Wed May 14 - Burano, Torcello

Last Day!!  Marian, Harry & I took a vaporetto from Ca'Rezzonica near our apartment to Ca'Oro and then walked north to the Fondamente Nove stop and caught the boat to the island of Burano, about 40 minutes north of Venice. 

Burano is famous for its lace-making since the 16th century.  These days not much lace is actually handmade there on Burano and what is is very expensive.  But it was a fun trip.  There are lace clothes and curtains and all kinds of things everywhere!  The town is very picturesque, with houses and shops of many colors, canals, and boats.
 

We went to the Museo del Merletto (merletto is lace) where we saw lots of examples of amazing lace handiwork.   

Then we walked around, bought a couple of things (me, a scarf), had a little lunch sitting outside watching the world go by.  Very relaxing.  Quieter, less crowded and more peaceful than Venice.  And it was a gorgeous sunny mild day.  
And I took this cute pic of Marian & Harry.

Next we hopped on the boat to the island of Torcello.  We went there to see some mosaics we had read about, at the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunto.  

We had thought there wasn't much else to see or do on the island but were pleasantly surprised at what we did find. The walk from the boat to the church was along a very pretty canal, and there were restaurants and gelato stores along the way, even a man playing music.

Nowadays Torcello has only a few residents (20) but it is the oldest continuously populated region of Venice and once was an important political and trading center with 10,000 people.  It was also the place people from the mainland went for shelter during the "barbarian invasions" including by Attila the Hun.  Read a little history of Torcello.  

The main attraction is the gold mosaics on the walls of the church and they do not disappoint.  See more photos online.  The mosaics are huge, covering the front and back walls of the church.  There are also lots of paintings, a very intricate patterned mosaic tiled floor.  In hindsight I wish we had taken a tour because I didn't really know the context of what I was looking at.  But it was impressive.

Got some gelato on the walk back to the boat.  Took the boat back to the main island, then retraced our steps (walk and boat) to Ca'Rezzonica and home.  Cocktail hour with Toby and hear about her day shopping mostly - successful - she got some nice things.  We started packing and cleaning up.  Have to leave very early tomorrow a.m.!!

Had dinner at the pizza place next door, Al Profeta, which really was more than a pizza place - they have quite a diverse menu including rabbit and deer.  I had some pasta with "red onion pesto" and monkfish.  It was ok but not great.  Toby had a steak which she loved.  Marian and Harry had a fish dish that was good.  

Then we walked around a bit, savoring our last night in Venice, and in Italy.  Went over to Campo Santa Margherita and sat outside and had a "digestif" - Toby & I had a Venetian liquer called Anima Nera, (literally "black soul") anise flavor, sweet, very delicious.  Marian and Harry had grappa.  It was really nice to sit outside in the nighttime.  That particular square has lots of young people hanging around, very calm and nice vibe.

Then home to bed.  We have to get up at 4:30am!  Then a water bus to the airport that takes about an hour.  Bouno notte!