Would you be surprised if I told you thatthere are still vineyards in Venice today? Not on the cluster of islands thatwe think of as the city of Venice proper, but out in the busy lagoon? Todayvisit Venissa, a unique vineyard where the vine has found its magicalequilibrium between the fertility of a soil well-suited to grape growing andthe continuous threat of salt and water.Navigating onthrough the salt marshes you will reach Burano, a fishing village with brightlycolored houses, and the home of exquisite hand-made lace. Here you can samplethe local fish risotto and traditional buranei biscuits. Just fiveminutes further on boat lies the island of Torcello. Now a quiet backwater,Torcello was once a thriving lagoon settlement and here you will rediscover thevery origins of Venetian civilization. Inside the ancient church of Santa MariaAssunta, glittering medieval mosaics evoke the richness and importance ofTorcello’s history.
