An Afternoon in Burano: A Photo Essay

After having discovered Venice over the past two days, exploring Burano, an island in the Venetian Lagoon that calls for travelling at a slower pace, is on the agenda.

Burano, Italy

Located in the Northern part of the water encircled by islands Torcello, Mazzorbo, and Murano, this Italian island is a short ride away from Venice by boat (a 45-minute vaporetto ride).

Burano, Italy

The atmosphere completely changes once you dock here: Flowerpots that rim the architecture are abundant, and the island’s colourful houses are the main attraction as they can be spotted from the lagoon as you approach the island. Why the vibrant homes? This was done so that fishermen could spot their residences from the sea.

Burano, Italy
Like Venice, Burano’s arteries are made up of the canals and bridges separating its landmasses. Except here, you get less commotion than you typically find in larger Italian cities.

Burano, Italy

As I walk through its narrow streets, I realize Burano isn’t only known for its rainbow-coloured architecture, but for its lace production (a well-rooted tradition taken up by local artists today), and Venetian masks crafted with finesse.

Burano, Italy

While visiting this fishermen’s town, our party stops to eat seafood at a restaurant called Ai Pescatori. Overlooking a canal and various shops in piazza Galuppi, it’s the ideal location for people watching. We’re served by two of the oldest camerieri on the island. Watching them interact with one another is reminiscent of a skit from la Commedia dell’arte.

Burano, Italy

I opt for the fresh seafood pasta, which tastes like it comes straight from the sea – as it does – since produce is caught daily from the lagoon. Lunch ends with traditional biscotti “Essi” (S-shaped cookies), a staple I grew up with and am happy to rediscover.

Burano, Italy
The island of Burano embodies a hauntingly calm allure that isn’t found in its city counterpart during summer. A calm haven frozen in time, it whisks you away from reality making it difficult to return.

Have you been to Burano? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

22 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.