Our Concept
The Lagoon Islands According to Venice Tours
A History of a Deep-Rooted Connection: Glass, Lace, and Family Memories
By Caterina Pepoli, CEO of Venice Tours
Caterina Pepoli: Roots in the Lagoon
Caterina Pepoli, founder and CEO of Venice Tours, has her roots in the Venetian Lagoon on Murano, where her parents ran the restaurant Da Olindo ai Vetrai—which remains open today under new management and stands as one of the most authentic places to sample Venetian specialties. She grew up knowing the greatest master glassmakers of her generation not from books, but at the dinner table, learning to recognize in their hands a craft handed down through the centuries.
"When I think of the islands, I don't think of a day trip. I think of home."
« I wanted our tour to tell the story of Murano, Burano, and Torcello with the same authenticity I experienced as a child: glass not as a souvenir, but as a secret passed down from generation to generation, and Torcello through the eyes of someone who knows that Venice itself was born there. »
From this vision came a tour built over the years alongside my team, not planned behind a desk: guides chosen for their ability to convey the same bond I feel with these islands. Every group departs with its own language-specific guide, and each participant receives a personal audio receiver to catch every word, even over the noise of the furnaces or while moving between the islands—without needing to stay glued to the guide.
The Tour: Essential Facts
- Group Size: Maximum of 25 people (the limit set by the Municipality of Venice for guided tours in the lagoon).
- Departures: Over 10 departures daily at various times.
- Murano: Exclusive access to historic glass factories such as Ferro & Lazzarini, Mocenigo, and Rossetto Estevan.
- Burano: A taste of the famous bussolai cookies and a look at the art of lace-making preserved by the island's lacemakers.
- Torcello: The silent cradle of the lagoon, where the true history of Venice begins.
The point isn't just to show three islands, but to offer our guests the same perspective through which Caterina has always seen this lagoon: a place built on crafts and traditions passed down by word of mouth and by hand—traditions written nowhere else but in the memories of those who lived them.
Many take tourists to see the islands. We chose to introduce them to an entire lagoon—the very one that is still my home.
Where to Find Us
Venice Tours Calle delle Rasse n.4536, Venice
Where we are
Venice Tours is at your disposal, for any eventuality, in the offices of
Calle de le Rasse, 4536, 30122 Venezia VE
