A memorable trip in the romantic city of Venice is not complete without a visit to the islands of Murano and Burano, which are part of the municipality's most famous Italian lagoon. You will need only a half day for this excursion, but our advice is to dedicate an entire day to fully enjoy the charm of these islands.
The name of Murano echoes around the world thanks to the art of its master glassmakers. The glass came to Venice around the year 1000 and, thanks to commercial relations with the East, the techniques of glassmaking reached the highest level. However, around the year 1100, due to pollution and the danger of fires, furnaces were banned from Venice and moved to the nearby island of Murano. Here families handed down the secrets of glass art from generation to generation. Nobody in the world has managed to equal them and still today the Murano Glass brand is a guarantee of excellence and creativity. On the island you can visit the kilns and the Glass Museum and see artisans at work, as well as buy nice souvenirs to take home in memory of your trip.
The spectacular island of Burano became famous for handcrafted lace making in the 16th century. Although lacemaking on the island declined in the 18th century, it was revived in the 19th century when a school of lacemaking opened. Today, craftswomen sit at the doors of their colourful houses and weave the most impressive lace. Enjoy strolling through the picturesque streets as you admire the colourful houses or stop at one of the islands famous restaurants, specialising in fresh seafood. The island is also home to the Lace Museum and many shops selling beautiful lace but make sure to check the authenticity if you decide to buy. Real Burano lace takes a long time to make and even the smallest piece can take weeks to finish so it usually much more expensive.
