Discover Murano – Glass Art and Island History

Murano invites you on a journey where glass culture and Venetian history are closely intertwined.

Glass History from Antiquity to the Present

At the Museo del Vetro, the tour is arranged chronologically. It begins with Roman finds from the 1st to the 4th century AD and traces the history of Murano glass over more than seven hundred years. To this end, the museum displays works from the 14th century to the present day—an informative introduction to a subject that continues to shape Murano today.

The Basilica dei Santi Maria, Donato e Cipriano houses one of the oldest painted panels in Venetian art. Venetian-Byzantine architectural craftsmanship is present in the Palazzo Da Mula, complementing the view of the island’s cultural past.

The Scuola del Vetro Abate Zanetti also continues a long artisanal tradition: it is the successor to the historic glass institution Scuola di Disegno per Vetrai, founded in 1862 by Abate Vincenzo Zanetti.

In some of Murano’s numerous glassworks, you can still observe the special technique of glassblowing today. Those who enjoy not only looking at finished objects but also understanding how they are made will find this a particularly tangible part of the island’s culture.

Island Structure and Traces of Production

In 1291, the Serenissima ordered the relocation of Venice’s glass workshops to Murano in order to contain the consequences of the devastating fires caused by the workshop furnaces. The history of glass production is therefore directly connected with Murano’s development.

Le Conterie was a complex of old glass furnaces and production facilities for colored glass beads. These were used for necklaces, bracelets, and jewelry; the site has been partly renovated and redesigned. It thus points to another stage in glass processing that goes beyond traditional glassblowing.

Murano consists of seven islands separated by canals and connected by bridges.

Canals separate the individual islands, while bridges connect them. This spatial structure is therefore just as important for finding your way around Murano as the traces of glass production.

Waterways and Connections

Murano lies northeast of Venezia and can be reached by water from Fondamenta Nove. Lines 4.1, 4.2, and 3 connect Piazzale Roma and Venezia Santa Lucia railway station with the Museo Murano stop.

In addition, line 7 connects San Marco-San Zaccaria with the Murano Navagero stop. Several water connections therefore lead to Murano from different starting points.

This provides several specific arrival points for planning your day. Museo Murano and Murano Navagero are two arrival points on Murano; depending on the line, possible starting points include Fondamenta Nove, Piazzale Roma, Venezia Santa Lucia railway station, and San Marco-San Zaccaria.

Further Destinations for Orientation

Further destinations: Favaro Veneto, Dese, Mestre, Alberoni, Tessera, Marghera, Zelarino and Giudecca.

More about Venice: Venice.