Burano, an island in the lagoon of Venice, is famous worldwide for its brightly coloured and intense houses and for the ancient tradition of handmade lace. Also famous for its leaning bell tower and the production of "bussolà", typical local biscuits, it offers a unique and picturesque atmosphere.

Torcello, located in the northern lagoon of Venice, is famous for being the first inhabited settlement of the lagoon, the cradle of Venetian civilisation, and for its quiet and decadent atmosphere. Its main attractions are the precious Byzantine mosaics, the thousand-year-old Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, the Devil's Bridge and the legendary Throne of Attila.

There is a Venice that not everyone knows: solitary, secluded, spiritual. It is the island of San Francesco del Deserto, a green jewel nestled between Burano and Sant'Erasmo, where time flows to the rhythm of the prayers of five Franciscan friars. Here, in 1220, Saint Francis of Assisi arrived returning from the Holy Land, choosing this strip of lagoon as a refuge for contemplation.

The largest of the islands of the northern lagoon, it is more than 4 km long and between 500 metres and 1 km wide, a form that recalls Lido's recent past. The inhabitants, constantly decreasing, are about seven hundred and fifty, mainly engaged in agriculture (although there are no more than ten young farmers). The island is in fact traditionally the vegetable garden of Venice: as in past times, it still has an excellent production of fruit and vegetables (especially artichokes, thistles and asparagus). Wine is also produced, which once occupied much of the agricultural activity: not surprisingly, the locals refer to the fields with the term “vineyard” and like to remember the activity with one of the most popular festivals in Venice and the lagoon, the “Festa del Mosto”, on the first Sunday in October.

The Arsenale is the largest production centre of pre-industrial times and during periods of full activity worked there up to 2000 workers a day, a huge complex of shipyards where the fleets of the Serenissima were built and, for this reason, symbol of the economic, political and military power of the city.