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Best things to do in Venice, Italy
Best things to do in Venice, Italy

Venice Islands

If you're spending more than a few days in Venice, take time to visit the islands of the Venetian Lagoon. You'll reach the islands on motoscafi (water buses) of Actv, the Venice public-transportation company. Allow a full day for the entire excursion, or half a day if you skip San Michele and the Lido. Of the several islands in the Venetian Lagoon, the 3 main ones are Burano, Murano and Torcello. Though small, each island has developed its own name and fame separate from Venice. The people of Burano are known internationally for their lace industry. Murano's inhabitants have a reputation as artisans as well, producing world-famous glassware. Torcello was the first of Venice's Islands to be populated, making it home to some of the areas oldest buildings and finest cathedrals. But there are two extraordinary islands, two places of the spirit, which are surrounded by a unique solitude and which deserve a special mention: San Francesco del Deserto and San Lazzaro degli Armeni. These two islands have a very particular charm and beauty.

Murano

The Murano Island 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. It was once an independent comune, but is now a town of the comune of Venice.

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Burano

The Burano Island is the most picturesque of the lagoon islands due to the extraordinary colours of its low houses, doors and windows, which look like the work of naive painters. The island can be reached in less than an hour from the Fondamenta Nuove and in half an hour from San Zaccaria. Burano is made up of four little islands.

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Torcello

The Torcello Island is a quiet and sparsely populated island at the northern end of the Venetian Lagoon. It is considered the oldest continuously populated region of Venice. Torcello is worth a visit: A magnificent Byzantine-Italian cathedral dating back to 639 A.D., the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, looms over the island with the Bell Tower and Church of Santa Fosca alongside.

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San Francesco del Deserto

The San Francesco del Deserto Island was occupied in 1200 by a community of Franciscan friars who still live inside an austere convent embellished by two XIV and XV century cloisters. The island is very ancient. Traces which have emerged reveal it was frequented by the Romans. The island can be reached both from Venice and Burano in 20 minutes by boat.

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San Lazzaro degli Armeni

The San Lazzaro degli Armeni Island is a small island in the Venetian Lagoon, completely occupied by a monastery that is the mother-house of the Mekhitarist Order, the island is one of the world's foremost centers of Armenian culture. Inside the convent there is an important library and in the church there are valuable paintings.

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Lido di Venezia

Lido di Venezia in Italian, means beach. And on the Lido the beach is wide, gently descending towards the Adriatic Sea, never unduly crowded because it is distributed along the 10 Km length of the island.

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Islands in Venice, Italy. Essential information about most popular islands in Venetian Lagoon, main highlights for each isle, private boat tours, how to reach Murano, Burano, Torcello, Venice quarantine Islands, San Michele island, San Lazzaro degli Armeni, Sant'Erasmo, Giudecca, Mazzorbo, Sant'Elena, La Certosa, Santa Cristina, Lazzaretto Nuovo, Pellestrina, Lazzaretto Vecchio, San Clemente, San Francesco del Deserto, San Servolo, and Vignole, recommendations for glassmakers in Murano, handmade lace in Burano, Armenian monastery island, pictures, details of all Venice's islands and trips around the lagoon.

Venice Tourist Information: Hotels, Attractions and Tourism Guide is the ultimate and complete travel guide to Venice. For each island you can find up-to-date information. Let us help you enjoy the top tourist islands with this brief travel guide.