Burano

Burano is an island in the Venetian Lagoon, northern Italy, located about seven kilometers northeast of Venice. It forms part of the municipality of Venice in the Veneto region. The island is famous for its colorful houses that line the canals and for its tradition of lacemaking. The vibrant façades are a defining feature and are said to have originated from practical aims—house owners painting their dwellings to distinguish them after foggy seas or to help fishermen locate their homes at a distance. Today the colors are a distinctive tourist attraction.

Historically Burano has been a fishing community, and lace-making emerged as a major craft in the 16th century. Burano lace gained international renown in the late 17th and 18th centuries, and the craft remains an important cultural symbol. A dedicated lace museum, Museo del Merletto di Burano, preserves historical examples and showcases contemporary lacemaking.

The island has a compact town center around squares and churches, including Piazza Galuppi, named for the 18th-century composer Baldassare Galuppi. The Church of San Martino and other historic buildings reflect the island's maritime past. Commerce today combines fishing heritage with tourism, lace workshops, and local artisans.

Burano is connected to Venice by regular vaporetto services that ply the lagoon, making it a popular day-trip destination for visitors to the city.