Day at leisure in Venice -OR- Optional Island Tour (at an additional cost)
Islands Tour - Murano and Burano - 6 hours from 9:00AM to 3:00PM
This morning after breakfast, you will depart hotel for this amazing tour of the islands. An English-speaking guide will accompany us during the exploration.
You will depart by private boat and you will be transferred to Murano, known all over the world for its artistic glass production. Once there you will visit the island including a glass laboratory.
Glassmaking on Murano Island dates back centuries to about 1291 when the glassmakers on Venice were forced to relocate to Murano. The order was given by the Venetian government as a precautionary move to avert a devastating fire on Venice since most of the bridges and homes were constructed of wood. From there, Murano’s long and storied history was born as one of the most prominent centers of glassmaking in the world. Today, visitors can still see artisans making handcrafted glass in a number of foundries on Murano.
You will reach Burano afterward by private moor-launch, together with your assistant. Once on site the tour will be conducted on foot. Burano was one of the first colonized islands by the Altino’s inhabitants who tried to get away from the barbaric peoples who were invading northern Italy. Situated in the north-east position of the lagoon was and it is still subject to bora winds, fort this reason its name comes from “Porta Boreana”.
The island economy has always been on fishing and horticulture. The first homes called “casoni” were typical constructions made with reeds and mud and the floor of beaten earth. They were very poor typical constructions of earlier Venetian countryside and lagoon settlements.
Over the time, these primitive dwellings were replaced by brick houses painted with bright colours that we can still admire and which form the characteristic known throughout the world. Burano, however, became famous in the world for its lace-making, by attracting thousands of visitors mesmerized by its colours and the lace museum.
Burano is divided into five small villages connected by some bridges: San Martino Destro (right), San Martino Sinistro (left), San Mauro, Giucecca and Terranova which are separated from their respective canals: Rio Ponticello, Rio Zuecca and Rio Terranova. The church of St. Martino, whose construction dates back to 1500s, is the most important of the island. It is located on the main square and its name comes from the musician “Baldassarre Galuppi” of the eighteenth century. It has a three naves latin cross floor plan and on the unfinished façade there is a lack of marble application. Within the building and worthy of note there are: Giambattista Tiepolo’s Crucifixion, Bernardino Prudenti’s altarpiece and Gerolamo of Santacroce’s altarpiece.
Transfer back to your hotel afterwards.
Rest of the day and dinner at leisure in Venice.
Hotel L'Orologio - Deluxe Double Room with private bath, Breakfast included