Burano is one of the islands of Venice and a must-see in the Venetian lagoon, as well as one of the most famous destinations in the Veneto region for the charm exerted by its colorful houses and centuries-old needlepoint lace craftsmanship. Tradition has it that Burano was founded, like the settlements in the surrounding area, by the inhabitants of the Roman city of Altino, who came to the lagoon to escape the barbarian invasions, particularly the Huns and Lombards. The first houses were pile dwellings of reeds and mud, and it was not until the year 1000 that brick houses were built. The local government, of a communal type, soon came under the control of Venice, to which it always remained linked. The small settlement remained little known until the emergence in the 16th century of needle lace-making, which in time became the main activity on the island. Once landed among its streets, the visit begins in a large tree-lined square. Passing among the multicolored houses, while in the distance the long wooden bridge connects Burano to Mazzorbo, dwellings almost always of the same height rise above the village. According to one theory, the bright colors would be used by boatmen to find their homes in the presence of fog, which is particularly thick in Burano. In Piazza Baldassare Galuppi (named after the noted 18th-century composer) stand the 16th-century Duomo di San Martino and the Oratorio di Santa Barbara. The cathedral's bell tower stands out against the surrounding lagoon because of its considerable height and steep slope, due to a subsidence of the foundations. Also on the square are the only Gothic palaces of any note, with 14th-century triple lancet windows, one of which was the seat of the podestà in charge of the island. Inside are now located the Town Hall offices and the Lace Museum and School, which houses embroiderers who seek to maintain and disseminate the legacy of this practice. A short distance away is the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, better known as the Church of the Cappuccine. Finally, one of the most characteristic places is the intersection of two canals where the Tre Ponti (Three Bridges) rise, connecting the three districts of Burano: San Mauro, San Martino Sinistro and Via Giudecca. The best way to enjoy its streets is to participate in the famous Venetian Carnival, in the variant "lo Carneval de Buran", which attracts tourists, onlookers and returning emigrants. Or at the Burano Regatta in September, or the Voga alla Veneta of centuries-old tradition: it was, in fact, the most efficient method of transporting the catch to the nearby islands and all the way to Venice, before the invention of the motor, and today it is a sport practiced in the lagoon. To conclude the discovery of Burano, there is no better way than to taste "bussolà" (also known as "buranello"), a typical Easter cake in the shape of a doughnut, made with flour, eggs and butter. The dry cookie, which keeps for a long time and is very caloric, was used in the past as a food reserve for fishermen who spent long periods at sea. Visiting Burano is like stepping back in time, with its multicolored balconies decorated with flowers, fishermen cruising the canals on their typical boats and no cars to spoil the atmosphere, among the old ladies busy embroidering.