But the penny steamers go to a pier close to S.
Donato and are frequent.
Murano is within every visitor's range, no matter how brief his stay, but Burano is another matter.

The steamer which sails from the pier opposite Danieli's on all fine afternoons except Sundays and holidays requires four hours; but if the day be fine they are four hours not to be forgotten.

The way out is round the green island of S.Elena, skirting the Arsenal, the vastness of which is apparent from the water, and under the north wall of Murano, where its pleasant gardens spread, once so gay with the Venetian aristocracy but now the property of market gardeners and lizards.

Then through the channels among the shallows, north, towards the two tall minarets in the distance, the one of Burano, the other of Torcello.

Far away may be seen the Tyrolean Alps, with, if it is spring, their snow-clad peaks poised in the air; nearer, between us and the islands, is a military or naval station, and here and there yellow and red sail which we are to catch and pass.