For the last Sunday in September, our favourite tour organisers, La Fenice Blu, offered us a real end of summer treat: a whole day spent visiting some of the islands of the Venetian Lagoon.

I’ve waited a long time to visit some of these places, but you know how it is, if you need to organise it by yourself and think about which boat to take and which island to visit, you never quite get round to it, but having it all planned out for you is a nice luxury.

The Bragozzo

We met up by the canal at Quarto d’Altino and waited for our boat to come chugging along the river to pick us up. This was the Bragozzo, a typical boat of the Venetian lagoon. It travels at a slow speed and is strong and sturdy.

We passed along the canal and towards the lagoon, grasses and bulrushes on either side and the occasional fisherman.

Once out in the lagoon we passed by Burano, the island famous for its colourful houses- blue, magenta, orange, and pink. All the colours were there, contrasted with pieces of white laundry aesthetically blowing in the wind.

Isola di San Francesco del Deserto

This island was our first destination and as we approached, it appeared as an island of cypress trees. As much as Burano was an island of bold colours and vitality, this was an island of the earthy and green tones of nature in a tranquil setting. Each island of the Venetian Lagoon has its own style.

Here you can find a monastery of Franciscan monks, which was founded in 1230. The few monks that are left now will guide you around the chapel and the cloister and allow you to walk around some of the gardens.

Probably for me this last part was the most special- walking through the trees, as they are just starting to change colour in the autumn season, passing by the rose garden and breathing in the salty sea air.

This is what I think we can take from the teaching of St Francis- his love for Nature and all of God’s creation.

We returned to the bragozzo and set sail for the next island, crossing the lagoon for this awesome view towards St Mark’s Square and the iconic bell tower of Venice.

Isola San Servolo

A quick pitstop for lunch. We found ourselves a stone bench in the gardens to have our packed lunch brought from home. And like little kids on a school trip, there was some comparing and sharing especially by M who was so well-prepared with her rice salad, dried vegetable crisps and flasks of hot tea.

San Lazzaro degli Armeni

This island is home to a church and centre of learning for the Armenian culture. Astonishing isn’t it? We’ve come to Venice to learn more about the country of Armenia than any of us knew before.

Since 1717, the island has been a haven for those Armenians escaping persecution. Over the centuries it has become a cultural and scientific centre with a printing press, an important library and many objects of cultural value (paintings and artefacts etc.)

Our guide is charming and knowledgeable and we are all fascinated by what she tells us.

We also learn that the great English poet, Lord Byron, came here to study the Armenian language in 1816. You can even see the ink pot and quill he would have used to take notes. The guide says that English visitors are particularly interested in this Byron memorabilia and I’m one of them.

Isola di Burano

We had some extra time on our hands before the bragozzo had to return to port, so just to make this day even better, we stopped off at Burano. For some of us it was the chance to walk along the canal of this pretty island and take some great photos; and others bought some of the famous local bussolai biscuits; while the last few to get back on the boat came running up with a spritz in hand to mark aperitivo time.

Return across the Lagoon

The late September sun followed us on a journey back across the water. Venetian sailors with sunglasses and tanned faces, one hand casually on the wheel, sped by in fast boats; they made waves, we caught some of the spray and laughed.

I felt so lucky to have spent a day with a group of people I barely know but with whom I share a common interest- experiencing at firsthand all these wonderful places nearby.