Just like Venice itself, Burano is not one island but an archipelago linked by bridges. It lies at the northern end of the Lagoon and was probably first settled by the Romans. The island’s current population arrived from Altino in the 6th century, fleeing barbarian mayhem on the mainland.
The island was administered from Torcello and took its name, according to one theory, from the founding family of the satellite settlement, the Buriana. Another theory runs that the island was prey to a bitter northeasterly wind known as the bora. Burano was always a fishing village but what made it prosperous and famous was in the 16th century was the lace-work of its womenfolk. Their finely wrough handmade lace was exported across Europe for over two centuries, declining in the late 18th century but enjoyed a revival in 1872, when a school of lace making was established. Today lace remains important, although few now make it by hand.
Burano is also well known for its small, brightly-painted houses, popular with artists. Despite the haphazard rainbow appearance of the island, the choice of colours for each house has to be agreed in advance by local government.
Other attractions include the Church of San Martino with a leaning campanile and a Crucifixation by Tiepolo inside, the Oratio Santa Barbara and the Museum and School of Lace making.
Although Burano is not a big attraction of Venice, it is definitely worth a visit if you are looking to find great souvenirs that are culturally rich and useful. Burano is also a great quiet tourist location.