In the northern Venetian Lagoon, between Murano, Burano, and Punta Sabbioni, lies the island of Sant’Erasmo. During the Middle Ages, the island played an important role as a port town serving Torcello and Murano, and it was during this period that its agricultural vocation began, becoming essential in supplying Venice with fresh produce.
By the 18th century, Sant’Erasmo experienced a drastic population decline, with fewer than 60 inhabitants by 1780. This was due to a lack of resources and recurring epidemics, such as malaria.
After the fall of the Venetian Republic, the island became a site for military installations, including batteries, depots, and forts. One notable structure is the Maximilian Tower, built between 1843 and 1844 under the commission of Archduke Maximilian of Austria. Today, this historical fort has been transformed into a cultural and artistic space.
Thanks to its strategic location and fertile soil, Sant’Erasmo has developed a unique agricultural-lagoon identity. The island is known for its vegetable gardens and vineyards, with one of its most prized crops being the “Castraure”—the first tender artichoke buds of the season, a delicacy in Venetian cuisine.
Another agricultural gem of the island is “Vin Salso”, a wine produced from ancient vineyards. The salty soil of Sant’Erasmo gives its agricultural products a distinct and special flavor, making them highly requested.
A unique feature of Sant’Erasmo is its honey production. An artisan beekeeper cultivates various types of honey, setting up hives in the island’s humid, vegetation-rich areas. Here, bees pollinate artichoke and Barena flowers, producing a rare and exquisite honey known as “Honey of Barena”, which cannot be found anywhere else.
