Think of Venice and you immediately think of canals, gondolas and crumbling old buildings. The city has been slowly sinking more and more each year since it was built and has a sort of decaying beauty about it. Maybe because we know it's sinking into the sea like Atlantis, we have a fascination with this city built on water.
What many people don't think of is the riot of colour that can be found on the streets of the island of Burano (not to be confused with Murano, which is where the blown glass gets made). As with any intriguing place, there are many theories about how and why this tradition started. Some say that the people of Burano started painting their houses so brightly so that returning fishermen could see the shore through the fog.
Another legend says that fishermen painted their houses the same colour as their boats so if something happened at sea, the fishermen's family could easily be identified. Others say that it was originally so that people could mark the boundaries of their property because they didn't use house numbers.
Some say that the people of Burano started painting their houses so brightly so that returning fishermen could see the shore through the fog.
Although it's seemingly random, the colour scheme is actually set by the government and has been since the houses were first painted. If you live in Burano and want to change the colour of your house, you need to apply for a special permit with the local government and then choose from a set of pre-approved colours for your area.
The area is also known for its lace manufacturing and seafood restaurants - a weird combination but worth checking out on its own.
