This small community on an island in the northeastern part of the Venetian lagoon has made it a point to paint its houses in bright neon hues, and thus the colorful houses of Burano are known throughout the world.

Burano

The small fishing island of Burano is located in the northeast of the Venetian lagoon and, like most of Venice, is crisscrossed by a man-made canal system. While Venice can have a melancholy air, Burano’s cheerful and brightly painted houses stand out.

Burano consists of a group of four small islands connected by a series of bridges, as in Venice, and held together even more tightly by their colorful paintings. The eye-catching color scheme was maintained for decades and was even in the process of fading until it was reintroduced – mandatory – in recent years.

The crazy colorful houses of Burano

Now the houses of Burano shine in bright colors that almost look like they have been photoshopped, since they are repainted every two years. Each house has a different color than its neighbors, and anyone who wants to paint their house must first get permission from the local municipal government. (This regulation was already in force throughout Italy during the monarchy of the Royal House of Savoy and was only abolished after the vote on the form of government in 1946).

The many colorful houses of Burano are indeed typical of the small island and this curious colorfulness really attracts many painters and photographers to the island, also because the fishermen’s houses painted in bright colors are well reflected in the canals.

Lace

Burano is known not only for its uniquely painted houses, but also for its high-quality lace-making. The lace-makers of Burano have been making lace in the intricate needle lace technique Reticella since the 16th century, which can be seen in the local bobbin lace museum; however, photography is prohibited there.

Local legend has it that it is thanks to a fisherman that traditional textile production was born. In fact, after resisting the song of the sirens on behalf of his beloved, who was waiting for him in Burano, he is said to have received a crown of foam from the queen of the waves to adorn the head of his bride. The girlfriends of his beloved, envious and fascinated by the beauty of the veil, tried to make veils just as beautiful for themselves and thus founded a school whose tradition is now centuries old. Historically, however, lace-making “only” goes back to the 16th century.

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Accommodations in Burano

Sleeping in Burano is not a very common choice, either because of the distance from the center of Venice or because of the limited choice of accommodations and the not exactly cheap cost. There is only one hotel in Burano, a 5-star category, to which are added b&b and apartments almost all of which are high-end.

To the cost of lodging should then be added the cost of transportation, considering that every time you move from the island you will need a vaporetto. This is elitist but not snobby tourism, aiming for maximum comfort and relaxation without dazzling guests with glamorous touches. It will cost a little more, but staying in Burano is a unique experience that will make your vacation in Venice unforgettable.

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Historical facts about Burano

The first dwellings in Burano were pile dwellings and until the turn of the first millennium they stood on stilts and piles with walls of reeds and clay. It was not until around the year 1000 that houses were built of brick.

But soon this small community had to bow to the influence of the lagoon city of Venice.

Waterbus line to Burano

To get to Burano, you can take vaporetto number 12 north of Venice. On the 40-minute vaporetto ride, you’ll also stop at Murano – an island known for its glassblowing and well worth a visit – before continuing to Burano. The itinerary is: Venice (Fondamenta Nove) – Murano – Mazzorbo – Torcello – Burano -Treporti – Punta Sabbioni.

The details

In Venice, Line 12 ferries depart from the north of the historic center: Fondamente Nove Platform A stop, usually every 30 minutes or more during the day. This is the only stop of line 12 in Venice, but you can go from the main train or bus station either to Fondamente Nove or to Murano and change there. There are also no direct water buses from San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) to Burano.

On the island of Murano, the water buses of line 12 also stop only at one stop, namely at the “Faro” stop in the south of this island.

Mazzorbo is the neighboring island of Burano and the two are connected by a bridge in the north. Unlike the densely populated islands of the lagoon, Mazzorbo has a rural character and only 300 inhabitants, including some farmers who grow vegetables and wine there.

Before the vaporetto reaches the island of Burano, it goes to Torcello. No other inhabited island in the Venetian lagoon is farther from the main island. Torcello once had almost 20,000 inhabitants, but today only about 10 people live on the island. The most important sight on Torcello is the oldest church in the region: the Byzantine Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, dating back to 639 AD.

On the island of Burano, the ferries stop at the only water bus dock in the north of the island. This is not a big problem, because the island of Burano is not very big and you can walk almost everywhere in 15 minutes. Many of the tourists go there especially because of the many colorful houses of Burano.

After Burano, the vaporetti continue to Punta Sabbioni, which is on the Italian mainland. There are many bus connections to popular tourist places, for example to Lido di Jesolo.

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This article was first published on salvati.photography.

This small community on an island in the northeastern part of the Venetian lagoon has made it a point to paint its houses in bright neon hues, and thus the colorful houses of Burano are known throughout the world. lagoon of venice; laguna di venezia; burano; the colorful houses of burano; Piazza Baldassare Galuppi, the central square of Burano; burano with campanile of san martino; Venice (Fondamenta Nove) – Island of Murano – Island of Mazzorbo – Island of Torcello – Island of Burano -Treporti – Punta Sabbioni. On the travel photography blog of Claudio Salvati Photography.