Murano

Murano The island of Murano became famous in 1291, the year in which the glass production was transferred here from the old city center due to fear of fires in the kilns. To get to the “glass island” you must go to Fondamenta Nuove where you can take a motor boat nos 41 or 42 that reaches the glass island in about 10 minutes. You will catch a glimpse of the San Michele island while traveling between le Fondamenta Nuove and Murano. This is Venice’s cemetery where famous people such as Stravinsky and Diaghilev are buried. Once you get to Murano, get off at the Colonna stop and walk along the Fondamenta dei Vetrai, where you can see the famous kilns lined up one after the other. Some of these are open to the public: choose one to watch the expert master glass blowers creating an object with glass. You can also buy blown glass souvenirs at the kilns directly. One of the oldest glassworks is Venini, a company that exhibits its own work in many Museums of Modern Art around the world. Just before the Vivarini Bridge you will see the Church of San Pietro Martire on your left, where there are some frescoes by Bellini, Tintoretto and del Veronese. Cross over the bridge and walk along the Fondamenta Cavour, where the Glass Museum is located, housing 4000 pieces that shown the development of glass blowing techniques over the centuries. One of the item on display is the wonderful Barovier cup, made from enamel-painted blown glass and decorated with allegorical figures. Just a short walk from the museum there is also the Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato, which was built in the 8th century. Here you can admire the Vergine Orante, a splendid mosaic that depicts the Virgin Mary. The Basilica also has a curious fact: the apse in Venetian Byzantine style is facing the Canal.