Burano

Burano is deservedly famous for its lace. The talented fingers of craftspeople here use only needle and thread to create incredibly beautiful embroidery pieces.The island of Burano is just 30 minutes away by boat from Venice proper in the northern part of the lagoon. This magical island is characterized by colourful houses and streets often festooned in nets, traditionally left to dry by fishermen after a day at sea.

An important attraction on Burano is the Museo del Merletto, or Lace Museum, in the old Scuola di Merletti. 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 next to the display of traditional lace making implements. Admission is free to holders of the Venice Card.