Murano

Welcome to Murano, an island enclave located about one and a half kilometers north of Venice's main historic center. While many visitors never leave the 'fish-shaped' main island, a short fifteen-to-twenty-minute vaporetto ride…

Our journey begins at the Murano Faro stop, marked by the island's iconic lighthouse. Built in its current form in nineteen-thirty-four, this white stone tower is still an active lighthouse, guiding boats through the complex…

We are now walking along the Fundamenta dei Vetrai, or the 'Sidewalk of the Glassmakers,' one of Murano's main canal-side walkways. This is the quintessential Murano experience: a shady reprieve from the Italian sun where the…

To truly understand Murano, one must step inside a factory like Wave Murano or the Mazega Glass Factory. Entering the furnace area, the sensory shift is dramatic: the air becomes hot, the roar of the gas burners fills the room,…

As we continue our stroll, we pass the Church of San Pietro Martire, a structure that is over seven hundred years old. Across from it stands a charming brick Clock Tower, a sentinel that has watched over the glassmakers' canal…

We now reach the Longo Lino Tofolo Bridge, which crosses over the Grand Canal of Murano, the island's largest waterway. Standing on top of this bridge, you get an 'even better perspective' of the island's layout. …

Our final major stop is the Basilica di Santa Maria e San Donato, one of the oldest and most significant churches in the lagoon, dating back to the seventh century. It is famous for its twelfth-century mosaic floor, which is as…

As we conclude our tour and head back toward the vaporetto stops, the colors of Murano seem even more vibrant. We have seen the incredible chemistry and physical strength required to turn sand into art, and we have walked the…