Burano, Italy

The fisherman's island of Burano is located in the Venetian lagoon and, like the rest of Venice, is connected by a network of canals. While Venice can have a gloomy vibe, Burano's brightly painted houses stand out.

Burano consists of four small islands connected by a series of bridges and held together even more firmly by their colorful painting trend. The eye-catching color scheme had been upheld for decades and was even beginning to fade until it was reinstated in recent years.

Now that the homes are being repainted every two years, Burano's houses stand out with vivid colors that almost appear photoshopped. Each house is painted a different color from its neighbors, and anyone wishing to paint their home must first obtain permission from the neighborhood council.

Burano is well known for its fine lacework in addition to its distinctively painted houses, and the island even has a museum dedicated to it, though photography is not permitted there. Given that groups of visiting photographers are a common sight on the streets of this tiny but colorful island, the Museum of Lace may be the only place in the small neighborhood where photography is prohibited.

To get to Burano, take the Vaporetto (no. 12) from the Fondament Nove in Venice. Before continuing on to Burano, the 40-minute Vaporetto ride will stop in Murano, an island known for its glass-blowing and well worth a visit.