Burano is a fishing island in the northern lagoon, 40 minutes from Venice by vaporetto, known for two things: its houses painted in every possible combination of intense colour, and its lace-making tradition. The coloured houses reflect off the canals and the narrow lanes are genuinely photogenic in a way that is easy to mock but hard to resist.
The lace made here — merletto buranello — was once among the most expensive textiles in Europe, worn by the royalty of half a dozen courts. The craft nearly died out in the 20th century and is kept alive today by a small group of practitioners; the Museo del Merletto in the main square tells the story and displays historical examples. The seafood restaurants around the main piazza are reliably good, and a plate of risotto di go (goby fish) here is well worth the boat ride. Come on a weekday morning to avoid the weekend crowds.