As well as fishing, the island of Burano in the Venice lagoon is famous for lace making, and it is still possible to buy lace on the island. Unfortunately most of the lace for sale is not hand made and probably not made on Burano. You will know if it the genuine article by the price. We saw some beautiful hand made pieces and they were expensive. This is justified when you consider the hours of work in each piece.
Burano is also famous for its brightly colored houses. It is said that the houses were painted in different colours so the sailors and fishermen could identify their houses as they came in from the sea. Once again, this is probably no longer the case, but the houses certainly look lovely sparkling in the Venice sunshine, or even on a cloudy day as it was the day we were there.
The sun peeped out from the clouds a couple of times just to show this pretty island at its best.
This is the main canal leading into the main piazza. I love the jumble of colours. What fun to live in a bright pink or orange house.
This one was my favourite colour. It was the most gorgeous deep red. The photo is not quite true to colour.
When you can’t decide on one colour, pick two.
This would be a great spot for dinner in summer.
There was one building with medallions on the front with animals biting other animals. I have no idea of the significance of these. Perhaps someone out there knows.
It was good to see that the residents dress to match their houses.
At the entrance to the town is this sculpture of a young woman waiting for her sailor to come home and fearing that he won’t.
There is one in Portovenere of a completely different style. Click here to see it.
Catch the vaporetto to Burano at Fondamente Nove. It will be worth it.
I think Burano is so beautiful. I noticed that even the hanging laundry is artistic! The gelato there is good, too…
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By: megtraveling on January 28, 2012
at 2:00 am
It is a gorgeous island. We also had an excellent pizza there.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 5:25 am
Amazing photographs! Thank you for sharing!
EL
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By: EL on January 28, 2012
at 2:01 am
Thank you for visiting. Burano is beautiful.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 5:26 am
This place looks amazing! Love the photos.
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By: TMS Therapy Mama on January 28, 2012
at 2:01 am
Don’t miss Burano if you go to Venice. I think it is more interesting than Murano.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 5:26 am
Beautiful photos!
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By: travellingflip on January 28, 2012
at 2:12 am
Thank you. I think it would be difficult to take a bad photo here.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 5:27 am
Debra…..I visited Burano a couple of years ago and watched the nonnas lace making. You’re right – the real thing is very expensive. Burano is a photographer’s dream and you’ve captured the colour of the island beautifully. Particularly love the pic of the grey/green window with muted pink background. Simple but beautiful. Ciao, Robyn.
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By: Paris Rendez-vous on January 28, 2012
at 2:14 am
Burano is a delight to photograph. It was a dull day when we were there, but the sun came out briefly.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 5:28 am
Amazing colours! Love it
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By: TonjeAndTheWorld on January 28, 2012
at 2:15 am
Don’t you think it would be fun to live in one of those houses???
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 5:30 am
oh boy oh boy oh boy! Debra, this is one of those places I must see during my month in Italia coming up!
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By: lahgitana on January 28, 2012
at 2:17 am
You will love it!!! Venice is not far from Ravenna.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 5:30 am
I’ve been thinking I’ll take the train up to Venice after Ravenna and nose around. How could I miss Venice on this trip?! It’s hard enough to be missing Rome! I plan especially to go the the smaller places around Venice.
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By: lahgitana on January 29, 2012
at 5:25 pm
Venice is stunning and you will be there without the crowds. I love going in the off season.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 29, 2012
at 7:54 pm
All part of the plan–actually the BASE of the plan–no crowds, so I can think and enjoy! I hope to be seen as a low-key tourist….
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By: lahgitana on January 29, 2012
at 11:39 pm
I just love Burano!!! It’s my favourite Venetian Island. We bought a beautiful crocheted bedspread there – couldn’t afford the amazing hand-embroidered ones, which would make a lovely wedding gift from a doting mother and would become a family heirloom for sure.
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By: CherfromSydney on January 28, 2012
at 2:20 am
Some of the handmade lace is on display in a few places. It is exquisite. I can’t imagine how many hours it took to make some of these pieces.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 5:32 am
Absolutely beautiful and great photos! I am certain that the cheap lace is made in China… On the other hand, the real one takes so many hours of hard work that very few women will make it nowadays or the prices will be astronomical. In the old times, they possible gathered outside their homes on sunny days and spend time with their neighbours making those lace masterpieces which would be worn by rich people and the nobility. It reminds me of a small town south of Granada where we used to have a house. The women were still making hand-made “mantillas” and bridal veils, sitting outside their homes and chatting. Prices were still reasonable taking into account the long hours they had to spend doing needlework. Quite a few of the old women had practically lost their eyesight doing that work. They told me it was particularly dangerous when they were making black lace. Nowadays, the white one can be dyed professionally to match any colour, so it is a bit easier for them.
As for the medallions… it beats me. One of them depicts a lion, the symbol of Venice, so it makes sense that it would be biting another animal…. but the rest… a mystery.
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By: Mulino Dominillo on January 28, 2012
at 3:28 am
I imagine it gave the women something to do while waiting for their men to return from the sea, and to earn some money. What a slow process it is. I do a bit of embroidery, so I have sime idea of the work involved.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 5:34 am
The colors on those buildings are so amazing, I would not mind spending time there at all. So vibrant!
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By: Marcia Clarke on January 28, 2012
at 3:35 am
Burano is lovely and not as crowded as the main islands.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 5:36 am
Oh! The colors are absolutely beautiful!! I would want to paint every single day if I lived there!!
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By: Anna Harrison on January 28, 2012
at 4:19 am
I’m sure it would be a delight for an artist to paint in Burano. It is a delight to photograph.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 5:37 am
Such a color festivity! I always love pictures which have so many colors in it. What a lovely place Burano is.
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By: Bama on January 28, 2012
at 4:44 am
Burano is gorgeous. I love the bright colours. There is a newish group of houses just outside the town that are lilac. I would like to investigate this area when I go back.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 5:45 am
Colourful houses!! Nicee
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By: LonelyTravelog on January 28, 2012
at 4:51 am
Thank you, Burano is delightful.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 5:43 am
You have captured the stunning colours of Burano beautifully Debra. Your photos bring back fun memories of an Easter spent on Burano. I loved watching the woman doing their lace work. It’s a shame it is so expensive but you can see why.
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By: jenny@atasteoftravel on January 28, 2012
at 5:39 am
I completely understand why the lace would be expensive. The lace makers deserve to be paid for their skill and time.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 5:42 am
Talk about brighten up my day! It is a wonder this post wasn”t freshly pressed. How fabulous. I want to go there…..thanks for sharing!
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By: Moira Drexler on January 28, 2012
at 6:54 am
I wanted to follow up with another brightly coloured post.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 8:50 am
Lovely post! It’s amazing to see how fearlessly they’ve mixed the colors without any restrictions from matching. Liberating!
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By: linneabylinneanilsson on January 28, 2012
at 7:03 am
I love the mix of colours. I think it is very brave of these people to do this to their houses.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 8:54 am
[…] more: Burano, the beautiful fishing village in Venice. « Bagni di Lucca and … This entry was posted in Lucca and tagged burano, buy-lace, lace, lace-making, made-on-burano, […]
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By: Burano, the beautiful fishing village in Venice. « Bagni di Lucca and … | Around Tuscany - Accomodation in Tuscany on January 28, 2012
at 8:50 am
Thank you again for such a colourful patch in our overcast days. We had the best seafood lunch there a few years ago. I was fascinated by the church tower with its jaunty little lean.
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By: helen on January 28, 2012
at 9:34 am
I saw that church tower on the way back to Venice. There are many leanimg towers in Italy.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 12:00 pm
Thanks for the inspiring post. Those colours are stunning!
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By: Sue Austin on January 28, 2012
at 12:44 pm
Burano is lovely. It must take a bit of maintenance to keep these houses looking so good.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 10:32 pm
What a welcome shot of color on a cold gray day in W. Pennsylvania! I want to fall into these pictures and stay there for a while 🙂
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By: composerinthegarden on January 28, 2012
at 8:43 pm
I think Burano would brighten up any day.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 10:42 pm
These gaily painted houses are divine. I love the one with the blue shutters and the orange walls.
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By: Just Add Attitude on January 28, 2012
at 9:17 pm
I would love to live for a while in one of these houses. It would feel as though you were living in a doll’s house.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 10:43 pm
Wonderful post, the colours are extraordinary. I want to go there.
I have a thought about the significance of the medallions. I have read a fictional book recently about Romeo and Juliet. In this book (not surprisingly) they talked about medieval family feuds. Each family had an animal/bird that signified their area and home, also it was woven into their crest and flag etc. Perhaps this is the meaning behind it. Perhaps not.
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By: lizgolding on January 28, 2012
at 10:15 pm
That could be the answer. I want some for the Vergemoli house.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 10:44 pm
love the colors–makes me hungry for more!
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By: conniededona on January 28, 2012
at 10:48 pm
You should visit Burano, it’s fabulous.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 29, 2012
at 12:08 am
Incredible colors. I especially love the orange house! How fun, Deb. Hope you have enjoying your weekend.
Hugs,
Kathy
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By: Kathryn McCullough on January 28, 2012
at 11:33 pm
We could do with some blue sky, it seems to have been raining for a week.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 29, 2012
at 8:20 am
What a magical place! The rainbow of colours must have been a joy to come home too after being at sea!
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By: Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on January 28, 2012
at 11:56 pm
I can imagine the delight of spotting you house from out to sea after a miserable fishing trip
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 29, 2012
at 12:10 am
Beautiful, so beautiful these houses dear Debra, and you really made a great compositions, fascinated me. Thank you, with my love, nia
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By: niasunset on January 29, 2012
at 12:04 am
Thank you, it is a gorgeous place.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 29, 2012
at 12:12 am
What beautiful photos!!
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By: janeisawake on January 29, 2012
at 7:08 am
Debra, what a stunning looking village. Those colours are gorgeous…houses everywhere should be more colourful!
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By: cityhippyfarmgirl on January 29, 2012
at 9:58 am
I agree! I want to paint our place in Italy green, pale green, not too bright. I hope the comune allows me to do this.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 29, 2012
at 10:22 am
I’m so in love with this place and the colours, it’s almost like a dream or fantasy if that makes sense! 🙂
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By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on January 29, 2012
at 10:11 am
Burano is gorgeous. I have been a couple of times now and I know I will be back.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 29, 2012
at 10:23 am
What a gorgeous place! Your photos are just lovely 🙂
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By: Slowvelder on January 29, 2012
at 1:34 pm
Thank you! I wish I could paint like you can. It would be fun to paint Burano.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 29, 2012
at 7:51 pm
That first photo of Burano is my desktop photo…with my daughter strategically placed in the foreground. Happy..happy memories!! A beautiful Venetian island!!!
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By: Marcie on January 29, 2012
at 8:30 pm
That seems like a nice thing to look at every time you switch on.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 29, 2012
at 8:57 pm
That is a completely charming place.
Good photos, as usual.
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By: maru on January 30, 2012
at 6:49 pm
Burano is a lovely place to spend the day.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 31, 2012
at 10:40 pm
I loved Burano when I visited in 2009! The colorful houses looked like a postcard! Great photos! Thank you for these!
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By: margieinitaly on January 31, 2012
at 12:10 am
I’m sure they are the subject of many postcards.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 31, 2012
at 10:39 pm
Wow! It’s like a fairy land. Makes me want to write a story about it. 🙂
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By: Julie on January 31, 2012
at 8:57 pm
You should! Burano is gorgeous and there must be some wonderful old stories here.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 31, 2012
at 10:35 pm
This post makes me very happy. You are helping me with my winter blues. I want to go paint now!
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By: Damommachef on January 31, 2012
at 9:15 pm
Burano is very paintable.
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By: Debra Kolkka on January 31, 2012
at 10:34 pm
These photos give me such joy. I’ve never been to Burano, but this still makes me miss Europe dearly.
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By: nod 'n' smile on February 2, 2012
at 4:09 pm
Burano is well worth a visit when you are in Venice. It is much less crowded than the main islands and quite different.
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By: Debra Kolkka on February 2, 2012
at 8:08 pm
I love them! Love the colours especially!
Do you mind if I use some of your photos for a research project I have for my Art History assignment on Community Living? I’ll give you credit, of course.
But I really love the place. I haven’t visited but I hope to soon. 🙂
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By: dvmjavier on September 24, 2013
at 9:24 pm
I am happy for you to use the photos for your project. Good luck with it.
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By: Debra Kolkka on September 24, 2013
at 9:26 pm
[…] Canal has to be one of the very best things you can do. I also love the less visited islands of Burano and Torcello. We usually take the train to Venice and stay for a couple of night and just […]
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By: Places to go | Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on January 20, 2014
at 9:53 pm
[…] as fishing villages but the same can be said of world cities like Denmark’s Copenhagen and Italy’s Venice for as long as they’re near bodies of water and may still harbour fishing villages in […]
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By: Slums | fynm on September 26, 2018
at 12:16 am