Torcello, mistakenly called Torricelli by many, is the most northerly inhabited island of the Venetian Lagoon that is easy to visit. Just a dozen people live here, mostly in farmhouses, and tourism is their only source of income.

Easily reachable from Burano in just 5 minutes by ACTV vaporetto (line 9), with departures every half hour, Torcello immediately immerses its visitors in an atmosphere of another era.
Following the long avenue that leads to the square alongside the main canal, you gradually enter a landscape that seems untouched since the late Roman Empire, the rhythm broken only now and then by a colonial-style restaurant.
About halfway along this walk — around 7 to 8 minutes — you encounter the famous Devil's Bridge, so called because, according to legend, it was built in a single night by the devil himself to win a bet. The absence of railings on the sides (the so-called "spallette"), and the resulting impression that the bridge was built in a hurry, probably gave rise to this story.

A little further ahead, a second bridge leads to the village square, still entirely unpaved with clay and gravel, its sides lined with souvenir stalls.

Despite its small size, Torcello contains some of the most remarkable attractions in the entire Venetian Lagoon. The main things to see in Torcello are:

• Attila's Throne — a mysterious marble seat at the centre of the square
• Santa Maria Assunta Basilica — with extraordinary Byzantine mosaics, among the finest in Italy
• The Devil's Bridge — the only bridge in the lagoon without railings
• The Museum of Torcello — housing finds from the Late Latin, Byzantine and Medieval periods
• The Bell Tower — offering a panoramic view over the whole lagoon

Your attention is immediately caught by a marble throne at the centre of the square, the so-called Attila's Throne: erroneously attributed to the famous leader of the Huns, it probably belonged to the Bishop of Torcello or some officer of the island.
On the left side of the square stands the Palazzo del Consiglio, built in the 15th century in Gothic style as the seat of the island's government. Together with the Palazzo dell'Archivio, it forms the Museum of Torcello, which houses numerous archaeological finds from the island dating to the Late Latin, Byzantine and Medieval periods.

The Museum of Torcello is open from Tuesday to Saturday:
morning: 10.30 to 12.30
afternoon: 14.00 to 16.00
Tel. +39 041 730761

"The stone throne that still stands in front of the island's church is said to have been used by Attila, King of the Huns, after he invaded Torcello — the island where the inhabitants of nearby Altino had taken refuge."

This is what legend tells us, but in reality the Hunnic advance halted at Aquileia.

The so-called Attila's Throne, which still stands in front of Torcello's cathedral today, dates back to the 5th century AD, the period when the first community was established on the island.
It was used by the governor of the island of Torcello when administering justice and during council meetings.

Legend has it that during the period of Austrian rule over Venice, a young woman fell in love with an Austrian soldier. Her family, opposed to the union, killed him.

The distraught girl turned to a witch, who arranged to meet her in Torcello on the Devil's Bridge. Using a ritual known to her, the witch summoned the Devil, who restored the young Austrian to life.
The two lovers were able to flee together, but the Devil demanded that the witch bring him the souls of children in return for his work.
The woman promised that for seven years she would bring him the soul of a newly dead child on the night of Christmas Eve.

But the witch died shortly afterwards of natural causes and was unable to honour the pact.

To this day, it is said that on the night of 24 December the Devil, taking the form of a black cat, waits for the souls of children on the Devil's Bridge.

The origin of the name "Devil's Bridge" remains uncertain. Some claim that Diavoli was the nickname of a local family; others that the name derives from the legend above; others still speak of a further legend, according to which it was the Devil himself who built the bridge in a single night, and that the absence of a railing is due to the arrival of dawn and the impossibility of finishing the work.

From Burano to Torcello the journey takes just 5 minutes by ACTV vaporetto line 9, with departures every half hour from the Burano jetty. It is the quickest and most convenient way to reach the island.

Those travelling from Venice, Murano, Treporti, Punta Sabbioni or the Lido follow the same route used to visit Burano. Full details on timetables and tickets are available on the page "how to get to Burano".

To reach Torcello from St. Mark's Square in Venice, the most comfortable option is an organised boat tour. The trip takes about half a day, is affordable, and also takes in nearby islands such as Burano and Murano. You can book online here: boat tours of the Venice lagoon islands.

Torcello Accommodation

We hope to please suggesting some facilities such as hotels, inns and bed & breakfast in Torcello in order to help you find accommodation or rooms in Torcello or nearby.

Eating out in Torcello

Any suggestions about where eating out can never do harm, too. We tried to make a selection of the best restaurants, pizzerias and wine bars typical of Torcello

Where to buy local handicraft products around Torcello

In the globalized market has become very difficult to buy local crafts in places that you go to visit. Let us, therefore, to suggest the reliable shops where you can buy the authentic pieces and not imported.