Our next destination was the small town of Burano. Located only seven kilometers from Venice, it is only reachable by boat. The person traveling to Burano has three choices: Either take their own vessel, if they are lucky enough to own one, or have rented one for personal use; take a vaporetto, the equivalent of a bus, just in the form of a boat; or, they could do what we did, and take a water taxi. The reason we chose to take the water taxi was simple: Traveling on a crowded water bus with large luggage was not something we wanted to experience. The ferries to the island do get crowded, as most people make Burano a day trip, preferring to return to the city of Venice in the evening. However, we wanted to experience the town of Burano as it really was, and that is only possible once the last ferry has departed, and the place, and the people who live there, are left on their own. But, more about that later. Now, water taxis can be expensive, especially when you approach the driver at his boat. Nonetheless, it is possible to reserve a water taxi in advance, by contacting the Consorzio Motoscafi Venezia. This is a cooperative of water taxi operators, who have regulated prices, and have more than 100 boats at their disposal. We wrote to them in English, at info@motoscafivenezia.it, and they responded a few days later. All you need to tell them is where you wish to be picked up, what your destination is, and how many people, as well as how many pieces of luggage you have. We found the service to be excellent. We were picked up within a five-minute walk of the apartment we were staying in Venice, and were taken to a dock in Burano, not even a five-minute walk from where our next accommodation was. The price was more than reasonable. We paid less than we paid for the taxi to take us from the train station to the apartment, when we first arrived in Venice, and the boat was comfortable and plush, and we felt like we were on a private adventure, as we were taken through the lagoon to Burano. I highly recommend their service!
We had rented a small, but comfortable apartment located at the end of Rio Terrà del Pizzo, a lovely street just off the town’s main piazza, Piazza Baldassarre.
From our living room windows, we had a great view down onto Rio Terrà del Pizzo, and the shops that lined it.
After settling in a bit, we headed out to explore our new surroundings.
Our living room windows were the two windows on the top floor of the orange building, pictured below.
People come to Burano to admire its multi-colored buildings. Listed among the top ten most colorful cities in the entire world, Burano certainly lives up to its reputation. It is a delight to explore! According to legend, the tradition of painting the houses in bright colors dates back many years. This being a fishing village, the fishermen would paint their homes in a particular bright color so that they would be able to find their way back, after being out on the lagoon for hours. Today, the city government dictates what color houses may be painted, and homeowners can paint their houses only with permission from the city. Whatever the rules and regulations are, the effect is charming!
Next up: We continue exploring beautiful Burano!
Note: This blog is written in English and Spanish, and the author takes no responsibility for the quality of any other translations that may appear. If you have enjoyed this post, please, check out our archives for more posts from other Italian destinations, and check back for more from Burano in the coming weeks. Grazie!