Murano

Located in the northern lagoon, a short distance from Venice’s historic center, the island of Murano is internationally renowned for its centuries-old tradition of blown glass production. The island’s glassmaking history dates back to 1291, when the Most Serene Republic decreed that all the city’s glass furnaces be moved to Murano for safety reasons related to the risk of fire. Today, the island’s main attraction is tours of the historic glassworks, where visitors can watch master glassmakers at work as they shape molten glass using ancient techniques to create sculptures, chandeliers, and exquisite works of art.

Artistic Heritage: From the Glass Museum to the Monumental Churches

The tour of Murano winds along the island’s Grand Canal, flanked by noble palaces and artisan workshops. Among the sites of greatest cultural interest is the Glass Museum, located inside the Palazzo dei Vescovi in Torcello, which houses an archaeological and artistic collection tracing the evolution of glassmaking from the Roman period to contemporary design. Also not to be missed is the Basilica of Saints Maria and Donato, one of the masterpieces of Romanesque-Byzantine architecture in the lagoon, famous for its external apse and its precious 12th-century floor mosaics.

Visit Murano with our private boat tours

Traveling to Murano on a private boat allows you to make the most of your time on the water and gain access to private demonstrations at select glassworks. Discover our boat tours dedicated to the islands of the lagoon, check out the itinerary details, and book your visit to Murano with VIP Venice Tours.