Lace Museum (Burano)

The Lace Museum of Burano is a precious cultural gem located on the enchanting island of Burano, famous for its colorful houses and picturesque canals. Founded in 1981, the museum is housed in the spaces of the historic Lace School, established in 1872 by Countess Andriana Marcello. The school was created with the intention of preserving and reviving the ancient art of Venetian lace, an art that dates back to the 16th century and was at risk of disappearing with the advent of industrial production. The museum’s collection offers a wide overview of the evolution of Venetian lace from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Visitors can admire over two hundred lace specimens, displayed chronologically through four thematic rooms. The first room is dedicated to the origins of lace up to the 16th century, a period when Venetian lace was highly appreciated in European courts for its refinement and complexity. The second room covers the 17th and 18th centuries, while the third documents the 19th and 20th centuries, a time of tough competition with mechanical lace. The fourth room is particularly fascinating because it allows visitors to observe skilled lace makers at work, who continue to pass down this centuries-old technique from generation to generation.The visit to the museum begins with an introductory room on the ground floor, where a video and educational panels illustrate lace-making techniques and the most common stitches, such as the Venetian stitch and the Burano stitch. This introduction is essential to understand the complexity and precision required to create the lace displayed on the upper floor.An interesting anecdote concerns the founding of the Lace School. Countess Andriana Marcello, concerned about the decline of lace art due to competition from mechanical lace, decided to create a school where young girls from Burano could learn this ancient art and find dignified employment. This project not only helped to save a centuries-old tradition, but also improved the economic condition of the island’s families.