Torcello Island
Torcello appears almost deserted and it is difficult to believe that, between the seventh and 13th centuries, it was home to a thriving community of 30,000, who prospered from the wool and salt trade. The town's decline began in the 14th century, when silt from the rivers turned the waterways around the island into swampland and brought malaria to the community. A visit to this ghost town provides a fascinating glimpse into the early beginnings and architecture of the Venetian lagoons. The main square can be reached by crossing the Devil's Bridge, the only medieval bridge remaining in Venice, allegedly built by the devil in a single night.

The austere facade of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, linked by a portico to the Church of Santa Fosca and the Baptistery, conceals lavish mosaic wall coverings. Founded in the seventh century and rebuilt in the ninth and 11th, the complex pre-dates St Mark's Basilica by two centuries. In the central apse, there is a beautiful representation of the Virgin and the Mystic Lamb, inspired by works in Ravenna. The most magnificent mosaic is on the wall over the main door and is an enormous composition depicting Christ and the final judgement. Torcello also has its own provincial museum, Museo Provinciale Di Torcello, dedicated to the island's history and evolution. 

Torcello Island

Museo Provinciale Di Torcello
Piazza Torcello
Tel: (041) 730 761. 
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1030-1730 (Mar-Oct); Tues-Sun 1000-1700 (Nov-Feb).
Admission charge.

Burano Island
Burano sees its fair share of tourists in the summer months and many Venetians descend on this lagoon island at weekends. But on a quiet, sunny weekday, the island is nothing short of idyllic. Many of its narrow canals are lined with brightly painted houses, said to have been painted originally by local fishermen, so that they could find their way home through the murky lagoon mists. The main industry today is tourism, which is fuelled by the production of traditional lace, on sale from many outlets around the island. Once visitors have purchased the obligatory lace souvenir, the only other pursuits are idling around the charming canals and lazing away the day in the waterfront cafés and restaurants. Il Gatto Nero (tel: (041) 730 120; www.gattonero.com) is a popular trattoria serving food every bit as good as Burano's more expensive and more tourist-orientated restaurants.

Burano Island