It’s a nice July morning, and the day starts as usual at Camping Village Dei Fiori: a fresh breeze blows through the trees, birds sing and some guests start to leave their tents and their caravans to reach the restaurant for breakfast. From the small porch of our little wooden house we savor the wind blowing directly from the sea, and this is exactly the incentive we need to leave: today we’ll finally try the new boat tour to Venice. I am particularly excited because I couldn’t wait to visit the Lagoon and its islands! Murano, Burano, Torcello… all of these little jewels at short distance from Venice were only beautiful photos for me until now, but this was going to change very soon!

At 8.30 we meet our receptionist Sabine, armed with lists of participants, itinerary, and a vitality that at this time of day is still a mirage for me. Erica and Elisa, animators of Camping Dei Fiori, offer a warm welcome to all the guests who start to gather in front of the reception. A short journey by bus and we reach the pier, ready to discover the most beautiful treasures of the Venetian Lagoon.

The first stop is San Francesco del Deserto. In the distance the island is easily recognizable because of the many tall cypress trees. As soon as we land, I am immediately overwhelmed by a feeling of peace and by a deep silence, disturbed only by the nature sounds. We’re immediately reached by Fabrizio, a friar from Puglia who is spending a period of meditation with the monks of the island. This island in fact hosts a very ancient monastery, founded by St. Francis himself: for centuries it has been a place for praying and meditating. With our special guide we visit the cloister of the monastery, and the beautiful gardens cultivated by friars, without any kind of external help. During the weekend the monastery welcomes pilgrims and those who are interested in exploring the life of the Franciscan friars.

The next stop is definitely the one I’m most curious to visit: Burano, the most colorful island on Earth. As soon as my feet touch the ground I feel like getting knocked into a fairytale: every corner of Burano is full of colors, the white washed clothes at the windows clashes with the colorful fronts of the houses, turning this island into an enchanted place. Sabine stops to chat with a lace-maker, and meanwhile we admire the refined creations of her shop: the ancient craft of Burano lace is charming, and we are immediately mesmerized. The time i spent on this island seemed to fly, and I stepped on board of our boat with the promise of coming back very soon to get lost in this astounding place.

After a delicious packed lunch with sandwiches we reach Torcello, an island that surprised me with its quiet atmosphere, which almost seems out of time. It’s incredible how nature and architecture perfectly blend in this magical place. From the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta to the church of Santa Fosca, from Attila’s Throne to the Devil’s Bridge, each corner of Torcello hides a secret treasure of great historical value.

After admiring beautiful Torcello we leave for Murano, the island of glass. Here we see the demonstration of a glass master who creates a vase and a horse statue right in front of us, using two different techniques. The ability of this expert craftsman is astonishing for us, but it’s perfectly common for those who live in Murano, where the craft of glass-making is a centenary tradition. Even today many refined glass handmade creations are made in this island. After a promenade and an ice cream we get back to our boat. And here starts our panoramic tour of Venice by boat: Arsenale, Bacino di San Marco, San Giorgio, Canale della Giudecca, San Lazzaro degli Armeni… we admire Venice from this beautiful perspective, sipping some refreshing Batiso Beach.

Admiring the beautiful treasures of the Venetian Lagoon has been amazing, and I finish my day tired, but very satisfied. The gallery we created for you shows some of the best photos of our day at the discovery of our incredible surroundings.