Venice is a city in Italy and has been a tourist destination for many years. People travel to Venice for its culture and history, which is the perfect combination of medieval and renaissance architecture. It is also known as the "City of Water" due to its aquatic environment.
Nearby are Murano and Burano. The former is an island that is home to the Murano glass industry and the latter is a town on the mainland. Although geographically close, Murano and Burano have very different stories to tell.
To make sure you don't miss a single detail of these two places, there is nothing better than the professional guidance of the Free Tours of Murano and Burano that we offer here at GuruWalk.
The history of Murano dates back to the 9th century when it was founded as a refuge for people fleeing the Saracen invasions of what was then called "Venice". Today, this island attracts tourists not only for its rich heritage, but also for its glass-making industry that has been in operation since the 13th century. Today it is home to more than 400 craftsmen who make exquisite pieces of work such as candlesticks, crockery, ornaments, etc.
Tourists looking for a relaxing holiday can explore the island of Murano. The island is famous for its blown glass and ceramics. Tourists can visit the workshops of renowned glass blowers and watch them do their work. One of the best places to visit on Murano is the Accademia di Belle Arti, a school that specialises in teaching art history, visual arts and crafts to students from all over the world.
The word 'burano' means 'dense' in Venetian dialect. The colourfully painted buildings and small streets make it a popular tourist attraction.
People visit Burano because the town is known for its distinctive architectural style, which led to it being granted World Heritage status by UNESCO as part of a group with the Palladian Villas of the Veneto, which includes many other towns in mainland Italy.
In the past, the island was known for its lace. You can find traditional Burano lace in shops all over the island. Today, tourists come to Burano to see the houses with colourful window panels and roofs in bright shades of pink, yellow or blue.
There are several things you can do in Burano:
- Take a stroll through the colourful narrow streets and enjoy fresh seafood dishes in the restaurants.
- Visit the Museum of Traditional Buranes Lace, where you can see how this craft is made.
- Buy some handmade lace (or other handicrafts) in one of the small shops.
- Visit the Murazzini Tower, an ancient tower that offers breathtaking views of Burano and Venice.