Famous all over the world for the glass-making art, Murano owes its secular prosperity to a 1291 decree that ruled that all glass factories (where fires could easily be started thus jeopardizing Venetians’ homes) would have to be moved to this island. The island, consisting of five main islets divided by a central canal known as Grand Canal, looks like Venice in miniature. The Canal is overlooked by noble palazzi that evoke the character of the island which soon became a holiday resort for the patricians of Venice. Unfortunately, little remains of the atmosphere that must have reigned in the past and Murano has been completely absorbed by the tourist industry. The narrow fondamenta are strewn with shops where you can buy glass souvenirs of any size, but if you are looking for something really original, we recommend that you go straight to the glass factories (most of them face the lagoon).

To savour the atmosphere of the island, get off the vaporetto at the first stop, Colonna, and walk along the Fondamenta dei vetrai. Shortly afterwards you will see, on your left, the church of S. Pietro Martire, rebuilt between the 15th and the 16th century…

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