San Francesco del Deserto Venice
A secret island
I first went to San Francesco, a small island in the North Lagoon, on a school trip with my religion teacher (yes, we do have one, but only for who decide to take it!). I had never been there so I thought it was the perfect occasion to discover a little bit more of the lagoon.
San Francesco del Deserto is located near Burano and Torcello but has no daily connection with any public transport so to get there you need to book a private boat from one of the two islands.
It is this "disconnected" why it's been inhabited by Franciscan priests since 1230. Like in many monasteries, they live their life there between prayers and agricultural activities but they also represent a shelter for those people who need to disconnect from their life for a period of time. They also guide some groups during the week to learn what their life is like, and show you around the islands.
I went there another two times, once for a wedding in the chapel inside the church and once to visit it again. The reason I liked it so much is that it is really another world in the same lagoon: far away from everything that is going on in vibrant Venice, and from the tourists in Burano. In the calm and peaceful atmosphere, you are able to close your mind to all the irrelevant concerns and enjoy the affinity with nature.
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