VENICE FOR BEGINNERS: THE LAGOON, MURANO & BURANO
An interesting and entertaining visit to the Northern Lagoon, exploring the islands of Murano and Burano.
Murano is known all over the world for its 800 year-old traditional glass blowing business, and boasts a huge variety of techniques and styles.
From Mondays through Fridays we’ll be able to see the actual production. If we are there during the weekend (or in August, when the furnaces are switched off) we will enjoy an extensive demonstration, viewing the two basic techniques, blown glass and massive glass sculptures.
During our water tour, we’ll enjoy the view of the green island of Sant’Erasmo, famous for its artichokes, asparagus and other vegetables, and Mazzorbo, where white wine has recently been produced.
After 20 minutes we reach Burano – the most attractive island in the Lagoon. The island is known for its brightly colored houses, fishing boats, top quality lace production, and delicious cookies. On the island are still a number of women at work with needle and thread; we’ll stop to admire their skills.
We’ll explore the Lagoon on a private, deluxe, covered motor boat that can comfortably accommodate up to ten people.
Venice for Beginners: the Lagoon can be run all year round as our boat is covered and heated. It lasts 4 hours.
It is also possible to combine it with a tour along the Grand Canal by adding one additional hour (for a total of five hours).
More Walks inside Venice Lagoon tours are available.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Murano Island
- Burano Island
- Lagoon navigation on a private water-taxi
- Glass making with top master blowers
MORE ABOUT
THIS TOUR
VENICE FOR BEGINNERS: THE LAGOON
The Venetian Lagoon has a surface area of around 550 square kilometers (212 square miles). Only 8% of it is occupied by land, including Venice itself and approximately forty smaller islands.
About 11% is permanently covered by water, its waterways called canals or “rii”. Approximately 80%consists of mud flats, tidal shallows, and salt marshes.
The Lagoon is connected to the Adriatic Sea by three inlets. The islands of the Lagoon are subject to frequent floods.
After a terrible flood on November 2019, a complex system of movable dams – known as MOSE, meaning the Electro Mechanic Modular System – is now (2021) active, although not completely finished, to safeguard the entire area.
The MOSE, after decades of controversies, seems to be working properly
notwithstanding maintenance problems and high costs.
Venice and its Lagoon were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987. The cultural heritage of the islands is rich and varied: many of them were the seats of religious institutions, while a few were used as places of quarantine for people and goods during the plagues.
They were also used to isolate industries with high-risk or polluting activities, like glass making or leather tanning. Other islands were used until recently as mental hospitals or military bases.
The Vignole and Sant’Erasmo still today provide Venice with excellent fresh fruit and vegetables. From early 19th century onward, San Michele has been used as a cemetery island.
DRESS CODE AND ADVICE
- No dress code required
COST
- This tour lasts four hours and costs 1040 euros up to six people (not per person), transportation and private expert included (four hours by private water taxi), only private parties. For larger parties send us an email!
CONTACT US
WALKS INSIDE ITALY
San Polo 1541 30125 VENICE, ITALY
C.F. e P. Iva 04331170276
Prot. 2016/16140 del 25-2-2016
Polizza Europ Assistance 8957877
ART CITY WALKS
affiliato al Network Gruppo Info Vacanze di Walks Inside Italy Snc
Sede Legale: San Polo, 1541
30125 Venice, Italy
Sede Operativa: Via Volta n.13
30020 Marcon (Ve), Italy
Tel 041 2750687 – Fax 041 5956807