Lagoon Islands

Lagoon Islands

An aerial view of the Lagoon and its islands
Major Lagoon Islands: 8
Minor Lagoon Islands: 32
Total Lagoon Islands: 40

This article contains information about the islands of the Venetian Lagoon, excluding the islands of Venice proper.

For information on the islands of Venice proper, see Inner City Islands.

For a broad definition of all island types in the Venetian Lagoon, see Islands.

For the definition of an island in the context of the Venice Project Center's work, see Island.

History

The islands in the Venetian Lagoon have been forming and changing for hundreds of years. There are 40 Lagoon Islands: 8 Major Lagoon Islands and 32 Minor Lagoon Islands. Each of these islands has their own unique history.

Major Lagoon Islands

A Major Lagoon Island is classified as any island in the Venetian Lagoon that is over 0.02 km² in area. Additionally, these islands must be inhabited. These conditions produce a list of eight Major Lagoon Islands, including the two lidi at the edge of the lagoon.

Lidi

The lidi are long, narrow, barrier islands on the edge of the lagoon. These islands separate the lagoon from the Adriatic Sea and constrict entrance to the city to three access points.

Island Name	Population	Area (km2)	Main Usage	Access Points	Points of Interest
Murano	4,406		Residential		Museo del Vetro
Sant'Erasmo	693		Agricultural
Vignole	56		Agricultural
Burano	2,658		Residential
Mazzorbo	308		Residential
Torcello	17		Residential
Lido	16,869		Residential
Pellestrina	3,896		Residential

Minor Lagoon Islands

A Minor Lagoon Island is defined as any landmass entirely surrounded by water, with man-made structures, and is under 0.2 km² in area. These islands can be either inhabited or uninhabited. Those that are uninhabited can belong to one of five categories: Batterie, Ottagoni, Ospedali, Convents and Monasteries, Commercial Uses, or Privately Owned Islands.

Island Name	Type	Population	Area (km2)	Previous Uses	Access Points	Points of Interest
San Clemente	Commercial	1		Asylum; Refuge for stray cats	cell 5	St. Regis San Clemente Palace
San Lazzaro degli Armeni	Monastery	22		Monastery		Cloisters

See Also

Lagoon

Bibliography

Alfieri, Bruno. Venice: A Guide to the City of the Lagoon. 5th ed. Venezia: Alfieri, 1954.

Sprigge, Sylvia. The Lagoon of Venice: Its Islands, Life, and Communications. London: M. Parrish, 1962.