Exploring Burano: A Guide to the Colorful Island Near Venice

Burano, an enchanting island in the Venetian Lagoon, is a must-visit destination for anyone exploring Venice. Famous for its brightly colored houses and rich lace-making tradition, Burano offers a unique blend of culture, history, and picturesque scenery. Whether you’re a photographer, a foodie, or simply a lover of beautiful places, Burano has something special for you.

Things to Do in Burano

1. Stroll Around and Enjoy the Colorful Houses

Burano’s vibrant facades are perfect for a leisurely stroll. The colorful houses lining the canals make for fantastic photo opportunities, so be sure to bring your camera!

2. Visit Lace Shops and Museums

• Museo del Merletto: Dive into Burano's lace-making history at the Museo del Merletto, where you can see intricate lacework and learn about this traditional craft.

• Local Shops: Pick up authentic Burano lace from local artisans, a beautiful souvenir of your visit.

3. Enjoy the Local Cuisine

• Seafood: Savor fresh seafood at local restaurants like Trattoria al Gatto Nero.

• Sweets: Don’t miss trying "bussolai," a buttery cookie that’s a local favorite.

4. Visit the Church of San Martino

The Church of San Martino features a leaning bell tower and impressive artworks, including a piece by Giambattista Tiepolo.

5. Relax at the Piazza Galuppi

Enjoy a coffee or gelato while people-watching in the bustling Piazza Galuppi. It’s also a great spot for souvenir shopping.

6. Take a Boat Tour

Explore the Venetian Lagoon with a boat tour, often including stops at nearby islands like Murano and Torcello. Some tours even offer fishing experiences for a taste of local life.

7. Art and Craft Workshops

• Lace-Making Workshops: Learn traditional lace-making techniques in a hands-on workshop.

• Painting Classes: Capture Burano’s beauty with a painting class. Check out my Burano photography and art workshops for more details.

8. Explore Nearby Islands

• Murano: Known for its glass-making, Murano is just a short boat ride away.

• Torcello: Visit Torcello for its historic churches and serene atmosphere.

9. Sunset Views

End your day with a stunning sunset over the lagoon. Find a cozy spot by the water and enjoy the natural beauty of Burano.

Tips for Visiting Burano

• Getting There: Take the Vaporetto (water bus) from Venice, a scenic 45-minute ride.

• Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds and capture the best light for photos.

• Comfortable Shoes: Wear comfortable shoes for exploring the island on foot.

Join My Burano Workshops

For a truly immersive experience, join one of my Burano workshops https://www.msecchi.com/islands-around-venice.

Whether you’re interested in photography, painting, or lace-making, my workshops offer a unique opportunity to learn and create in this beautiful setting.

38th Venice Vogalonga

The Vogalonga is an act of love for Venice and its waters, for its lagoon and its islands, for rowing and its boats. The Vogalonga retains over time its original purpose: to disseminate knowledge, awareness and respect for the essence and culture of our city. The Vogalonga is a celebration for the entire ‘people of the oar,’ and today, just as in the beginning, it is a peaceful testimony against the wave-motion, so dangerous for the city and the lagoon.

More images can be found here

Red Light (Spells Danger)

While sailing in the Lagoon at the entrance of  "Canale dei Petroli" I saw the two lights for the tankers. The red one caught my attention and reminded me the Billy Ocean song......

Red light spells danger Can't hold out much longer Cos red light means warning Can't hold out I'm burning No, no, no

It is estimated that one third of a large oil tanker's load would be enough to provoke a true ecological disaster in the lagoon and also in the Adriatic coast. The presence of oil tankers is thus an enormous risk for the lagoon of Venice.

NO Cruise Ships....in Venice

The protest against the Cruise Ships was held today on the Grand Canal and just after the Punta della Salute....for pure coincidence...a large...no a very LARGE Cruise Ship...the Cunard Queen Victoria was crossing St Mark's Basin....

Few more pictures of today protest organized by Comitato NO Grandi Navi are here. I just realized I took the pictures in Southampton few years ago when the Queen Victoria was named and pictures are here....

As usual was a very well organized and behaved protest!

Frozen Venice Lagoon....today

Italy as most of Europe is under a spell of very cold weather, it is more than 20 years since the Venice Lagoon last froze, so today I took some pictures for my agency...you can see them here if you are interested.I wrote before about the 1929 frozen lagoon and is here

The Tree (Colours of the Lagoon)

Autumn Tree at San Francesco del Deserto Island

Rosemary (Colours of the lagoon)

Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis, is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves. It is native to the Mediterranean region. The name "rosemary" derives from the Latin name rosmarinus, which is from "dew" (ros) and "sea" (marinus), or "dew of the sea" because in many locations it needs no other water than the humidity carried by the sea breeze to live.

Rosemary plant growing  on the Island of Santa Cristina

Baked Mackerel with Rosemary

The ingredients for two people are: 2 mackerels  1 garlic clove, 1 lemon, and 2 big fresh rosemary branches.

Cut the lemon in half, thinly slice the garlic and wash the rosemary branches.Now you need to clean the mackerels: You can cut the belly such that you can remove the entrails. Wash the fish well removing all the remains of the entrails otherwise the meat could get an unpleasant sour taste.

Once they have been rinsed, dry them well outside and inside so that there is no water left. Then  place some garlic slices and one rosemary branch inside the mackerel’s belly cavity.

Make two rectangles of aluminium foil and place the fish on one of them,  squeeze the lemon juice inside and on the mackerel, then folds the foil over the fish.

Lastly, bake the fish at 200 °C (390 °F) for 20-25 minutes.

The spaceship

Late afternoon at the water bus stop of Madonna dell'Orto

I've always thought that a lot of the problems in the world would be solved if a spaceship did arrive, then anyone with one head and two arms and two legs would be your brother! It wouldn't matter where they were from or what they believed or anything. It might be good for us. Sigourney Weaver