Discovering the Lagoon: Murano, Burano and Torcello

The Lagoon is the cradle of the Venetian civilization and to go island hopping is a means of trying to understand the ancient size of Venice, before it was joined to the mainland and the rest of the world. The first stop on our tour includes visiting the island of Murano, known especially for its incredible art of glass blowing, still today the largest source of income for its inhabitants: a walk along the Fondamenta dei Vetrai, packed with shops and factories for the production of glass, then a step across the Canal Grande of Murano, we pass through the Glass Museum to finally visit the ancient Church of Santa Maria e Donato. If so desired, one can visit for free a Glass factory which produces true works of art and also attend a demonstration by a master glassmaker, whose glassblowing becomes an artistic creation of glass. The second call is to the multicoloured island of Burano, the lace making centre and where delicious biscuits called ‘bussolai’ are baked daily. Finally on to the picturesque island of Torecello that has the charm of isolated places and is an island that houses the remains of some of the most ancient monuments of the Venetian civilization: the first cathedral in Venice, Santa Maria Assunta, and the church of Santa Fosca.

The private boat tour lasts at least 4 hours but if you wish to use public transport, you should allow for the entire day (6 hours). The costs to see the Glass Museum or the Lace Museum are not included. For an all day tour, lunch can be booked in a typically local restaurant.