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Torcello is an island included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing for Venice and its Lagoon. It’s only about 45 minutes away from Venice on a vaporetto.
History
Torcello was settled in 452 by mainlanders from Altinum seeking refuge after their city was sacked by Attila the Hun. It was a powerful trading center long before Venice and had strong ties to Constantinople. The island’s influence and population started decreasing in the late 14th century, and today there are only about 10 full-time residents.
Getting There
We visited Torcello after spending a few hours on nearby Burano, which is just a five minute vaporetto ride away. Both Burano and Mazzorbo can easily be seen from the ferry terminal on Torcello.
From the ferry terminal, we walked along a canal for a few minutes before reaching some buildings and the Devil’s Bridge (Ponte del Diavolo).
At the end of the path, we came to a cluster of the last remaining medieval buildings on the island. They include the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta and its bell tower, the Church of Santa Fosca (Chiesa di Santa Fosca), and the Torcello Museum.
Admissions
Admission to the basilica and museum with an audioguide is €9 for adults, €7 for kids age 6-12, and free for kids under 6; to the basilica and bell tower is €9; to the basilica only is €5; to the bell tower only is €5; and the museum only is €3 for adults, €1.50 for kids age 6-12, and free for kids under 6 (as of September 2024). Attractions are open daily. No admission is charged for the Church of Santa Fosca, which dates back to the 11th century.
Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta
The Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta (Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta), which was founded in 639, is the oldest building of the Venetian Lagoon. The church was renovated in 864 and again in 1008. Inside are several Byzantine mosaics, which are the oldest in the region and date back to the late 11th century. In front of the church are the remains of a baptistry. Photography is forbidden inside.
Bell Tower
Climbing the bell tower is a great experience. It’s one of the symbols of the Venetian Lagoon. It’s a long way up but it’s well worth it.
From the top, there are fantastic views of the lagoon and nearby islands, giving visitors a glimpse of what Venice and the lagoon may have looked like in ancient times. You can also see both churches and the entire historical complex below.
Torcello Museum
Across from the two churches is the Torcello Museum (Museo di Torcello). It’s housed in the Council Building (Palazzo del Consiglio) and Archive Building (Palazzo dell’Archivio), two 14th century government buildings. The museum was founded in 1872 by Luigi Torelli, who bought the Council Building to display archaeological finds from Torcello. Cesare Augusto Levi later bought the Archive Building in 1887 and moved the archaeological collection there.
The Council Building now contains the medieval and modern section of the museum, which opened in 1974. It displays artifacts and documents from the early Christian era until the 19th century. In front of the building is a well and the so-called Throne of Attila. The chair, which was carved out of a single piece of stone, has nothing to do with Attila, and was probably used as the seat of the bishop or mayor (podestà).
Ristorante Villa ‘600
Finally, before heading back to Venice, we stopped at Ristorante Villa ‘600, which serves Venetian cuisine. We were still quite full from our lunch on Burano so we decided to warm up with a cup of coffee and a piece of pie. The staff seemed kind of annoyed with us.
