Visit Burano

Credits: Pwnstar

Colourful Burano!
Burano is totally different from Murano or Venice's historic center, thanks to the Buranese custom of painting houses in bright colors--a tradition that may have had its origins in the color schemes of local fishing boats. Everywhere you look, you'll see houses clad in blue, green, pink, rose, lavender, purple, yellow, and other colors.

Their colour combinations are pretty good and as theirhouses tend to be small, the island has a cheerful homely atmosphere.

Fishing is one traditional occupation of the Buranelli; the other is lacemaking. A "must see" attraction on Burano is the Museo del Merletto, or Lace Museum, in the old Scuola di Merletti or lacemaking school. The small two-story museum has impressive displays of historic and contemporary lace designs. If you're lucky, you'll find a group of Buranese women (mostly older ladies) wielding their needles in a sewing circle upstairs, near the display of traditional lacemaking implements. Admission is free to holders of the Venice Card. (Closed Tuesdays.)
Unfortunately it is closed for restoration when I was there and will be opened in October 2010.

Oh ya, shopping in Burano seems cheap. The souvenirs I bought there were definitely cheaper than in Venice.

How to go:Board the LN (Lagoon North) boat at Fondamenta Nove in Venice or the Faro stop on Murano. From Faro, it's a 33-minute trip to Burano else it takes about 40 minutes. The Laguna Nord (LN) line leaves every 30 minutes.