Holiday decorations on a canal in Murano, Italy

© John Warburton-Lee/DanitaDelimont.co

Murano aglow. Holidays in the Venetian Lagoon

About a kilometre-and-a-half 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 them. 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 until 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?