The lace and rainbow houses of Burano island

One of the most beautiful places in the world, Venice tends to overwhelm its visitors. For most people who stay/visit Venice for more than 2 days, its narrow alleys, magnificent marble mansions, grandiose churches, and innumerable waterways become stifling. The maddening wave of daily tourists also adds fuel to the fire, and Venetian visitors look beyond Venice for some quick breathers. That’s why day trips to the outlying islands of the Venetian lagoon are so popular among travelers, and they are great value for money if you have a Hello Venezia travel pass. Among all the islands, the trio of Murano, Burano, and Torcello is the most popular, and Burano Island is one of the most photographed places in Italy. A quaint fishing village, Burano Island is famous for its cheery pastel-coloured houses and exquisite handmade lace that was once a rage among the European elites. Nowadays, however, much of Burano‘s lace comes from China, and the island is overrun with excited visitors seeking out the most colourful spot for their selfies.

Burano Island and its lacy number

An island which was probably settled by the Romans, Burano rose into importance in the 16th century when its women began making handmade lace. They painstakingly toiled for many months for this craft, and Burano island lace eventually became an important trading item. The history of Burano island lace is a bit unclear, and many legends are associated with its origin. The most popular is the story of Nicholas and the sirens. According to the legends, a long time ago, there lived in Burano Island a fisherman called Nicholas. Being good-natured, handsome, and industrious, Nicholas was considered the most eligible bachelor, and all the unwed girls wanted him. But he was deeply faithful to his fiancée, Mary, and had eyes for her only. So deep was his love for her that Nicholas did not even give in to a group of sea sirens, who came to seduce him with their beguiling beauty during his fishing trip at sea. Their sweet songs fell on deaf ears, and only Mary was on Nicholas‘s mind. The sirens were so touched by the deep love that Nicholas bore for his fiancée that they gifted him an incredibly beautiful embroidery made from the sea foam. Nicholas presented this beautiful object to Mary on their wedding day, and skilled Mary immediately set about recreating it with thread. Thus, the delicate and magnificent Burano lace was born, and till today it remains one of the perfect handicrafts.

Suggested Read: Venice trip planning guide

The home of the Venetian Lace

The Burano island lace work is extremely exacting, and that was its biggest highlight. During the olden days, each woman specialized in a single stitch, and since there used to be seven stitches required to create a finished item, each piece was passed from one woman to another for completion. That is why making handmade Burano lace used to be such a back-breaking job, and a centerpiece for a tablecloth took more than a month to get completed. This made Burano lace very expensive as well, though today, with some exceptions, most of it is machine-made. The Burano island lace, or the Venetian lace as it is more famously known, was punto in aria or “points in the air” because of its delicate effects. This lace is well documented as being one of the most prized possessions of the nobility of Europe, and in the 1600s, the wardrobe of Elizabeth I of England included lace made of “Venice sylver” and “Venys gold”. This is a testament to the art of incorporating precious metals into lace patterns for costly fine garments, and throughout the Renaissance, Punto in aria was included in women’s dowries as proof of their families‘ wealth. Despite such demand, the Burano lace industry died by the end of the 17th century when the French and Flemish lace production centers started booming. By the end of the 18th century, the fresh wake of the French and American Revolutions made people boycott fashion associated with the reviled aristocracy, and with the end of the Republic of Venice, its lace production ended as well. Today, there are very few women knowledgeable in this art, and they prefer to work at home, away from the public eye. Though extremely secluded, it is not impossible to explore this beautiful heritage, and you can book a guided tour of Burano Island lace with Martina Vidal.

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The rules of Burano Island‘s colour blocking

Though the lacy heritage is an integral part of Venetian history, nearly all visitors throng to Burano Island for its rows of cheerfully painted houses. This island is indeed a riot of colors, and splashes of vivid blue, yellow, pink, ocher, and dark red can be spotted even from the ferry. Much popular with the artists, the colours of the Burano houses follow a specific system originating from the golden age of its development, and permission from the local government is mandatory for someone wishing to paint their home. To get this approval, one must send a request to the government, which responds by making notice of the certain colours permitted for that lot. The tradition of Burano‘s colourful houses goes way back into history. Legend has it that the villagers started painting their homes in luminous colours so that the fishermen could see them even in thick fog, and they could be guided back to shore safely. Today, the Burano Island is painted in bright colors that almost look photoshopped, and the homes are repainted every two years. This kaleidoscopic panorama brings much revenue from tourism to the island, and the place is overrun with camera-toting tourists.

Check this out: How to visit Venice on a budget

The postcard-pretty Burano island after the tourists leave

We visited Burano at sunset after a half-day trip to Murano. Luckily, it turned out to be a brilliant idea as most of the mad rush of day trippers were gone by then. Burano Island was still fairly crowded for its size, and it was jaw-droppingly beautiful. The entire village was a jumble of rainbows and shops selling souvenirs (real and fake), restaurants, and cafes lined the glassy canals. There were more tourists than the locals when we arrived, and except for an occasional old woman peering over her flower boxes, no villager could be seen going about his daily life. They stepped out, after sunset, with the return of the fishing boats loaded with heavy catches, and soon, local Burano seemed to stir to life. Tranquility and calmness settled in with the sweet peeling of church bells as the elderly ladies embroidered original Burano island lace by their tombolos or lace pillows. They sat in groups in the middle of brightly coloured flower-filled courtyards, gossiping and working at the same time. With their heads bent low over their tombolos, the nimble fingers embroidered lacy magic as their young grandchildren darted freely around on their bicycles.

Local life on Burano Island

Housewives appeared to check the fresh fish being put out by the fishermen from their traditional boats, and village elders gossiped under flower-boxed balconies. Tired men smoked at their curtained doorways and quietly watched the colourful houses being reflected on the green waters of the channels. My baby Akash loved Burano, and he crawled along the rainbow lanes as soon as they emptied. He loved the space and the friendliness of the locals after a whole day of being stuck in the baby car and played along happily as his tired mother rested nearby. It felt great to enjoy the twilight hour alone with the community of the famous Burano island, and it seemed to me as if they were celebrating the absence of the tourists. They dived into their daily lives with energetic glee, and their home island belonged to them once again, until the next day break.

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How to reach Burano Island?

Taking the Vaporetto Line or ACTV water bus number 12, leaving from Venice Fondamente Nove, is the most cost-effective way of reaching Burano Island. The cost of a one-way trip is 7 euros, so you can save a lot of money by investing in a travel card or a 20-euro day pass, which gives you Vaporetto access for 24 hours. The number 12 Vaporetto reaches Burano through Murano, and the journey takes around 40 minutes. To reach Venice, Fondamente Nove is a time-consuming affair and can be accessed by only Vaporetto number 1 (stop Ca‘ Doro), number 4.2 and 5.2 (stop Fondamente Nove and change over to line 12 for Burano).  Alternatively, you can take the Vaporetto number 3, which takes the shortest time to reach Murano, and then switch over to the “Murano Faro” stop to take the Vaporetto number 12. This way, you save a lot of time by avoiding the long Grand Canal and a few stops beyond.

Wander and explore

Being a small fishing village, there is not much to do in Burano Island except for walking around and soaking up the colourful atmosphere. Food is expensive and not recommended beyond a quick bite, though you must sample “Bussola”, Burano‘s special round cookie. You can combine Burano with either Murano and/or Torcello in a day, or extend the trip to the monastery island of San Francesco del Deserto, leaving the Murano and Torcello package for another day. Whatever you do, don’t forget to take a fully charged camera, because Burano Island is one of the most colourful places on earth.

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Check out these fabulous posts on Burano Island by other bloggers – Ohh Couture, Happy to Wander, Nina-Travels, Gobeyonds

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FAQs

What are the top things to do in Burano Island, Venice?
As a small fishing village, the article says there isn’t much to do beyond walking around and soaking up the colorful atmosphere — but that’s really the appeal. It also recommends sampling ‘Bussola,’ Burano’s special round cookie, and browsing the island’s famous handmade lace, historically crafted using seven different stitches passed between specialized artisans.

Is a trip to Burano Island, Venice worth it?
Yes, according to the author, who describes it as ‘jaw-droppingly beautiful’ when visited at sunset. The colorful houses are called out as photo-worthy enough to look almost photoshopped, making Burano one of the most colorful places on earth in the article’s own words.

How many days do you need in Burano Island, Venice?
Burano is best done as a day trip, not a multi-day stay — the article suggests combining it with a visit to nearby Murano and/or Torcello in a single day, or extending further to the monastery island of San Francesco del Deserto.

What is Burano Island, Venice known for?
Burano is famous for two things: its intricate, centuries-old handmade lace (a craft born from a local legend about a fisherman’s fiancée) and its rainbow-colored houses, which legend says were originally painted so fishermen could spot their homes through thick fog. The houses are repainted every two years to keep their vivid colors.

Is Burano Island, Venice safe for tourists?
The article doesn’t address safety directly, but it does warn that the island can get quite crowded with day-trippers, and food there is expensive and not particularly recommended beyond a quick bite — practical things to plan around rather than safety concerns.

I’m planning a trip to Burano Island, Venice — what should I prioritize seeing and doing there?
Prioritize simply wandering the colorful streets and photographing the rainbow houses — the article stresses bringing a fully charged camera since Burano is one of the most colorful places on earth. It also recommends visiting near sunset when the mad rush of day-trippers has thinned out, and trying the local Bussola cookie.

Can you give me an honest, first-hand take on what Burano Island, Venice is actually like to visit?
The author’s own visit came at sunset after a half-day in Murano, which they call ‘a brilliant idea’ since most day-trippers had already left. Even then, they note Burano was still fairly crowded for its size — but describe the experience as jaw-droppingly beautiful, with the whole village a jumble of rainbow color.

What’s the best time of year to visit Burano Island, Venice, and why?
The article doesn’t specify a best season, but it does recommend timing your visit within the day — going in the late afternoon or at sunset, after the main wave of day-trippers has left, made for a much less crowded and more magical experience for the author.

What should a first-time visitor to Burano Island, Venice know before they go?
First-time visitors should know Burano is reached by vaporetto (water bus) — the article suggests taking line 3 to Murano first, then switching to line 12, as a faster route than the long way around via the Grand Canal. It’s also worth knowing the island gets crowded with day-trippers, so timing your visit for later in the day can make for a calmer experience, and that food on the island tends to be pricier and not especially worth lingering over.

How does Burano Island, Venice compare to nearby destinations for someone deciding where to go?
The article positions Burano as part of a popular trio of Venetian lagoon islands alongside Murano and Torcello, often visited together as day trips using a Hello Venezia travel pass. It’s framed as a welcome, quieter breather from Venice itself, which the article says can start to feel stifling with its crowds and narrow alleys after more than two days.

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