Visit Murano, Burano and Torcello on a historic luxury boat
Escape the crowds and chaos of Venice and catch a glimpse of what the city used to be – an island of artisans world-famous for their craft, where traditional skills have been passed down from generation to generation for centuries.
After meeting in a central Venice location we’ll start our tour with a short and comfortable boat ride to Murano, a small island world-famous for its glass. Once upon a time, Murano glassblowers were the only people in Europe who knew how to create a mirror and their skills were so valued that they were banned from leaving the city of Venice under threat of execution. You'll watch a craftsman in action as he goes about his daily business and listen to a description of the process in English while he works. This is a real, workaday studio and our experience here will be as authentic as it comes.
Only on this tour, you will be also given access to the private Art Galleries, that belong to the glass factory and are closed to the general public. Here you will have the chance to see some truly spectacular works of art on display, which have been made by the most famous and skilled artists and have been collected from generations. Afterwards, you will have time to browse the huge collection of glass art here and wander the island on your own.
You'll be then back on the boat and off to our next stop, Torcello, once the first settlement on the lagoon, today known for its peaceful atmosphere, as the island is considered the garden of Venice. Here you can simply soak up the relaxing atmosphere, or you may want to visit the local basilica or belltower, for a view of the lagoon from above.
We'll be back on board of our luxury boat to enjoy a glass of prosecco and make our way to the last stop of the day, the magical and colourful island of Burano. The tiny island of Burano is famous for its houses tightly huddled together along streets and canals, each one painted a different color, with laundry strung up across the narrow streets. But Burano’s major claim to fame is its centuries old tradition of lacemaking. Your guide will take you through the streets of Burano to a small building where women sit working feverishly, stitching lace like their mothers and grandmothers before them. Stay and watch their painstaking work, listen to a full commentary on what, in the age of sewing machines, has become a dying art and then take the time to explore the fascinating lace samples on display.
