Ca' d'Oro
Venice, Italy
Murano island, Venice
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Photo: Alberto-g-rovi, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free; water bus and museum paid
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- Workshops and museum by day; the island any time
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 3 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Getting there
- Vaporetto 4.1, 4.2 or 3 — about 10–20 minutes
- Highlights
- Glassblowers, Glass Museum, 12th-century basilica
- Glass Museum
- Usually daily by day
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Combine with
- Burano and Torcello
Key facts
1291Venice moved its glass furnaces to Murano
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English Wikipedia≈ 1.5 kmacross the lagoon from Venice
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English Wikipedia12th centurythe Basilica of Santi Maria e Donato was built
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English WikipediaGlass Museumin Palazzo Giustinian, glass from antiquity to today
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English Wikipedia7 isletsjoined by bridges make up Murano
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English WikipediaA short history
Venetians made glass from the early Middle Ages, but the furnaces kept starting fires in the crowded wooden city. In 1291 the republic ordered them moved to neighbouring Murano, which became the world's glassmaking centre for centuries — crystal-clear glass, mirrors, beads, chandeliers and the finest goblets.
Its secrets were guarded as state secrets: glassmakers were forbidden to leave the republic, yet enjoyed special privileges, their daughters free to marry into noble families. Murano today is really seven islets linked by bridges, with canals, quays and workshops, home to some five thousand people.
Glassblowers and workshops
The main draw is watching a glassblower at a white-hot furnace turn a blob of molten glass into a vase or a prancing horse in minutes. Many workshops (fornaci) run short demonstrations — sometimes free, sometimes for a small fee — before inviting you into the showroom.
When buying, look for the "Vetro Artistico Murano" mark that certifies genuine island glass; plenty of cheap glass in Venice's souvenir shops isn't from Murano. The real thing isn't cheap, but small pieces — beads, pendants, glasses — make lovely mementoes.
What to see
- Glassblowing demos — in workshops along the quays.
- Glass Museum — in Palazzo Giustinian.
- Santi Maria e Donato — a 12th-century mosaic floor.
- Fondamenta dei Vetrai — the main quay of workshops.
- Faro lighthouse — by the landing, lagoon views.
- The Comet glass sculpture — on Campo Santo Stefano.
Glass Museum and basilica
The Museo del Vetro in Palazzo Giustinian traces glass from Roman vessels to modern design — Renaissance goblets, mirrors, chandeliers, beads and bold 20th-century pieces; an hour is enough. Nearby, the 12th-century Basilica of Santi Maria e Donato has a brick apse with arcades over the canal, a superb mosaic floor of 1141 with patterns, peacocks and eagles, and a gold apse mosaic of the Virgin on blue. Entry is usually free.
How to get there
Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
More tips
- Vaporetto 4.1 or 4.2 from Fondamente Nove, about 10 minutes.
- Vaporetto 3 from Piazzale Roma or the station, about 20 minutes.
- Line 12 continues to Burano, about 30 minutes.
- Get off at Colonna or Faro to start with the workshops.
Is Murano worth it?
Yes, especially on a first visit: watching Murano glass being made fascinates adults and children alike, and the island is calmer than the centre. Combine it with Burano — glassblowers and the museum in the morning, Burano's colourful houses in the afternoon. Both islands together take half a day to a full day.
Before you go
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Venice's islands: compare and choose
Islands and canals in Venice rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.
| Bridge of Sighs | 57 | 15 min | Free | 2.8 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rialto Bridge | 56 | 20 min | Free | 45 min walk |
| Grand Canal | 49 | 1 h | Free | 2.7 km |
| Gondola ride | 48 | 40 min | Paid, per boat | 2.8 km |
| Accademia Bridge | 44 | 15 min | Free | 3.5 km |
| San Giorgio Maggiore | 43 | 1 h | Free | 3.4 km |
| Muranoyou are here | 42 | 3 h | Free | — |
| Giudecca | 41 | 1 h 30 min | Free | 4.1 km |
| Peggy Guggenheim Collection | 39 | 1 h 30 min | Paid | 3.4 km |
| Lido di Venezia | 39 | 3 h | Free | 4.6 km |
| Ca' d'Oro | 38 | 1 h | Paid | 42 min walk |
| Burano | 34 | 3 h | Free | 5.9 km |
| Torcello | 30 | 2 h | Free | 6.8 km |
The lagoon islands in a day
Murano's glassblowers, colourful Burano and ancient Torcello.
- Muranoyou are here3 h · Free; museum paid
- 102 min walk from the previous stopBurano3 h · Free
- 25 min walk from the previous stopTorcello2 h · Free; cathedral paid
3 places · about 10 h 7 min with walks · 127 min on foot in total
Nearby and on the way
How to do it right
- Water bus from Fondamente Nove.
- Skip the "free" boat.
- Look for Vetro Artistico Murano.
- Burano next.
Questions
How do I get to Murano?
Vaporetto 4.1 or 4.2 from Fondamente Nove in about 10 minutes, or line 3 from Piazzale Roma.
How long do you need on Murano?
2–3 hours; half a day to a day with Burano.
Where can I see glassblowing on Murano?
In workshops along the Fondamenta dei Vetrai; many run short demonstrations.
How do I know it's real Murano glass?
Look for the Vetro Artistico Murano mark and buy from workshops on the island.
What else is there on Murano?
The Basilica of Santi Maria e Donato with its 12th-century mosaic floor, and the lighthouse by the landing.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English Wikipedia, Murano; Murano glass; Santa Maria e San Donato
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