6 Cities along the Venetian Lagoon worth visiting
The Venetian Lagoon is a unique environmental area that is rich in natural biodiversity and history. The best way to explore this fantastic landscape is undoubtedly by water. Let’s take a look at the amazing cities worth exploring in this Italian archipelago.
- Casale
- Padua
- Venice
- Murano
- Burano
- Torcello
1. Casale
You are most likely going to begin your Le Boat journey in Casale, as our Le Boat Base is located in this beautiful Italian town. Before checking in or out at our Italian base, you can do a bit of sightseeing to get a taste of what’s to come on your trip along the Venetian Lagoon.
In Casale you can stock up on some of the delicious baked Italian goods and fresh food for your trip. Take a walk around the Piazza Mazzini and learn about the interesting historical events that took place along the streets while admiring its beautiful Gothic-styled architecture.
2. Padua
One of Italy’s oldest cities, Padua boasts some of Italy’s best preserved historical structures and landscapes. Many refer to Padua as offering an authentic Italian experience, as the city still holds its classic charm. Unlike many of Italy’s main cities, Padua has not fallen into commercialising itself for large tourist crowds.
The city is believed to have been founded around 1100 BC, with many ancient artefacts and documents recording its wars and development. Visitors can visit the famous works of Giotto in the Scrovegno Chapel. You can also explore the Palazzo della Ragione, Teatro Verdi, and the ancient Roman arena or enjoy a bike ride to a nearby wine farm.
3. Venice
Venice in undoubtedly the jewel upon the Venetian Canal and an essential stop along your cruise. This capital city is made up of around 120 islands and boasts some of the most magnificent art and architecture in Europe. Venice is a city rich in culture, mystery and history. While on board you can view the magnificent city scape and choose when to disembark and explore the city at your own pace.
From those iconic piazzas, churches and vast array of gelatos, Venice will leave you enthralled.
4. Murano
Comprised of 7 islands, Murano lies only a few minutes via boat from the city of Venice. World famous for its glass making, this city has become quite a hub for creatives over the years. You can watch a live demonstration of glassblowing and making, a prized and once exclusive Venetian art. There are plenty of stores selling beautiful Murano produced glass work, while the colourful streets are full of character and history.
5. Burano
Burano is considered to be the ‘little Venice’ with its colourful houses lining the canal ways. This small town is world famous for its lace making over the centuries. Burano lace is still handmade by the women, who pass the tradition down to their daughters. Burano is predominantly a fishing village, and you can still enjoy fresh seafood dishes at the many restaurants in town.
6. Torcello
Torcello was the first island in the lagoon to be inhabited by the Veneti people before establishing the city of Venice. Torcello was also the first refuge of the Veneti from the invading Huns. This town is interesting, as it shows the original marshland in the lagoon that covered the entire region. A visit here, will show you what Venice originally looked like before it became a thriving city and what lies beneath its present day buildings. There are plenty of cathedrals and intricate byzantine mosaics from the Dark Ages to the early settlers to discover.
