A Stunning Beach Island Has Emerged In Venice's Lagoon (And It's Here To Stay)

Venice, Italy is known for its remarkable lagoon and twisting maze of canals along with its captivating art installations, museums, and monuments. What many don't realize is that it's also a city of islands: 118 to be exact. One of the more elusive of these is Bacan, a 33-foot long and 820-foot wide sandy islet located around 5 miles northeast of the city center, between Sant' Erasmo and Punta Sabbioni. Bacan is a well-kept secret among local families, who use private boats to escape to the islet during the hectic tourist season. Here on this peaceful oasis, Venetians can relax and picnic amongst the samphire, wildflowers, and swaying grasses and collect buckets upon buckets of razor clams.

Before 2020, Bacan was usually only visible (and visitable) during low water levels in the summer months. These days, however, the islet has become a permanent fixture due to a $6 billion miracle of modern engineering — the MOSE flood barrier, a series of 78 five-story-high metal barriers strategically placed near the city, at various points in the lagoon. These barriers have gates that can be raised and lowered to control water flow into the city. Bacan happens to be located opposite one of the barrier's inlets and gets hit by a massive inflow of seawater funneling through when the gate is open. This influx of water causes sand to accumulate, continuously fortifying the bulk of the tiny islet such that it never diminishes to the point of disappearing beneath the water's surface. Besides creating a permanent island, MOSE also helps protect Venice from catastrophic flooding in a time of increasingly erratic weather patterns. 

Right now, it's only possible to reach Bacan by private boat. One local company, Venice by Tour Boat, offers a four-hour tour of Venice's lagoon, which includes a stop on the island for a leisurely stroll on its sandy shores and a cool dip in the brackish water. As the island is not a typical tourist stop, a visit to Bacan provides a welcome break from the crowds in Venice and a truly unique vantage point of the city. It's also a chance to see the emerging plant ecosystem on the island, now that it's no longer periodically submerged in water. 

While you're exploring the Venetian Lagoon, don't miss Murano, one of the largest islands in the lagoon and a destination that should be on every art lover's bucket list. The island is known for its exquisite glassware, which is recognizable all over the world for its brilliant rainbow colors and designs. While in Murano, be sure to visit one of the glass factories, where you can learn about the glass-making process and see the artisans engaged in their craft. Many boat tours to Murano also stop at the smaller island of Burano, which is famous for its bright, candy-colored houses and delicate hand-woven lace, one of the recommended top eight souvenirs to look for when visiting Italy. If you have time to grab a meal in Burano, top off your day on the waterway by sampling the risotto de gò — a delicate creamy rice with a sauce made from gò (goby fish) from the lagoon.