Hotel Conterie
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Murano
Venice
Murano
Venice
Murano, Venice
Murano
Venice, Italy
The Venice island of Murano is home to the craft of glass making, the Museo del Vetro glass museum and rare mosaics
About Murano
Originally settled by the Romans in the sixth century, Murano is one of the most popular Venice islands and is known worldwide for its craftsman made glass.
In Murano you can visit glassblowers and also take part in glass making yourself as well as buying genuine Murano glass.
Often overlooked by visitors are the churches. In Murano Basilica (Cathedral) you can see mosaics centuries old and in the Church of San Pietro Martire, you can view art from Tintoretto to Veronese.
The Museo del Vetro (Glass Museum) you can see Murano glass from the centuries in all its shapes and forms and in Campo Santo Stefano you can see Simone Cenedese’s Comet Glass Star, an abstract blue glass starburst sculpture.
Murano is easily walkable being about 1 miles across (1.5km) and is a series of islands connected by bridges.
Murano Page Index
Getting to Murano
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Vaporetto Stop & Travel to Murano
While Murano is fairly compact and easy to walk, there are a number of vaporetto stops in Murano.
For glass producers the best stop to view Murano: Murano Faro or Colonna, for Murano Basilica (cathedral) and the Glass Museum: Murano Museo
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Main Vaporetto Waterbus routes |
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Line 3 is the most direct vaporetto line to Murano (ACTV Line 3) |
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Line 12 travels from Punta Sabbioni to Fondamente Nove stopping en-route at Murano, Mazzorbo, Torcello, Burano and Treporti. |
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Line 4.1/4.2 offers a scenic route around Venice on its way to Murano and vice versa. |
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Line 7 connects Murano with the San Marco/San Zaccaria stop near St Mark’s Square |
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View our vaporetto/waterbus timetables here ➤ Buy vaporetto/waterbus tickets ➤ |
The History of Murano Glass Making
Venice and Murano, in particular, has been a centre for glass making for many hundreds of years. Roman glass has been found in the area and archaeologists discovered one of the earliest glass furnaces on a Venetian island (believed to be Torcello), dating back to the 8th century.
In the late 1200s, a law was passed requiring all glass-making furnaces to be moved from Venice to Murano to avoid the fire risk to wooden buildings in Venice. It’s also believed his was to prevent glass makers from easily sharing their trade secrets with the outside world.
These glass artisans in Murano had a privileged social status allowing them to marry into the richest Venetian families.
Today genuine Murano Glass is seeing a resurgence in popularity.
Visiting the Murano Glass Blowers
There are a number of glass blowers and artisans who allow visitors into their workshops to watch them create beautiful works of art in Murano.
Some of the companies that own glass factories in Murano are among the most important brands of glass in the world.
Visitors are welcomed to visit many of the glass workers. Generally hours will be 9.30 am to 4.30 pm but some close for lunch.
Tours vary – some are brief, others longer and more comprehensive – including behind the scenes workings. To feel the heat of the glass furnace and watch as skilled artisans transform molten sand into stunning pieces of art while infusing vibrant colours is definately worth seeing.
Buying Murano Glass
There are now believed to be about 1000 people still working in glass on Murano, many using techniques that have been around for hundreds of years.
In recent years there are a number of places in Venice that sell fake Murano glass. Generally these are in central Venice. A good rule of thumb is that if the glass is cheap, it’s not Murano glass. If you buy direct from the producer, it will be genuine.
Things to look out for: Is the glasswork a realistic price? Murano Glass is not cheap! Does it look unique? Fake glass is often industrially made so look for imperfections and a signature. How heavy is the piece? Genuine glass items are often heavier. Does it have evidence of authenticity? Genuine Murano Glass comes with a label and sometimes a certificate.
If you are looking for a bespoke piece or are willing to pay for the ultimate Murano Glass visit one of the top end producers eg Barovier & Toso, Moretti or Pauly.
Murano Glass Museum
The Museo del Vetro glass museum of Murano holds the largest historical collection of Murano glass in the world, with pieces dating from the 15th to the 20th century, many of them world-famous masterpieces.
The Museum is located in the former residence of the bishops of Torcello which was built in 1659.
In all there are over 4,000 objects in the glass museum including the largest item, a chandelier that weighs 330 kilos (727 Ibs).
The Glass Museum is very close to the Basilica (Cathedral) of St Maria e Donato.
Murano Glass Museum (Museo del Vetro) Opening Times
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Summer Opening Hours April 1st to October 31st 10.00am – 6.00pm |
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Winter Opening Hours November 1st to March 31st 10.00 am – 5.00 pm |
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Admission €15.00, reduced €7.50 Glass & Lace Museum included in the Venice Museums Pass |
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Location Google Map |
Cathedral of Maria e Donato
The most important church in Murano is the Cathedral of Maria e Donato. The church is one of the oldest in the Venetian lagoon. It was originally built in the 7th century.
Murano cathedral is best know for its stunning twelfth century Byzantine mosaic pavement. It is also said to contain the relics of Saint Donatus and the bones of a dragon slain by the saint.
The apse has a notable mosaic of the Madonna in prayer which was the work of a Venetian master of Byzantine culture from the second half of the 12th century.
The semi-cylinder apse is decorated in the spaces between the windows with frescoes in the style of Giotto. Also worth seeing is the mosaic floor.
Murano Cathedral Opening Times
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Opening Hours Monday to Saturday: 9am-12.00 / 3.30pm-7pm Sundays: 3.30pm-7pm |
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Admission Free |
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Location Google Map |
Church of San Pietro Martire
The church of San Pietro Martire was originally a Dominican convent created in 1348. The current church was built in 1511.
The building itself has a 16th-century portal and a large rose window. The church bell tower is believed to date to 1498-1502.
Art worth seeing inside the church
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Tintoretto Baptism of Christ |
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Bellini Assumption with Saints (1510–1513) and the Barbarigo Altarpiece |
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Palma the Younger San Nicòlo, Santa Lucia, San Carlo Borromeo |
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Veronese St. Jerome in the Desert |
Church Opening Times
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Opening Hours Mon-Wed-Thur-Fri: 9am – 5pm Tues: 9am – 3.30pm Saturday and Sunday: 11am – 4.30pm |
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Admission €3.00 |
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Location Google Map |
Murano Tours including Glass Making
Powered by GetYourGuide
Venice Private Glass Blowing Class
Create your own personal glass-artwork with a famous glassmaker
- Duration: 1h 15mins
- Max group size: 2
- Private lesson with a local glass craftsman
- Working items
- Your glass creation as souvenir
- 10% discount on the artworks of the artist
Murano Weather Forecast
Murano, IT
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Wind: 13km/h SE
Humidity: 63%
Pressure: 1013.21mbar
UV index: 5
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Nearby Venice Attractions
Link to: Burano
Burano
Painted houses and lace-making
Link to: Lido di Venezia
Lido di Venezia
Liberty villas, Film Festival & beach time
Link to: Sant’Erasmo
Sant Erasmo
Market garden of Venice with birdlife and forts