MURANO Famous for its glass factories since 13th century, when Venice's artisans were forced off Venice proper because their kilns kept starting fires. Good restaurants to eat fish.
BURANO Well-known for its artistic handmade lace, in this traditional fishing village, fishermen haul in their catch every morning as their wives, black-clad, sit in the doorways of the fantastically coloured houses, creating unique knots of Venetian lace.
TORCELLO A safe haven for early fishermen fleeing barbarians on the mainland, was the most powerful island of the lagoon, before Venice usurped its inhabitants and its glory. Its cathedral contains 11th and 12th century mosaics of the last judgement and the Virgin Mary.
LIDO is the only island in the lagoon with roads and cars, linked to the mainland by ferry-boat, 9 minutes by waterbus from "Giardini": it is the setting for Thomas Mann's unforgettable Death in Venice, which gives a vivid impression of the sensuality and mystery for which Venice is famous. The Lido is now more of a summer beach town, full of beach bums.
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