Torcello

While Venice dazzles with its marble palaces, Torcello offers a hauntingly beautiful glimpse into the past. Once a thriving city of 20,000 people, it is now a peaceful sanctuary with just a few residents, preserved in a landscape of salt marshes and silent canals.

The history of Torcello began in the 5th century, when mainlanders fled Barbarian invasions to find refuge in the lagoon. For centuries, it was the most powerful trading center in the region, larger and wealthier than Venice itself. Today, the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, founded in 639 AD, stands as a breathtaking monument to this golden age. Inside, its golden Byzantine mosaics, including the towering Last Judgment, pre-date those of St. Mark’s and are considered some of the finest in the world.

Walking through Torcello feels like navigating a living myth. Just outside the cathedral, you’ll find Attila’s Throne, a stone chair where, according to legend, the king of the Huns once sat, though it was more likely used by local magistrates. Nearby, the Ponte del Diavolo (Devil's Bridge) arches over a canal without any parapets. Local folklore tells of a tragic love pact made with the devil right on these stones, and it is said that every Christmas Eve, a black cat, the devil in disguise, returns to the bridge to claim his due.

The island’s quiet beauty has always been a magnet for creative souls. Ernest Hemingway famously stayed here at the historic Locanda Cipriani in 1948, finding the solitude he needed to write his most famous books and giving space for the creativity to flow.

Today, you can visit the Casa Museo Andrich, an artist’s house-museum surrounded by an educational garden where, if you're lucky, you can spot flamingos wading in the shallow lagoon waters.

For guests of Hotel Ala Venezia who want to experience the quiet golden heart of the northern lagoon, Torcello is an unmissable journey. We can give you directions on how to reach this beautiful place to explore the Basilica, the museum, and the hidden paths of this legendary island. Contact us at info@hotelala.it to start your adventure!