The Top Things to Do and See in Murano, Venice
This Murano sightseeing itineraryYou can use it to organize your trip to this island in the lagoon of Venice. Due to its proximity and importance in completing the tour of the Italian city, it is one of the most important places for us to see in Venice.
This island is well-known for its Murano glass or blown glass manufacturers and is also referred to as the “younger sister” of Venice due to their similar shapes. Nine islets make up Murano, which are connected by bridges and include a central “Grand Canal” where regular boats can also travel. In just a few hours, you may visit all of Venice’s attractions after traveling there in just 20 minutes by boat.
We’re going to tell you all there is to see in Murano as well as practical information to help you plan your trip, like transportation or lodging, based on the numerous trips we’ve taken to the city of canals, thanks to which we were able to develop our Venice travel guide. Let’s begin!
Why travel to Murano? What is the time frame?
We consider Murano to be one of the top day trips from Venice. It is one of the most significant of the 118 islands in the Venetian lagoon because of the glass industry. However, there are intriguing locations to explore outside of the industries, and there are many picturesque spots that we are certain you will like.
The entire list of things to do in Murano may be checked off in a one morning. However, if you prefer to travel calmly, you might want to think about staying in bed. After noon, the island remains more peaceful and is an excellent place to stay the night away from busy (and facing) Venice. There are some lodging suggestions at the conclusion of our Murano travel guide.
Burano is the largest of the three islands, and the demonstrations of the glass manufacturers cease there at around three in the afternoon, so it is preferable to start there if you plan to tour Murano, Burano, and Torcello independently. Then, given its lower tourist traffic and thus earlier attraction closing times and fewer vaporetto frequencies, we advise visiting Torcello.
From our perspective, it is highly recommended to hire one of the following excursions from Venice if you feel like traveling with a Spanish-speaking guide who will be able to provide you with detailed information about Murano and the surrounding islands:
Free tour to Burano and Murano, except travel costs
Burano and Murano day trip
Burano, Murano, and Torcello excursion
You have the option of going to Murano alone or going to Murano and Burano and Torcello as well on a private excursion to the Venice islands.
Free trip to Burano, Torcello, and Murano
1. Santa Mara and San Donato Basilica
The Basilica of Santa Mara and San Donato, the Murano Cathedral, are must-see attractions in Murano. Considering that it dates back to the seventh century and underwent extensive repairs between the ninth and the twelfth centuries, it is among the oldest structures in the Venice Lagoon. Initially primarily dedicated to the virgin, it was expanded to include San Donato in 1125 after its remains were transferred here following the conquering of Kefalonia.
The Duomo de Murano has a plain brick facade that is not particularly eye-catching. The inside is striking, nevertheless, and features a color Byzantine mosaic from the 12th century, a marble sarcophagus that appears to hold Saint Donato’s bones, and four ribs that are over a meter long that hang behind the altar. These, so the story goes, belonged to a massive dragon that Saint Donato slain in Greece.
By the way, the bell tower or campanile is similar to the Basilica of Saint Mark in Venice.It is situated apart from the main structure. It appears extremely lovely at Campo San Donato, where you can also see several Murano glass sculptures that are commonplace.
Entry fee: 3.50 euros.
Hours: Sundays from 12 to 3 p.m. and Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2. As a Murano activity, visit a glass factory
The Serene Republic of Venice was founded in 1291.He made the decision to relocate the thriving glass industry to the island of Murano in order to prevent a catastrophe in the city caused by the abundance of wood-frame structures. Since artisans could only leave the island with a specific permit, they also took sure to regulate the spread of glass handling skills in this way.
From that point forward, new workshops with their corresponding furnaces were constructed in Murano, which is still well-known around the world for its glass crafts or Venetian glass. Despite being a form of art that is constantly evolving, glass blowing is a production process that allows them to add elaborate designs to their products, making them highly sought-after worldwide.
For all of this, visiting one of these workshops or factories is something you can do in Murano, yes or no. It is interesting to observe how, despite technological advances, methods from centuries ago are still being employed, with everything being largely handmade. Watch the Vetrai instructors; they are nearly fascinating. The Massimiliano Schiavon Art Team and B.F. Signoretti workshops, which we have highlighted on the map of things to see in Murano, are the best places to find a quality piece to take home. There are many venues to witness demonstrations.
You should be aware that the tour and factory demonstration are included in the price of the excursion to Murano, Burano, and Torcello. If not, expect to pay between 7 and 10 euros per person for a session lasting about 30 minutes.
3. The Glass Museum is a must-see in Murano.
The Glass Museum in Murano is a significant location to visit if you want to learn more about glass. More than 4,000 pieces of Murano glass are contained there, split across 9 rooms. It will also assist you in understanding its creation and significance, from the earliest to the most cutting-edge.
It is also worth going only to see the Palazzo dei Vescovi di Torcello, the edifice in which it is housed. It was constructed in 1861 in a flamboyant Gothic style and was undoubtedly another Murano tourist attraction when it was converted to an exhibition hall from an island history archive.
11 euros with a 1 euro discount if purchased here. Students, children, and those over 65 pay 8.50 euros. Kids under the age of five go in free. If you have the Venezia Unica City Pass, which you can purchase here, admission is free.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Sunday. 5 pm is the cutoff time.
4. Lighthouse in Murano
This lighthouse, which is around 34 meters high and really dates from 1934, is situated near one of the vaporetti piers in the eastern half of the island of Santo Stefano. The current one has a stunning white tint because it is made of Istrian stone. But in the past, you may witness lighthouses made of iron and wood that had to be demolished due to various weather conditions.
If you look closely, you may notice two bas-reliefs that symbolize the virgin at the lower portion of the Murano lighthouse.
5. San Pedro Martir Church
The Church of San Pedro Martir, also known as San Pietro Martir, is another attraction in Murano. Although it was initially constructed in 1348, when it was entirely destroyed by fire, the current structure dates from 1511 and is the second-most significant church on the island.
Its appearance is plain, brick, and was constructed on the foundation of three naves, just as the Murano Cathedral. However, within there are some priceless Murano glass lamps as well as works by artists like Tintoretto, Bellini, or Paolo Veronese.
If you have more time to explore Murano, we advise you not to skip the Church of Santa Mara de los ngeles, which was restored in 1529 and has a history resembling that of San Pedro Martir. Paintings by artists Francesco Zugno, Antonio Molinari, Palma il Giovane, and Il Pordenone can be found inside.
Free admission. The sacristy and the museum have a 3 euro entrance fee.
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
6. The Mula Palace
The Palazzo Da Mula, which dates to the 12th century and features Venetian Gothic embellishments, is one of the ancient structures to see in Murano. It is advisable to view it from the opposite side of the channel for that. Prior to the XV century, modules and bas-reliefs that are a staple of the so-called Venetian ojival art.
The flexing arches of the lodge, the windows of the noble level, the circular patterns, or the serrated edges of the main entrances are all apparent examples of this kind of art. If you look attentively, you may make out a tabernacle resembling the one in Venice’s Palazzo Gritti Badoer on the windows.
In addition to housing the Murano civil registry and hosting cultural events on the noble floor, it also features a tiny museum about the lagoon’s resources and use, called the Civiltà Lagunare Center. You can occasionally find a guide to assist you in learning more about local history and traditions.
Explore Murano and indulge in its cuisine.
The finest thing to do in Murano, despite the fact that it seems a bit like a topic, is to just wander around and let yourself be enchanted by its alleys lined with vibrant buildings, intimate squares, stores stocked with Murano crystals, and, of course, canals bridged by stunning bridges. The Get Longo, which connects the islands of Donato and San Pietro and is located on Murano’s Grand Canal, is the most intriguing of them.
The Roman Column and the Column of the Side or the Call are two noteworthy locations along your path. The first one doesn’t have much loss because it is situated directly on the Murano Colonna jetty. A statue of Domenico Contarini, who served as Doge of Venice from 1043 to 1071, was supported by a granite column.
The Side Column, on the other hand, is located right adjacent to the Ponte de Mezo in the middle of the Rio de Pintores. The Dux messenger or the courts appear to have stood at this location to announce orders or different rules regarding glass, salt, fishing, or other lagoon-related issues. It is topped by a San Marco’s Lion.
We advise you to visit B Restaurant alla Vecchia Pescheria, one of the top restaurants in Murano, for lunch. Since it specializes in seafood, as you may expect, you will be delighted to receive a plate of decadent pasta along with some seafood.
If you choose to spend the night in Murano, which we heartily advise, make sure to take in the sunset and stroll through the main districts after the last of the visitors have left. You will experience complete serenity.
Getting to Murano
Finding a flight to one of the airports close to Venice is the first step in planning a trip to Murano. The closest airport is Marco Polo Airport, but you also have the choice to fly to Treviso, which is serviced by budget airlines like Ryanair or Vueling. The key thing is that Venice or Murano are more than an hour away from Treviso.
How to go from Venice airport to the downtown details all your options. You can arrange a transfer directly from Marco Polo Airport to Murano if you plan to stay there.
Many tourists are unsure of the best route to get from Venice to Murano or how to accomplish so. Due to it being an island, you can travel there by vaporetto if you are considering visiting it for free. These are the Venice water buses, and the cost of the journeys is not particularly inexpensive. Depending on whether you intend to visit Murano alone or more islands, you can choose from a variety of tickets to utilize them.
