Venice Murano Island Glass Factory Tour with Glass Blowing Demonstration
Venice

Price: €10
Min age: 0
Rating 4.08 / 5 [192 ratings]
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Venice, Veneto, Italy
|Murano became the capital of glass in 1291 thanks to a decree banning all furnaces from Venice proper to avoid fire risk. The island soon became centre for glass-blowing, shipping chandeliers, mirrors, vases and glass tableware across the world. Today, Murano remains a unique place where the skills of centuries are still practised by latter-day artisans.
Watching a top glass-blower is an absorbing sight, from the ferocious heat thrown out by the yellow glow of the furnaces to the balletic genius of the Murano craftsmen as they blow, snip, twist and tug at their fiery blob of liquid to transform it into an exquisite vase or seahorse. Afterwards, you can buy pieces in the showrooms.
The Museo del Vetro (Glass Museum) is housed in a beautiful 17th-century palazzo and has a vast collection of Murano glass from elaborate 18th-century chandeliers to exquisite glass beads.
While it is perfectly possible to wander round the glass shops independently, you need to book an appointment at a furnace in advance. You’re best off booking onto a guide tour. If you want to buy glass, a few pointers to sort the schlock from true quality:
Newly-opened gallery/design shop/restaurant/bistro Punta Conterie is a good stop-off for snacks or a gourmet meal and some contemporary glass culture. It has a rooftop terrace with watery views.
You can visit Murano seven days a week, all year round. But in the summer months it will be packed; go in winter for a more authentic experience.
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Veneto, Italy
Crammed with picturesque canals, Renaissance palazzos and artistic masterpieces, this unique and alluring city is heaven-on-earth for art lovers and romantics.