Hotels near Torcello

Torcello was one of the first places settled in the Venetian lagoon, and for centuries it was more populous than Venice itself. Today only a handful of people live on the island, but its Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, founded in 639, survives with some of the finest Byzantine mosaics in Italy, including a vast Last Judgement covering the west wall.

A short path from the vaporetto stop follows a canal to the cathedral, the church of Santa Fosca and a stone seat known as Attila's Throne. Climb the cathedral's bell tower for views over the salt marshes of the northern lagoon, which glow golden in low October light. With the summer day-trippers gone, you may have the island almost to yourself.

Pro Tip: Take an early vaporetto and bring a picnic or check restaurant hours in advance, as services on the island are limited and some close for the season after October.