Make Murano a memorable destination
Take a trip to Murano in Italy and experience the colorful glass up close from the street Fondamenta dei Vetrai, which runs along the canal, or at the Museo del Vetro, which houses a huge collection of Murano glass. An absolute must-see if you are interested in glass art.
Take a day trip to the glass island in the Venetian lagoon
If you want to see how glassblowers still work with this historic craft today and watch glass art being created in authentic surroundings, Murano is an absolute destination. You don’t need to plan your trip to Murano—quite the opposite. It takes no more than 20 minutes to take the public water bus from Venice to Murano. The island is far less crowded than Venice and has a very different calm for that reason. About 5,000 people live on the small island, many of whom are more or less related to the island’s renowned glassblowers, including names like Alfredo Barbini, Archimede & Livio Seguso, and Barovier & Toso, among many others. The list of glass artists who have made their names known worldwide is long.
Murano, the island where history and renowned craftsmanship melt together
It was in Venice that glassblowers originally worked, but as demand increased so did the risk of fire. Working with glass was therefore banned in Venice, and the glassblowers moved to Murano, where the island still breathes glassblowers and colorful glass art. You won’t have to look long to find places to watch glassblowers over their shoulders, and you’ll likely find small workshops with only a few employees who are most probably related. When you find a workshop, you’ll probably notice that men tend to work at the furnace while women assist and help customers alongside. That has always been the case and still is today. Don’t take it personally if you are asked to come back at an agreed time. After all, working with glass is a tough and demanding process, and glassblowers on Murano are protective of their craft. Their glassmaking may include secret techniques passed down through generations that they are reluctant to show; we must respect that. If you’re very dedicated, you can find a workshop to participate in, or you can easily find your way to the Museo del Vetro, where all the greatest glass artists are exhibited. The museum has an outstanding collection of glass art produced on Murano by the greatest and most renowned glass artists through history. Do yourself a favor and visit the museum; here you’ll gain insight into the glass techniques that characterize each artist and a comprehensive experience of the craft you came to see. Beautiful chandeliers, with handmade prisms and carefully hand-shaped finishes on each arm, adorn the museum ceilings. They remind you of how skillful Murano glassblowers were then and still are today. It’s a craft that still exists for good reason—there’s no need to change traditions that work.
Murano stands for unmatched quality and unique design
In Murano’s streets you’ll find shops with glass in every variation you can imagine. You’ll find everything from jewelry—such as earrings and glass beads as pendants for bracelets—to vases and glass figures like clowns and, yes, the entire animal kingdom shaped in glass. There are almost no limits to what you can find. Maybe you just want the experience to take home, and luckily it costs nothing to watch from the street. If you’re thinking about bringing a small souvenir home, you can quickly spend a lot on the small glass figures and other glass decorations for the home. Remember that what you find on the island is newly produced. As you walk around the island, you will quickly notice that everything you approach is a reminder that Murano is centered around glass art. Near the canal Fondamenta dei Vetra you’ll find the former church Santa Chiara Murano. Today the church is a permanent showroom where contemporary glass art is displayed for tourists, and it is possible to see how glass art is made in their church workshop for a fee.
Also read 3 tips for recognizing Murano glass
Take Murano home — see our collection of Murano lamps and Murano vases. Read about the history of Murano glass or the most renowned glassblowers.
