Visit Murano

The island of murano is located just off the coast of venice in italy, and is the most popular of the venetian islands. Famous for murano glass, it has been made there since 1291 when the glassmakers of venice moved there to stop the risk of fire from their furnaces burning venice to the ground. Tourists flock to the island each year to visit the many glass shops and showrooms lining it's canalsides. There are many shops selling murano glass but a lot are cheap imitations from china. Genuine murano glass is not cheap so if you find a shop where it is cheap theres a good chance it is fake.

To get to murano, take a ferry from venice to Murano Colonna, this is where you will find the busiest canalside which has plenty of shops to browse, from shops selling cheap imitations upto expensive showrooms.

Once you have done your shopping you can then take in some of the sites of murano. Pay a visit to the glass musuem (Museo del Vetro) or there are some very picturesque places to see along the canals including the Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato. The basilica is a 12th century church which boasts some beautiful mosaics and the remians of St. Donato. The church is also supposed to possess the bones of the dragon he killed with his holy spit which you will see hanging behind the altar. You can also pay a visit to San Pietro Martire which contains some artwork by bellini.