and spend longer in Burano.
The same trip from other towns
How long it takes from each town, the drive back included. Tap a town to see the plan from there.
Almost every old town has a limited traffic zone (ZTL) with cameras: park outside and walk in. The fine reaches your home, abroad too. ZTL and car parks town by town
This trip with a driver
Romagna Transfer picks you up at your hotel, drops you in front of every stop and brings you back: no parking, no ZTL, and the wine is yours to enjoy.
Trips written by our editors from the facts of our monument pages and the official sites. Opening days and hours change: the note under every place tells you what to check before you leave. No prices: you find them on the museums' sites.
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