Burano - Mazzorbo - Torcello - Sant'Erasmo - Pellestrina - Lido - link Burano
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| Venice: Islands! |  |
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Itineraries in Venice: the Islands
Murano
Murano is usually described as an island in the Venetian Lagoon, although like Venice itself it is actually an archipelago of islands linked by bridges.
It lies about a mile north of Venice and is famous for its glass making, particularly lampworking.
Murano was settled by the Romans, then from the sixth century by people from Altino and Oderzo.
At first, the island prospered as a fishing port and through production of salt.
It was also a centre for trade, through the port it controlled on Sant'Erasmo.
From the eleventh century, it began to decline as islanders moved to Dorsoduro.
It had a Grand Council, like that of Venice, but from the thirteenth century Murano was ultimately governed by a podesta from Venice.
Unlike the other islands in the Lagoon, Murano minted its own coins.
In 1291, all the glassmakers in Venice were forced to move to Murano due to the risk of fires.
In the following century, exports began, and the island became famous, initially for glass beads and mirrors.
Aventurine glass was invented on the island, and for a while Murano was the main producer of glass in Europe.
The island later became known for chandeliers.
Although decline set in during the eighteenth century, glassmaking is still the island's main industry.
In the fifteenth century, the island became popular as a resort for Venetians, and palaces were built, but this later declined.
The countryside of the island was known for its orchards and vegetable gardens until the nineteenth century, when more housing was built.
Attractions on the island include the Church of Santa Maria e San Donato, known for its twelfth century Byzantine mosaic pavement and said to house the bones of the dragon slain by Saint Donatus, the Church of San Pietro Martire and the Palazzo da Mula. Glass-related attractions include the many glassworks, some Mediaeval and most open to the public, and the Glass Museum, housed in the large Palazzo Giustinian.
Burano
Burano is an island in the Venetian Lagoon, although like Venice itself it could more correctly be called an archipelago of islands linked by bridges.
It lies near Torcello at the northern end of the Lagoon, and is known for its lacework.
The island was probably settled by the Romans, and in the sixth century was occupied by people from Altino, who named it for one of the gates of their former city.
Although the island soon became a thriving settlement, it was administered from Torcello and had none of the privileges of that island or of Murano.
It rose in importance only in the sixteenth century, when women on the island began making lace with needles.
The lace was soon exported across Europe, but decline began in the eighteenth century and the industry did not revive until 1872, when a school of lacemaking was opened.
Lacemaking on the island boomed again, but few now make lace in the traditional manner as it is extremely time-consuming and therefore expensive.
Burano is also known for its small, brightly-painted houses, popular with artists.
The designer Philippe Starck owns three houses.
Other attractions include the Church of San Martino with a campanile, the Oratorio Santa Barbara and the Museum and School of Lacemaking.
The colours of the houses follow a specific system originating from the golden age of its development; if someone wishes to paint their home, one must send a request to the government, who will respond by making notice of the certain colours permitted for that lot.
This practice has resulted in the myriad of warm, pastelly colours that characterises the island today.
The island is linked to Mazzorbo by a bridge.
Mazzorbo
Mazzorbo is an island in the northern Venetian Lagoon, linked to Burano by a bridge. It was once an important trading centre but is now known for its vineyards and orchards. Its main attraction is the fourteenth century Church of Santa Caterina, and there is also a brightly painted housing development, designed in 1979 by Giancarlo De Carlo.
Torcello
Torcello is a quiet island at the northern end of the Venetian Lagoon.
It was settled and named in the seventh century by people from Altinum (modern name Altino), including the Bishop of Altino.
They brought with them the relics of Saint Eliodorus, now the patron saint of the island.
Torcello rapidly grew in importance as a political and trading centre.
In the tenth century, it had a population of about 10,000 people and was more powerful than Venice, but it then declined.
It retained a Grand Council, like that of Venice, who were given the right to nominate a podestà from Venice to govern the island.
The lagoon around the island gradually became a swamp, and almost all the population left for Murano or Venice.
It now has a population of around 60 people.
Today the island is known for the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, founded in 639 and with much eleventh century Byzantine work, including mosaics, surviving.
Other attractions include the eleventh and twelfth century Church of Santa Fosca and a museum housed in two fourteenth century palaces.
Sant’Erasmo
Sant'Erasmo is an island in the Venetian Lagoon lying north of the Lido and north east of Venice.
The island was a port attached to Murano in the eighth century, but is now known for market gardening.
Ruined fortifications including the Fort of Maximillian ring the isle, while an annual boat race takes place around it.
Sant'Erasmo is also known for the waders on sand banks in the Lagoon around it.
Pellestrina
Pellestrina is an island forming a barrier between the southern Venetian Lagoon and the Adriatic Sea, lying south west of the Lido.
The island is 11 kilometres long and has since the eighteenth century been bounded to its seaward side by large embankments.
There are four main villages: San Pietro in Volta, Porto Secco, San Antonio and Pellestrina, known for their colourfully-painted houses.
The main industries of the island are market gardening, fishing, tourism and lace making.
Like Chioggia but unlike Torcello, the local lace is made with a needle.
Attractions on the island included the Lido of Ca' Roman, known for its pine trees and birdlife.Al Giardino Venezia - tutti i diritti riservati.
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