Burano

Burano is a island of the Lagune of Venice. It belongs to the commune of Venice and is populated approximately 4000 inhabitants.

It is crossed by channels spanned by bridges and is connected by a bridge to the island of Mazzorbo. Burano is located close to Torcello at the north of the lagoon. This island is known for the Dentelle which are manufactured there and for its channels bordered of coloured houses. The habit wants that it is allocated to the women to choose the color of their house. It is said that they especially choose a bright color so that their husband, fisherman, can locate the house by far, per time of fog or after one evening too sprinkled!

Burano, isolated in the northern part of the lagoon is coloured of all the islands. Very populated, it remains nevertheless modest because one speaks about Burano like simple borough, compared with Torcello and Murano which is entitled to the title of city. It starts to take rise at the 16th century when the craft industry of lace concentrates there, the more so as its inhabitants are saved Malaria because its channels are not ensablent. The industry of lace thriving, the island knows until the end of the 17th century one period of glory.

Monuments

The church San Martino

The frontage of this sanctuary is not bored of a gate. Inside are preserved, inter alia, a Crucifixion of Tiepolo and a miracle of Saint Albain allotted to Zanchi. This work takes as a starting point a legend: water would have pushed up to that point a kind of Sarcophage that the fishermen did not succeed in raising. At the general surprise, the children arrived there. When it was opened, one discovered the relics of Albain saint, Dominique saint and Orso saint, who were carried in procession through the island.

Scuola E museo LED merletto

Closed in 1972, then reopened between 1981 and 1995, the school does not ensure any more regular courses. On the other hand, it shelters an exposing museum of the parts of a priceless beauty and a value. Tablecloths, bed-spreads, scarves, gloves which testify to the know-how of the women of Burano.

Lace

If it is frequent to see a woman embroidering, rare are those, on the other hand, which are still devoted to the true art of lace. It is indeed necessary to deploy patience and skill to realize what was a time one of the most snuffed Venetian products. It is only about the middle of the 16th century, with the invention of the point in the air, which is born the lace the needle-point. It becomes the speciality of Burano at once. Fashion accessories, laces are also a symbol of high social status. The very refined works of Burano meet a success growing near the princes, noble and rich middle-class of Europe. This passion is such as it is necessary to develop a teaching of lace in order to be able to produce with more large scales.

The island produced with most beautiful laces of Europe. At the 17th century Louis XIV prohibits their importation and creates, to try them to imitate, the royal manufacture of French laces.

Today some lacemakers still work in the great tradition of Burano. But as it takes three years to carry out a tablecloth, the accessible parts generally come from HongKong or China.

Famous characters

Baldassare Galuppi

External bonds

Sito ufficiale dell' isolated di Burano
Official Burano Home Page
Histoire from the island of Burano
Photographies of Burano
Photographies of Burano 2
Satellite image of Google Maps

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