Murano Site Features

The Museo del Vetro

The collection runs from Roman glass through the Renaissance techniques that made Murano's reputation -- cristallo, the near-colourless glass perfected here in the 15th century; millefiori, canes fused and sliced to produce repeating floral patterns; lattimo, opaque white glass imitating porcelain -- to 20th-century studio work.

Working furnaces

Several workshops run live demonstrations, in which a gather of molten glass is worked into a form in a few minutes. These are genuine production furnaces rather than exhibits, and the smaller ones are usually the more interesting to watch.

Telling real from imported

A great deal of glass sold across Venice as "Murano glass" is imported and has no connection to the island. The Vetro Artistico Murano trademark, administered by the region, is applied only to glass actually made here, and buying at a workshop where the furnace is visible is the surer test.