Island Hopping - Murano and Burano

Day 15 (18 May 2025)

We had a free morning with so we took a stroll around Venice. Chanced upon this beautiful spiral staircase called Bovolo (meaning snail shell or spiral) which is part of a palace from the 15th C. 

 

 

Can't remember what these houses or streets are but they're pretty! 😁

 

 

 

We also visited Giardini Reali - the Royal Gardens of Venice. It's small but pretty and only restored and opened to the public in 2019. Supposed to have many varieties of flowers but we only saw green.  

 

 

It's a very relaxing environment though, and lovely to have this spot of greenery right smack in the city centre. Brought to mind Isaiah 58:11: "And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail." 

 

 

In the afternoon, we took a trip to two of the more than 100 islands in Venice - Murano and Burano. We travelled by boat and I've come to an unexpected realisation. In the past, we seldom participate in sea-based activities as two family members suffer from seasickness. So it came as a surprise on this trip that I discovered I really enjoy travelling on water. The scent of the salty air, the sea breeze blowing against your face, the sound of waves lapping against the boat - both Andre and I agree it's a very soothing and refreshing experience.

Our first stop was Murano known for glass blowing, an art form that goes all the way back to the 8th C. Murano glass is a symbol of luxury and it used to be a tradition to pass down the trade from parent to child. But the trade became less popular and it's a dying craft.

 

We were able to watch a demo of glass art. Right before our eyes, a 75-yo maestro heated up a piece of glass in a fiery furnace, added some blue, then proceeded to twist and shape the glass as it melted, creating a glass horse in under 3 mins! Mad skills that took a lifetime to learn. 

 

 

As an island, Murano looks very much like the main city of Venice.

 

Next, we went to the island of Burano. To be honest, we thought it would be more of the same. So colour us surprised when we discovered Burano to be the cutest town we've ever seen. All the houses are painted in bright candy hues - it's like something right out of a movie set for a fairy tale 😍

 

Andre and I went mad for it. It's what we thought Cinque Terre would be but better. For one, it's so quiet and peaceful. This is a residential town with only 2,000 inhabitants and it's not packed with tourists. It's quite unspoilt, most of the buildings we saw were actual homes, not shops or restaurants.

 

 

Burano is famous for their handcrafted lace-making. It used to be you can see ladies sitting outside their colourful homes weaving intricate patterns, but like glass-blowing, it's not a trade that interests youths any more so it's dying out. Today, the only lace-makers left are elderly women. We saw one stitching away in a shop. Such exquisite work! We bought a beautiful piece for the top of our piano as a keepsake. 

 

Incidentally, throughout Venice, you will find shops selling masks. The annual Carnivale in Venice is popular as you might have seen in movies. It's a celebratory and indulgence period before the period of Lent when penitence and abstinence from red meat was required ("carne" means meat, "vale" means allowed). Masks used to be worn to allow people to come together regardless of their social class and have their identities hidden.  

 

I don't know if there's a law that you have to dress up your house according to its colour but it felt like all the windows had colour-coordinated flowers and decor (sometimes even the laundry hanging outside!) Perhaps you need to pass some aesthetic test before you can live here 🤔

It's so, so picturesque. Andre and I even picked the colours of our houses if we ever decided to retire here (turquoise for me, magenta for him). 

 

 

 

Also had some very good gelato. Our tip to buy from shops with covered pots never fails! 

 

I love Burano. Love it so much I painted this scene of Burano back at the hotel. Don't think I did it justice though.

 

Finally, it was back to the main island of Venice. On the wayback to our hotel, we passed by Albergo St Marco restaurant. Saw it had great ratings so we ate there. 

 

 

What a find! Quiet ambience, not crowded and reasonable pricing. The waiters were friendly too. One of the best meals we've had - seafood spaghetti in a delicious broth, grilled seabass and tiramisu, while John Lennon and Coldplay played in the background. What a great day 💙