Around Venice, in the Lagoon, there are some island that it is worthwhile to visit: Murano, Burano, San Giorgio Maggiore, Torcello. And there is also the seaside beach of Lido di Venezia.

Murano is universally renown for its tradition of art glass production. Initially the glass factories where inside the city of Venice, but because of fire danger (most of the houses in the city where built with wood) during the XII century the government decided to move the whole production to the near isle of Murano. Till nowadays the art production of glasses is carried on at the highest level and the glasses by Murano are sold all over the world for luxury houses. To know more about this tradition you can visit the Museum of Art Glass.

Burano is a very characteristic village with coloured houses, where they keep alive some costumes and crafts traditions. The Lido di Venezia is the beach preferred by Venetians: it follows the route of Lungomare Marconi, where are some of the most prestigious hotels in Venice, the Casiṇ and the seat of the festival Mostra del Cinema.

The isle of San Giorgio Maggiore (St.George Major), in front of Piazza San Marco, is an unique and peaceful environment, aside from the rest of Venice: it has not tourist shops, but is a place devoted to cultural and religious events. There are: the church by Palladio, the benedectine convent and the seat of Cini Foundation, which has taken care about restoration works all over the island. Inside the church by Palladio there are some canvases by Tintoretto. From the top of the belltower you can admire a wonderful panorama of Venice.

The isle of Torcello is interesting to whom would like to know more about the origin of Venice: it is one of the most ancient inhabited places in the Venetian lagoon, which came under the rulement of Venice in the X century. Nowadays the island is deserted and shows the remains of some grand cathedrals, with some mosaics of impressive richness.