Torcello

Torcello, pearl of the northern lagoon, was the first island occupied by Venetians in order to escape the Lombard invasion. The 20,000 or so inhabitants gradually made their way to Venice, and today only a few dozen innkeepers, farmers, and other hardy souls live on the largely abandoned island.
Known for its beautiful cathedral (the basilica of Santa Maria Assunta), which is richly decorated with Italian-Byzantine mosaics from the 12th century. This is the most ancient building in Venice, originally built in 639 AD. The Basilica looms over the island with the Bell Tower and Church of Santa Fosca built alongside in the Macedonian tradition (13th century).

The island of Torcello once had 10,000 inhabitants; now barely hundred remain, almost all working in connection with the tourist industry. The enchantment of Torcello, its solitude and its churches, make it an island of exceptional artistic interest in the Venetian lagoon.