Venice Islands: Murano, Burano and Torcello in Italy, Veneto

This excursion takes you on a visit to its islands, famous not only for handcrafts: Murano for the glass factory, Burano for the laces, and then there’s the jewel of an island called Torcello, where the first cathedral in Venice was built. Sailing among the islands of San Giorgio Maggiore, San Servolo, San Lazzaro degli Armeni and Sant’Elena Gardens the boat arrives at MURANO. Divided into nine islets crossed by a wide canal, Murano is the island of glass blowing. A long and still-thriving tradition dating back to 1291, when the glass artisans moved their kilns here from the old city centre. Murano is the town of glass: during XV and XVI centuries it was the main glass centre in Europe. A stop at a glass factory is included to watch an expert master glass blowers create a work of art. Second stop will be at TORCELLO: centre of the first Venetian civilization founded between the V and VI centuries, the island became a flourishing center full of palaces and churches. Nowadays the island preserves archeological proof of its glorious past such as the wonderful Byzantine Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Church of Santa Fosca with a delicious portico and striking Byzantine interior. The last but not least stop will be on BURANO island, one of the prettiest islands in the whole lagoon: it’s a miniature Venice where all the houses are painted in bright colors. Burano is famous for its lace work, an art that has been carried out since the XVI century when it was considered the most refined and famous n Europe. Open your eyes and your imagination. Head for the Lagoon!