We've been in Venice several times. Always a joy. But somehow we've never made it to Burano. So…read morethis time we did. Had a weekly pass for the Vaporetto and took the No.12 from Fondamenta Nove in Venice. The trip took around 40min. And even on a weekday in April the Vaporetto was completely packed. But Burano is popular for good reason, it's an insanely pretty place! The Vaporetto will stop at the northern part of the small island. And it is indeed small. You can explore it easy in a few hours. It's very walkable - and most parts are even fit for wheelchairs and strollers (special bridges for these). From here you best get to the Fondamenta Assassini and Mauro. That will take you Vial Baldassare Galupp, the main drag here in Burano with countless shops, cafés and restaurants. And the famous buidlings in all colors (not just on this street of course). Soon you will reach the main Piazza with the lovely Chiesa di San Martino. Its tower is pretty tilted/leaning. You can see it clearly from further away west. From there you can head to the Fondamenta Cao di Rio - a more quite walk along along the canal. We did just that and then walked along the also pretty quiet Fondamenta della Peschera in the south. That will bring you back to the Fondamenta Cavanella and then Fondamenta Mauro where you came in first. It's a nice little round-trip. Of course there's more to explore. But this covers the most important and famous parts. There's also good food. Many good option. Cicchetti of course. But we've felt like a real meal and had lunch at the Osteria Cicchetteria da Gigetto. Excellent fried seafood and wonderful pasta. Nicely located at a more quiet canal. It's a really lovely place, this small island. The colors are amazing, we were lucky to get a picture-perfect blue skied day. And the colors were really glowing. It's definitely a must-do at least once. The ride there isn't that much fun, but definitely worth it.

What a treat! Watching an authentic woman who has had the tradition of lace making passed down to…read moreher was an honor to witness! Looking around the island during my visit was special and hearing about the tradition of painting the houses in colors that stand out because the men who are fisherman need to see their house distinct from others in the foggy weather! True or False...Burano benefits by having beautiful homes that tourists find unique! We had lunch while On the island and the food was fresh and tasty... If in Venice..only 30 mins or so distance..you can catch a public water bus and I would say it is worth it!

Torcello is one of the outer islands in the Venice lagoon and it took almost an hour and half to…read moreget there from San Marco - San Zaccaria area. The boat ride out is leisurely and you need to change in Burano. Torcello has very few inhabitants (possibly more cats than people) and is known for two stunning Byzantine era churches, one of which has excellent 9th century mosaics. The island is small, easy to navigate and has some natural beauty and wildlife as well as a couple of restaurants. I really enjoyed visiting this island. It's less touristy and more laid back. Excellent churches. Also look out for the devils bridge!

The Torcello island currently has eleven residents. Most tourists come to visit the Basilica di…read moreSanta Maria Assunta, which is a notable example of Late Paleochristian architecture. I would suggest to also check out the Ponte del Diavolo, which is a bridge with no parapets.

Venice's only Gothic church. It is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. It is simply called "I…read moreFrari" as it was built by the brothers (frati) of the Franciscan order. LOCATION: In the San Polo sestiere but I remember just stumbling onto it while walking the island from my hotel in Dorsoduro to the train station on the opposite side of the island. ADMISSION: €3 Modest dress requested. I'm an atheist but as Christianity was highly influential in shaping European history I visit churches with the intent of understanding the history (and sometimes) art in shaping a region's cultural identity. As the Frari is not in San Marco, Rialto or any other major Venetian landmark I would've easily missed this church if not for Rick Steves' audioguide (http://podcasts.ricksteves.com/walkingtours/FrariChurch.mp3). His reasoning is that offers an opportunity to experience art in-situ (right where it was designed to be seen) as opposed to hanging in a museum. The audioguide explains the major art pieces in detail way better than I ever can. Here's a summary of the major pieces inside the church. - Titian's Assumption of Mary. This is considered to be Titian's magnum opus and his first major commission from a church. It's located behind the main altar. Its depiction of Mary was revolutionary for its time as she is seen as triumphant and depicted in soft and warm colors. - Titian's Madonna of Ca' Pesaro. What's significant is that this broke Renaissance tradition by depicting Mary and Jesus off-center and interacting with the commonfolk. - Giovanni Bellini's Madonna and Child aka the Frari Triptych. - Tombs of Titian and Canova. Titian had his tomb decorated with a relief of his most famous painting. On the other side Canova's cenotaph (Venice's most famous sculptor) is pyramid-shaped and was once meant for Titian, but when the church used the present design his pupils repurposed it for their master instead. It's a cenotaph because he isn't buried here but an urn contains his heart. Once you're done exploring the church the surrounding area is quieter than San Marco or Rialto. It makes for a good lunch/dinner spot and the prices are more reasonable.

Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (aka Frari Church) was one of my favorite attractions in Venice…read more The church is beautiful, there were no lines to wait in, and the cost was only 3 Euros per person. Frari church has many beautiful Venetian sculptures. The main highlight at this church is Titian's Assumption over the main alter. We downloaded Rick Steves' free audio tour onto to our iPods and it really added to the experience since our knowledge on Venetian art and Frari Church were minimal. You can download the free audio tour at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/italy-audio-tours/id272230438 After you visit the church I recommend checking out the Dorsoduro neighborhood along the Grand Canal and buying a cone of gelato!

The Bridge of Sighs, Ponte dei Sospiri in Italian, is a bridge in Venice, which is made of white…read morelimestone, has windows with stone bars and connects the new prison to the interrogation rooms. It's one of the most famous bridges in Venice, so expect tourists and crowds. I suggest you come here early during the day if you want to take photos without much interruption.

There is an old Venetian legend which says ... If two lovers…read more... kiss ... in a gondola ... under the Bridge of Sighs ... at sunset ... when the bells of the Campanile toll ... they will love each other ... forever ... The legend is true. Smooching while gently gliding on Rio di Palazzo under Ponte dei Sospiri (with a furtive glance from your gondoliero) is the most "romantic" way to experience this very popular tourist attraction near Canal Grande behind Palazzo Ducale. The other two ways to enjoy Venice photo spot #4 (or #2063 depending on which way your walking) aren't nearly as amorous. The "easiest" experience is to join the throngs of tourists crowded onto the Ponte della Paglia stone bridge (built in 1847 near Piazza San Marco) to get the same pic as every other single person that has visited Venice since 1848. It's a local custom (which may be an actual law) that you MUST take a picture of Ponte dei Sopiri from this view point. The most "educational" way to visit the Bridge of Sighs is the old-fashioned way ... like prisoners (such as the infamous Casanova) ... did since 1603 when being led from the interrogation rooms of Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) to the Prigioni Nuove (New Prison). Take the self-guided tour of the palace to explore within the covered bridge. Inside, you can peek from the small windows carved into the ornamental Istrian limestone while learning more about why the bridge earned it's title as the "last view of Venice" ... causing prisoners to *sigh* on their way to the famously-cold, wet, and windowless jail. Why the sigh? Oh, it's this bridge. If you're already at Ponte dei Sospiri, why not take some (obligatory) pics? Whether they are the most romantic, easiest, or educational is forever entirely up to you.

A behind-the-scenes tour of an important landmark. Plus, as a bonus, we got a bird's eye view of…read morethe city. It is well worth the stair climb to see the history involved in this mechanical marvel. Well worth the cost cost of admission.

Clock tower is built into a building & walkway into the St Marks Square facing the basilica.At the…read moretop is a beautiful bell that rings on the hour. The back with Roman numerals was different & special.