Venice Islands
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.
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.
Venice Islands
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.
Venice Islands
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. Today it has 12 inhabitants.
Venice Islands
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.
Venice Islands
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.
Venice Islands
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.