Chiesa di San Martino (Burano)

Church on Burano with a distinctly leaning bell tower, an iconic counterpart to the island's famous colorful houses.

The church of San Martino stands on the Piazza Galuppi at the heart of Burano, the colorful island in the northern part of the Venetian lagoon. The church dates to the 16th century and was reconsecrated in 1630 after alterations; its patron is Martin of Tours. Far more recognized than the church itself is its detached bell tower from 1703 to 1714, which leans visibly to one side — a local landmark caused by the soft, shifting soil of the lagoon. Alongside Burano's famous painted houses, the tilting campanile has become one of the island's defining images.