The excursion to the islands of the Venetian lagoon (Murano, Burano, Torcello) is definitely the most interesting trip if you are on vacation in Venice. If you want to perform public transport ACTV must consider many factors, such as the price of admission, the various shipping lines and their connections. See below things first:
Ticket:
If you do not have the card “Venice Unica” (paper venice), advice to buy the day ticket € winds, since the individual sections cost about seven euro each. In my case, the holder of the card, I had to buy tickets for each section with the cost of one euro and thirty validity 1h30 per stroke.
Itinerary:
To consume less tickets I decided to start my excursion to the islands of the lagoon from Torcello, the most distant and isolated islands of the Venetian lagoon. Childbirth landing stage in Piazzale Roma near the coop, and I take the express line n. 3 (weekdays only) which takes me twenty minutes to Murano. Here I go down to the Murano Faro stop and take, after a few minutes, a connecting line 12 that leads to Burano; in thirty minutes by boat arrival on the island of colors. I do not go out from the landing stage of Burano, the coincidence with the line n. 9 to Torcello part almost immediately, just in time to stay in the hour and a half of the ticket! In just five minutes the line 9 leads me to Torcello, the island where it all began before he became Serenissima Venice.
Yes, it was here that the populations of Altino and mainland took refuge during the barbarian invasions and gave rise to the first settlements on the islands of the lagoon. The swamping of the surrounding lagoon and the need to find a safer refuge, however, led the inhabitants of Torcello to take refuge in Rivoltau, today’s Rialto, creating the conditions for the birth of Venice. Since then Torcello was practically abandoned and, to this day, there are only about 14 inhabitants. Torcello has an ancient history, it is testimony to the ancient Cathedral of Santa Maria (admission fee), with beautiful Byzantine mosaics among which the last judgment.
FORBIDDEN to take pictures, but one I could make the same.
Outside the cathedral you can visit the quaint church of Santa Fosca and the famous throne of Attila, although the Hun never had occasion to sit down on this strange stone.
Next stop Burano! In 5 minutes by vaporetto (line 9) back to the pier of Burano, and here I get lost among its narrow streets and colorful houses. It seems to be really in a palette of colors! At first glance I am surprised by all these bright colors which are painted the walls of houses.
Tradition has it that these houses have a look so unique for the following reason: during the winter season Burano is often shrouded in mist and for this reason, when the fishermen return to their homes can recognize the faster based on the colors. My walk passes through the foundations Cavanella, Cao and Fish to arrive in Piazza Galuppi.
Here I was hoping to see the famous lace-makers at work, but I found only lace shops of dubious origin, but they give an idea of how equally important is still the lacemaking in this island. As a consolation, I bought another product typical of Burano: the bussolai, cookies Venetian traditions, where in the small and historic bakery Carmelina Palmisano, in Piazza Galuppi 355, if they can find all kinds.
Today, for lunch, I brought sandwiches from home … bad choice! The smell of fried fish there for the streets of Burano is so inviting that it is hard to resist, especially in the small fry at Fritto Misto, a few steps from the vaporetto stop, which sells excellent fried take-away! Highly recommended!
I make a brief stop in the gardens and go back to the streets for a review of the colors of Burano. There grow weary of walking here. Among all these channels, foundations and colorful houses, Burano hides a little secret: the house Bepi Suà. To get there take a small road to the left of the main course after Calle Pistor; you can not miss it, it is the only one that has a facade full of colors and is certainly the most original of the island!
Time to the dock of the line 12 and leave for Murano. I know very well Murano: many years ago I worked a few months in a glass factory and the experience was so bad that today I will avoid just to visit one. But keep in mind that during the visit of a glass factory, once you have finished the presentation of how the glass is produced, the staff will follow you like a shadow for you to buy. Be careful!
Murano is famous not only for glass for its canals and palaces that are reflected on the water. Here too, as in Venice, we find the Grand Canal that divides the island into two parts. Very interesting is the visit to the museum of glass art and, a little later, the basilica of Santa Maria and Donato, founded in the seventh century., With a beautiful apse with white columns and a mosaic floor in 1140.
Now fatigue you are really feeling. It remains time for the last walk around the streets of Murano and then a well deserved ice cream! At the end of this excursion to the islands of the Venetian lagoon it lasted all day, tiring but really to be recommended. From Murano Colonna take the line n 4.1 that slowly leads to Piazzale Roma, where does this beautiful experience dedicated to the history and the colors of the islands of the Venetian lagoon.
