Italian colourful houses

Burano Island: A Symphony of Colors

Bright and shockingly colorful, Isola di Burano (Burano Island) looks for all the world as though it has come straight out of a children’s storybook. Each house exudes a peculiar charm as they dance along the water edge and reflect their bright-colored shadows in the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean.

Still mesmerized by the beauty of Venice, we set foot on the Vaporetto No. 12 which brings us to Isola di Burano (Burano Island). Though the island is located just seven kilometers northeast of Venice, its appearance is entirely different. There are neither monumental buildings nor white marble palaces, just lines of houses along the waterways. But believe me, nothing prepares you for the first glimpse of this picturesque island.

Under the clear blue sky, Burano Island appears like a crayon box, with all the houses painted in many different colors. From baby pink, pastel blue to vivid red, nearly every shade can be found here. But what makes Burano so artistic is its arrangement of color.

It has to follow a specific system, originating from the Golden Age of its development. When someone wishes to paint the house, he or she must send a request to the city council, who will respond by taking notice of certain colors permitted for that lot. In this way, houses in various hues do not cause distractions but rather complement each other. In short, they are synchronized in a symphony of color.

Burano appears like a crayon box.

Burano – The colorful island
The symphony of colors in Burano Island
The houses are simple yet profound in style
The colorful waterway

Tips for visiting Burano Island

  • To get to Burano Island from Venice, take Vaporetto No.12 (water bus) which departs frequently from Fondamente Nove in the island’s northern part. The whole trip takes approximately 40 minutes. This water bus also makes a brief stop at Murano, the island of the glassmakers.
  • Both Burano and Murano are popular day trip destinations from Venice. Hence, it’s recommended to visit the islands early in the morning to avoid the massive crowd.
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45 thoughts on “Burano Island: A Symphony of Colors”

  1. The Snow Melts Somewhere – As I wait for the snow to melt, up here in the far North, I daydream of palm trees and join my kids for adventures in our living room. Come join us! You can call me Snow. thesnowmeltssomewhere.wordpress.com
    The Snow Melts Somewhere says:

    Wow, I didn’t know Burano looked like that

  2. What a wonderful place! Thank for your amazing pictures – I will definitely find a chance to visit Burano. By the way, is it always quiet with not many tourists like this?

    1. Actually, we were there quite early, around 10:00 if I remember correctly 🙂 At noon, when we left, the island was fully packed with tourists.

  3. I have been in Burano and I was surprised how beautiful it is in reality)) I didn’t expect it to look same great as on the pictures you see in the internet 😀

  4. lacasabloga – Just a little bit about me: 26 year old Salvadorian American just pursuing my passion for blogging about a few of my favorite things-travel, beauty, style, and everything in between! Hope you can check out my site and learn something new from it. Ciao!
    lacasabloga says:

    wow what a beautifully colorful sitting! I have been in Italy for several months now and haven’t been to Venice or anywhere near that area just yet. Looking at these pictures makes me very excited to take a trip there soon!
    http://www.lacasabloga.com

    1. I recommend you go there in spring or summer. Because winter in Venice is rainy and quite cold, except you want to participate in Carnival. It is cool too, the Italians really invest a lot in their costumes 🙂

      1. lacasabloga – Just a little bit about me: 26 year old Salvadorian American just pursuing my passion for blogging about a few of my favorite things-travel, beauty, style, and everything in between! Hope you can check out my site and learn something new from it. Ciao!
        lacasabloga says:

        Nice! Yes, I may have to hold out until next Spring to go so we can fully enjoy it. Right now Rome is quite cold and rainy as well.

  5. Burano is one of my dream destinations, it’s just too beautiful to be true! Thank you for sharing this great article! 🙂

  6. Amazing photos- the colours are so vibrant! 😃🐻

    1. Many thanks! I am glad that you like them 🙂 Very few of us (the amateur photographers) can make good photos at the first few times. I also have tons of “ugly” pictures, and even now, my photos are far from perfect. But through practising, I learned how to choose the correct angle, the light, etc. Practice makes perfect! So keep practising, you will be able to do it as well 😉

  7. Megha's World – I’m a mother of a smart and energetic seven-year-old. I started expressing myself creatively since the last two years. Since then I have been continuously inspired by events in my life and around me which has helped me in penning my thoughts. I’m an avid reader, loves to sing, an ardent lover of poetry and sometimes can scribble few lines too. Loves to dance in the rain, have an undying love for nature, can watch the beautiful sunset for hours. Love to kiss and hug my loved ones. I have worked in the IT field for almost a decade as a manager, worked crazy hours and traveled around the world. In that busy schedule, I never got the time to creatively express my thoughts. Now every time I finish a poem, free verse anything it fills me with so much happiness and excitement and a feeling to have created something of my own. I’m planning to post at least one creation of mine weekly. Lastly, a million thanks to all who visit, like or follow my tiny bits of creation. Every time you do that, I get to know one more beautiful person in my life and get the chance to see their creation too.
    Megha's World says:

    Beautiful picture. I love when small coater homes are brightly colored. They pop out with beauty bring out the child in me.God knows how many such pictures I have taken.

      1. Megha's World – I’m a mother of a smart and energetic seven-year-old. I started expressing myself creatively since the last two years. Since then I have been continuously inspired by events in my life and around me which has helped me in penning my thoughts. I’m an avid reader, loves to sing, an ardent lover of poetry and sometimes can scribble few lines too. Loves to dance in the rain, have an undying love for nature, can watch the beautiful sunset for hours. Love to kiss and hug my loved ones. I have worked in the IT field for almost a decade as a manager, worked crazy hours and traveled around the world. In that busy schedule, I never got the time to creatively express my thoughts. Now every time I finish a poem, free verse anything it fills me with so much happiness and excitement and a feeling to have created something of my own. I’m planning to post at least one creation of mine weekly. Lastly, a million thanks to all who visit, like or follow my tiny bits of creation. Every time you do that, I get to know one more beautiful person in my life and get the chance to see their creation too.
        Megha's World says:

        Yes you made it look like that too

  8. mydustyflipflops – I'm a forty-something, travel loving technophobe! I have a full-time job but enjoy getting out to explore the world when I can. Hope you enjoy some of the tales of my adventures! Search for:
    mydustyflipflops says:

    What a beautiful place! Fantastic photos showing off the vibrant colours of the houses 🙂

  9. Seeking Wonderful – Ljubljana, Slovenia – Hi. I'm Janja from lovely little country in the heart of Europe called Slovenia. I am constantly planning new trips, even if I can't afford to take them. Seeking wonderful in the world around me and travel with my love to see some more of it. Love big cities, green nature, little surprises, Taiwanese ice teas, chocolate and sea.
    Seeking Wonderful says:

    That place is out of this world beautiful. Your photos are amazing and it is definitely worth waking up early to enjoy these views without the crowds. 🙂

  10. Francesca Howard – RIVER, DOVER – Paint is Transformative. Colour is Communication. It is why I am here. I paint abstracts powerful with colour and I am the creator of The Colour Potential Card Deck and Handbook.
    francescahoward says:

    Such a magical
    place!

  11. Arundhati Basu – New Jersey, US – The great affair in my life is to travel. I count myself immensely fortunate that my partner shares this passion. We are a team that likes to spend time planning and plotting out places to go. Destination check, flights check, accommodation check, cheesy grins check. Off we go.
    Dippy Dotty Girl says:

    Stunning pix of a superbly colourful island that does make you blink twice. I thought it was out of a child’s crayon-colour book, but in a most charming way. 🙂

  12. thepretendgrownup – My most joyous moments in adulthood are those when I still feel like a child. I continually seek fun and adventures in a grown up world. I have a passion for travel, fashion, fitness and the odd craft project. I'm really enjoying sharing all this with you guys! Rachael :) x
    thepretendgrownup says:

    Thanks for sharing! I can’t wait to go here in August. I’ve been to Venice before but never here! It looks amazing x

      1. thepretendgrownup – My most joyous moments in adulthood are those when I still feel like a child. I continually seek fun and adventures in a grown up world. I have a passion for travel, fashion, fitness and the odd craft project. I'm really enjoying sharing all this with you guys! Rachael :) x
        thepretendgrownup says:

        Thanks for the tip! x

  13. I am absolutely blown away by the colours. What an extraordinary scene. I’ve not previously heard of Burano Island. Thanks for the introduction Len.

  14. justbluedutch – Bavaria, Germany – Expat- lifestyle Blogger from the land of Lederhosen & Dirndls. A self-taught Aquarelle & Mixed Media visual artist.
    justbluedutch says:

    Beautiful! these quaint colorful houses exudes such individualism yet very unique.You really captured the beauty of Burano. I wonder why it´s so empty and no people around? or this place is not so touristy as Venice?

    1. It’s also a tourist attraction. But be there before 10:00 AM, and you will have the island for yourself 🙂 During my trip, the island was really busy at noon.

  15. Forestwood – A philosophic Aussie writes here at StPA, one who will readily admit to loving Scandinavia. I'm interested in global politics and what drives us to be who we are. Scratch the surface and you'll find a practical Environmentalist with an egalitarian bent, trying to unleash a little creativity via the written word. Scandinavian culture, literature and traditions are close to my heart, even though I'm Australian. Travel and courteous discussions greatly broaden the mind, so I travel if I can and am always up for a vigorous, respectful discussion. I'm an avid reader, a writer and I enjoy photography and crafts, particularly traditional art forms. I hope you'll find 'Something to Ponder About,' in my WordPress Community.
    Forestwood says:

    Hey Len!
    This location looks like a cross between Venice and Mexico! I love their use of colour. Interesting that the Council governs the use of colour and it looks like they try to keep to colour harmonies too. Intriguing.

    1. Well, I think they have some control here. I didn’t see two adjacent houses have the same colour. Perhaps there is a set of colours. If someone wants to repaint the house, he/she has to choose a colour that differs from the neighbours. Italian artistic skill is admirable 🙂 Thanks for visiting, Amanda.

      1. Forestwood – A philosophic Aussie writes here at StPA, one who will readily admit to loving Scandinavia. I'm interested in global politics and what drives us to be who we are. Scratch the surface and you'll find a practical Environmentalist with an egalitarian bent, trying to unleash a little creativity via the written word. Scandinavian culture, literature and traditions are close to my heart, even though I'm Australian. Travel and courteous discussions greatly broaden the mind, so I travel if I can and am always up for a vigorous, respectful discussion. I'm an avid reader, a writer and I enjoy photography and crafts, particularly traditional art forms. I hope you'll find 'Something to Ponder About,' in my WordPress Community.
        Forestwood says:

        I agree. They blend beautifully. No two colours the same results in a rainbow harmony of sorts.

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