Murano

An island of 700 years of glassmaking. Watch artisans blow glass on the spot, visit the glass museum, and see the Byzantine-style Santa Maria e San Donato church.

Murano is made up of seven small islands, located about 1.5 kilometers north of the main island of Venice. In 1291, the Republic of Venice moved all its glassworks to Murano to reduce the risk of fire and protect its trade secrets. From then on, Murano became Europe’s glassmaking center. At its peak, glassmakers enjoyed noble status, but they were not allowed to leave the island.

Highlights: (1) The Glass Museum (Museo del Vetro) is in the Giustinian Palace. Admission is 10 euros, and it is valid with the Doge’s Palace combined ticket. It presents glass art from Roman times to the present, including the 15th-century Barovier wedding cup. (2) The church of Santa Maria e San Donato, begun in the 7th century, has a 12th-century Byzantine apse and a mosaic floor. Admission is free. Legend says that the bones of the dragon slain by Saint Donatus hang in the apse. (3) Glass workshop demonstrations: Many workshops, such as Vetreria Murano Arte and Ferro & Lazzarini, offer free or 5–10 euro blowing demonstrations. Within minutes, glassblowers can create a horse or a vase. Afterward, you can visit the showroom. You are not pressured to buy, but there is a sales pitch. (4) The main canal, Fondamenta dei Vetrai, is lined with glass shops on both sides. A blue glass comet sculpture stands in Campo Santo Stefano.

Shopping tips: Look for the “Vetro Artistico Murano” origin mark. Cheap trinkets are usually imported. Reputable workshops can ship purchases for you. Getting there: Vaporetto Lines 4.1 and 4.2 take about 10 minutes from Fondamente Nove to Murano Colonna or Museo stop. Line 3 runs directly from Piazzale Roma. Line 12 to Burano stops at Murano Faro on the way. Tips: Workshop demonstrations are most common on weekday mornings. The “free boat to Murano” offers touted at St Mark’s Pier usually come with shopping commitments, so it is better to take the Vaporetto yourself.

Murano

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