Burano in Venice

Burano: Famous for its Lace and Leaning Tower

The leaning tower of San Martino, Burano

Burano is a collection of islands linked by bridges and divided by canals, located approximately 9km to the north-east of Venice.

Historians are divided as to whether the island acquired its name from the Buriana family, who were amongst the first settlers, or from the smaller neighbouring island of Buranello from whence its first inhabitants originated.

Burano is a densely populated, neat and attractive little town with a population of around 5,000. Visitors usually remark on the brightly painted houses which create a colourful ambiance: a feature which the authorities have attempted to preserve by insisting that residents observe the municipal colour scheme when painting their homes.

The island's most notable landmark is the leaning tower of the San Martino church whose interior houses a painting of the crucifixion by Tiepolo the elder. The island is also notable for its Museum and School of Lacemaking.

Burano was mere a fishing village in the 16th century. However, during the subsequent two hundred years its women developed a fine, delicate form of lace known as “punto in aria” (“points in the air”) which transformed the island into one of the most prosperous lacemaking centres in Europe.

The conquest of Venice in 1797, and the subsequent collapse of its commercial power, resulted in the virtual ruination of Burano.

Lace on sale in Burano

Burano lace © Lovrenc Gasparin - FOTOLIA

The lace-making school was founded in 1872 in the hope that it would revive the island’s former fortunes. However, despite the fact that lacemaking is once again Burano’s chief industry, the traditional methods have been abandoned in favour of cheap mass production.

Although authentic Burano lace is no longer sold in the stalls which line the Via Baldassare Galuppi, the town’s principal thoroughfare, you can still watch it being stitched in the Scuola dei Merletti whose museum contains some exquisite displays.

Burano also has a vibrant artistic community; indeed the famous French designer, Phillippe Starck, is reputed to have invested heavily in the area. Numerous richly-coloured canvasses, which capture Burano's bright optimistic image, are offered for sale.

A view of Burano

Burano is connected by bridge to another smaller island, Mazzorbo, which boasts a 14th century church, the Santa Caterina, and a bizarrely-painted council estate which must be seen by any visitors interested in urban planning.

It takes approximately 40 minutes to reach Burano by vaporetto from the Fondamente Nuove. (route 12).

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