Visiting the islands of Murano and Burano had been long on my wish list. My previous visits to Venice had been day trips with limited time to fully explore. This time I had 4 full days and I wanted to cram as much as possible in to make best use of the time.
Murano is a series of small islands North of Venice linked by bridges of varying style and quaintness. You can get there easily via the direct vaporetto (orange number 3 line) which takes about 18 minutes or other routes including via Burano which takes longer. The buildings and houses are often painted in different colours which adds to the charm. It’s a very picturesque town which has a relaxed feel. You get the sense it operates at a much slower pace than Venice which is welcome and a nice contrast from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Murano is most famous for glass making and you may have come across their designs and craft in all corners of the world. There are various furnaces you can visit on the island and see how the glass is made although it’s worth noting the most authentic are not open to the public. There’s also a glass museum which is open every day and worth a visit at only €12 for entry. It’s not a large museum and doesn’t take too long to make your way round the different rooms and exhibitions however it’s fascinating seeing the intricacy of the items which were made such a long time ago. The colours and designs are simply stunning and you get a sense of the craftsmanship involved. There’s also more recent creations which is good to see for comparison with the older pieces.
Aside from the museum, there are lots of restaurants, cafes and shops on the islands mainly featuring a lot of similar items including glass gifts and souvenirs. There are also some larger stores selling homeware and feature items including the famous Murano glass.
We spent a few hours exploring the island before heading back to Venice.
xo!