Hey there, friends!
If you’re planning to head to beautiful Venice anytime soon or at all in the future, I have to encourage you to give yourself an extra day to take a little day trip just 4 miles north to the most colorful little island you’ll ever venture to … B U R A N O!
Let me tell you a little bit about it in case you’ve never heard about it or seen it on Instagram!
• Burano is often referred to as one island but is actually four small islands held together by bridges.
• It is most well known for its bright colorful homes, which has been a scheme that has held up for decades now.
• The highly saturated color scheme for homes on Burano began as a way to help fishermen see them through the dense fog.
• No one house is the same as its neighbors and every home has to be repainted every two years.
• If a resident wants to repaint their home a different color, they have to write a letter to the local community government for approval. They will then respond and provide a decision based on the color suggestion after comparing it to the pre-determined selection of colors for that section of homes on the island.
• Burano is 4 miles from Venice and it takes 40 minutes by boat.
• There are no hotels or options for overnight accommodations in Burano. It is pretty well protected from tourism as it is already such a small island with a population of approximately 2,800 people.
• Burano is also historically known for the quality lacework that women have been partaking in for centuries. It is not made as frequently now because it is quite intricate and time-consuming to make. You can buy lace in many places on the island but most of them sell cheap, foreign lace. If you want authentic lace, you’ll have to pay a pretty penny for it and it may take you a little bit to find the right vendor.
Grazie – Thank you
Prego – You’re welcome
Mi scusi – Excuse me/pardon me
Non parlo molto bene italiano – I don’t speak Italian very well
Parla inglese? – Do you speak English?
Potrei vedere il menu? – May I see the menu?
Quanto costa? – How much is this?
Mi porti a questo indirizzo, por favore – Take me to this address, please
Posso avere il conto, per favore? – Can I have the bill, please?
Mi chiamo Haley! – My name is Haley!
To get to Burano from Venice, you’ll need to take the 12 vaporetto line. You can catch it from F.te Nove “A” on the North end of Venice. Victoria and I caught the 8:10AM boat and got to Burano just before 9:00AM. The boat times change throughout the year so be sure to check it ahead of time if you are trying to get there at a certain time. Go HERE to check current times. Tickets for the vaporetto ride are less than 10 Euro.
One of my favorite things about Burano is that there is literally nothing to do except walk around and enjoy how adorable it is. Some may wonder what the point of going somewhere like that would be but, honestly, I found it refreshing after traveling through Rome and Florence, where there’s so much to do and see. I’d recommend getting there really early when no one else is there and just marvel at how cool it is that a place like this exists!
Victoria and I were so snap happy when we first got there and eventually found an open caffe, where the locals stopped talking when we walked in because I guess they weren’t used to seeing tourists that early. Ha! We grabbed some gelato to enjoy while walking around, popped in to a few shops, and ate lunch at Restaurant Galuppi, which is on the main street, Via Baldassarre Galuppi, and honestly, it was terrible … but we should’ve known. When I walked in to go to the bathroom, I didn’t see Italians behind the counter running the show so … my mistake! And, really, you should never eat on a main street in Italy. [I’ve read that Jamie Oliver has recommended Al Gatto Nero and, of course, I read that after I went! Ha! It’s a little off the beaten path but not a far walk from that main street. It’s a small island.] Despite our unfortunate lunch, we had an amazing half-day in Burano. We decided to back over to Venice around 2:30/3:00. It was really crowded, so be ready for that!
Burano is a little hidden gem that is certainly gaining a lot more attention now due to social media! It’s charming and unique, unlike anywhere I’ve ever been, so I definitely understand why! Bermuda has a lot of colorful buildings and is unique and charming, as well, but Burano is just … different, which is why today’s post is so image-heavy! Ha! Everywhere we turned, there was another set of houses painted fun colors. 🙂
Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below and / or which photo is your favorite in today’s post! Thanks for stopping by today, y’all! Appreciate you! xo.
