Italy: Other Popular Islands in the Venetian Lagoon

Last Saturday we visited Torcello island. Our goal today are the islands of Lido, Cavallino, Murano and Burano. South fomr the city center (about 10 minutes of boat ride) there is a long, narrow island stretching from southwest to northeast. The island's name is Lido. You can reach the island from the center of Venice by water mass transit. However, you pay €7,5 for a one way ticket. Yes, really €7,5. It is a luxurious area. Another possibility is to travel by plane for there is an airport on the island. This is most comfortable in summer. You can travel here for a vacation at the sea and make a one day trip to Venice, for instance.

If you arrive here by boat from the north then you reach a port which is linked with  Gran Viale Santa Maria Elisabetta, island's main street running southeast. The street is lined with luxurious hotels, ice cream parlors, butiques and restaurants. I think you too would feel the relaxed vacation atmosphere here. In the south of the island, there is a sandy beach. Moreover, many hotels have their own private beaches but you need to look it up ahead if you can actually go there. That is if you are not a guests to one of these already.

There are also canals and quiant streets on Lido, mostly in Malamocco district. Then you can find a boardwalk running along the coastline with a vista across the sea over Benátky. For the most part, Lido island is famous for the annual Venice Film Festival which takes place in the end of August/beginning September. Should culture not intrigue you, there are many sporting grounds.

Cavallino, a neighboring island, is verdant as well. It is great vacation place too. There are sporting compounds on the coastline, trailers are resting on the roads. The entire south coast is one long beach. We can nothing but recommend this area. Our next stop is one nice, colorful and tranquil island of Burano (one our on boat from Lido island). The island became famous for their local lace art and colorful houses lining the canal. This is a nice place to discover. Burano island is linked a bridge with its neighboring island of Mazzorbo. There are sporting compounds on the coastline. It is a place of absolute tranquility. SImple walk along on the beach fills you with new energy. 

Boats depart from here to Venice's center. There is one stop on Murano island which we also visited. Right in Murano Faro stop, there is a beautiful lighthouse. This is a Venice-type island. A wide canal is lined with houses of different architectonic styles and there are very few bridges – a thing you must bear in your mind. Area around San Pietro Martire, bascially St Stephen's square is the main tourist attraction here. By the church, there is a terrace belonging to a restaurant. Also, you can see a relief of a blue star. Murano island became famous for its glassworks. Glassmakers forced out of Venice settled here. Be sure to visit at least one glassworks. As for shopping, basically you can only buy glass here and glass products. A park is situated in the northwestern part of the island. There is also a children's playground and many tables, benches, and summer houses. This is simply one another great place to relax a bit before you throw yourself back in Venice's whirlwind. 

GPS: (Lido island) 45°22'17.2"N 12°20'16.8"E

Text: Martina Brožková

Photos: Martina Brožková, Jiří Výborný