Catching a moment: Burano (Italy)

Not many guidebooks encourage you to visit Burano- a small island near Venice. Usually, Venice with its fascinating story and remarkable monuments is in the spotlight of attention. In spite of this hegemony I would like to recommend a visit in a truly fascinating place called Burano. I am pretty sure that if you go there you will not regret it. Such a colorful spot is hardly find in Europe.

You might have heard name Murano with its famous glass factory but this is not the same as Burano starting with B. While glass making is fascinating I am sure that going further to the east is more adventurous so my advice is this: don’t conclude your trip on Murano. Take the water bus and go to Burano instead of getting back to Venice. The trip to Burano takes at least 45 minutes one way but it is worthy. By all means.

After a 7 km drive and spectacular views of the Venetian Lagoon and Marco Polo airport you finally arrive to Burano, famous of lance making and color houses. Why I love Burano so much? Because it is still inhabited by the local families and it is an example of these rare places where you got the impression that time stands still. There are no cars and no fancy shops, no traffic jams and no large city noises. Leaving crowded Venice behind brings you relief and gives you an opportunity to get back to the basic things. The island shows you how little is needed to survive and to enjoy life at the same time. For the locals living so close to Venice is somehow a curse: their island is not close enough to be ‘sold in a package’ to the tourists. At the same time, however, the locals are attached to their history and their own local tradition of fishery and lance making and they are proud of it. The trip to this little island brings joy, optimism and a bunch of happy thoughts.

This is also a dream spot for photographers. If you go to Burano in nice weather you will take hundred photos before you even notice. Every street is so picturesque! With water around, bridges and boats this is a perfect place to learn photography. So, walk around with your camera, take pictures of everything you see, enjoy the views and eat awesome sea food for lunch. It will all make you day really special so when you get back to the crowded Venice your mind will be still walking around the colorful houses on Burano.