Divided in 9 small islands and crossed by a canal, Murano island is the venetian island famous for its glass blowing: this old tradition, still alive, has been pursued by generations of Murano island residents. Amuranium, its old name, was given by the refugees of Altino, that left their place due to the barbaric invasions, in memory of a door of their town.

Murano island Venice.

Many visitors , from all over the world, comes to Murano island everyday to visit the glass shops and the artistic creations of the master glassmakers. The secrets of this job were traditionally passed from father to son and protected by the most important families. People ,that were not registered to this Art, were fined if caught.

From father to son, the secrets of this magnificent Art.

The florishing glass industry, practiced in Murano since the Middle Age, and the econimic power coming from this, gave to Murano a sort of indipendence compared to the other islands of Venice. In 1921 the Duke Tiepolo declared Murano a true industrial area. It became then the capital of glass production.

Murano is also called the island “of fires” due to the several furnaces that were moved from Venice in the past in order to limit the risks of fires in the town.

At Palazzo Giustiniani, once venue of the bishops of Torcello, the glass museum disposes of a rich collection of objects and decorated glasses made from XV century to our days, testimonies of the change thorugh the years of style and technics of a tradition that made this island rich and famous. Close to the museum, the Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato, represents an exemple of venetian-byzantine style: very interesting are the decorations  of the apse and the mosaics of the floor that date back to the year of the construction (1140). Only one bizantine mosaic remains from the original decorations. Above the door of the baptistery you can admire a painting of L.Bastiani (1484).

The Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato in Murano.

The island is easily reachable by public transportation, from Piazzale Roma or Fondamenta Nove.

Ask to the reception more information for your excursion to Murano!