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Torcello Island

Venice, Italy
Update attraction details
Ranked #33 of 188 attractions in Venice
Type: Islands
Fee: No
Recommended length of visit: 1-2 hours
Owner description: This small island is a bit off the usual Venetian path, but it’s worth seeing. Its Santa Maria Assunta church houses impressive mosaics, its bell... more » Owner description: This small island is a bit off the usual Venetian path, but it’s worth seeing. Its Santa Maria Assunta church houses impressive mosaics, its bell tower offers great surrounding views—and it’s home to Locanda Cipriani, a well-regarded restaurant and hotel that played host to writing legend Ernest Hemingway . « less
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169 reviews from our community

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Dublin, Ireland
Top Contributor
51 reviews 51 reviews
19 attraction reviews
Reviews in 16 cities Reviews in 16 cities
15 helpful votes 15 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 18 May 2013 NEW

The legend says this was the first island of Venice to be inhabited and the point where Attila, the king of barbarians, was stopped and pushed back. Beside the legend, it worth a visit. The cathedral of Santa Maria is maybe the oldest one in Venice ( someone says the oldest is in Rialto ) and the small church of... More

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See 14 more reviews by Andrea D for Venice
Manchester, England
Top Contributor
51 reviews 51 reviews
7 attraction reviews
Reviews in 21 cities Reviews in 21 cities
30 helpful votes 30 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 30 April 2013

If you start to flag during your stay in Venice, Torcello provides the perfect antidote. About a 45-minute vaporetto trip from the Fondamente Nova, there is very little there apart from open green space and the 2nd best church in the lagoon (after St Mark's). It's a 10 minute canal-side walk from the vaporetto stop to the church with a... More

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See 9 more reviews by phil_oldham for Venice
East Anglia England
Senior Contributor
42 reviews 42 reviews
15 attraction reviews
Reviews in 13 cities Reviews in 13 cities
50 helpful votes 50 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 29 April 2013

We took a 20euro trip to 3 islands and Torcello was the last one we visited. Lovely and peaceful with 2 small churches and a walk along the river and not much else but lovely to have the peace and quiet as a change from the busy atmosphere of Venice

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See 6 more reviews by Bevanchez for Venice
Newcastle upon Tyne
Contributor
15 reviews 15 reviews
9 attraction reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 29 April 2013

Torcello's might seem a bit of a trek by vaporetta (via Buranao)from Venice but is completely worth it. Santa Fosca has the most ravishing 13th century mosaics which were a highlight of our short visit to Venice and the island is so peaceful. We also had a delicious, good value lunch there.

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See 6 more reviews by Caroline G for Venice
Coventry, United Kingdom
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 24 April 2013

A peaceful little island, accessible from Venice by vaporetto. The Byzantine basilica there is wonderful, having a beautiful mosiac of madonna and child, and an absorbing 'doom' painting. The basilica has a special atmosphere and is very tranquil. The island is non-commercialised - outside the basilica was a stall run by a friendly girl selling coffee for 1.50 euros, and... More

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See 2 more reviews by Jill K for Venice
London, United Kingdom
Contributor
18 reviews 18 reviews
10 attraction reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 21 April 2013

The Basilica is worth a visit, and you will feel your sense of claustrophobia diminish as you walk around the open space this island offers. It is hard to believe this was once the capital of the byzantine empire! When you do, bypass Locanda Cipriani (it's brills if you like celebrity status) and go to the Trono di Atila restaurant... More

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See 14 more reviews by A_Eccleston for Venice
Bright, Australia
2 reviews
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 14 April 2013

An eerie island, with the oldest Byzantine church in Venice. I suggest one should go as the sun is setting, to get a spooky visit.

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leicestershire
Top Contributor
102 reviews 102 reviews
26 attraction reviews
Reviews in 53 cities Reviews in 53 cities
29 helpful votes 29 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 29 March 2013

There's not a lot to see on this island that was settled before Venice then largely stripped of its buildings to provide materials for building Venice. But there is a spectacular basilica and if you have been out to Murano and Burano it's worth coming on to here.

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See 14 more reviews by stella317 for Venice
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Contributor
16 reviews 16 reviews
10 attraction reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
22 helpful votes 22 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 18 March 2013

The island of Torcello can be reached by vaporetto inexpensively. There is really only one big sight on the Island, which is the basilica complex. It consists of 2 churches, the church of Santa Fosca, with it's beautiful, rounded facade, and attached to it, the much older Basilica of Santa Maria dell'Assunta, dating from the 7th century. In the older... More

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See 3 more reviews by 138Vic for Venice
MILL CREEK
Senior Contributor
28 reviews 28 reviews
8 attraction reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
15 helpful votes 15 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 18 March 2013

Torcello is well worth visiting if you're at all interested in the history of Venice and its people. It's a boat ride from Venice proper, but very close to Burano Island. Many tourists visit Murano and Burano, but skip Torcello because they think there's not much to see there or because there's no shopping. But Torcello was the very birthplace... More

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See 2 more reviews by BUZZN for Venice

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