Holiday decorations on a canal in Murano, Italy

Murano aglow. Holidays in the Venetian Lagoon

About a mile north of Venice is the collection of seven islands called Murano. The tightly packed islands in the Venetian Lagoon are joined by a series of bridges over the various canals between the islands. And during the holidays, those canals are decorated with lights, making the whole scene even more romantic. If you go to Italy for the holiday season, stay through January 5. That’s Epiphany Eve, when a witch-like character known as Befana swoops into the chimneys of Italian homes, leaving candy and presents for children. Sound familiar?