Venetian Lagoon Island (Italy): Murano, renowned for glass-making
Laguna Veneta (Venetian lagoon) has a number of islands, Venice being the biggest which I’ve learned is actually a set of islets connected to each other by bridges but is seen as 1 island. The lagoon reminds me of the Nichupte Lagoon in Cancun, Mexico. But unlike Cancun that is facing the vast and sometimes tumultuous Caribbean Sea, the Venetian lagoon is actually enclosed by the Adriatic Sea, much safer I guess, although Venice has problems during spring when the waters rise. Venice should hire the Dutch who are experts in land reclamation and water management. Or maybe they have already?
There is a boat service to the island of Murano in San Zaccaria vaporetto stop in the Castello quarter of Venice which is just a stone’s throw away from piazza San Marco. The line 41 and 42 stops at every vaporetto stop. An option is the Fondamente Nove stop in the Cannaregio quarter as this goes direct to the islands. It was already late in the morning when we headed off to Murano. The island is renowned for its glass making industry.
To protect Venice from outbreaks of fire, in 1291 all the glass furnaces in the city were moved to the nearby island of Murano. The Murano glass is well-known worldwide and most of the tourists that come over to this island are looking for opportunities to buy authentic ‘Made in Murano’ glass items (from jewelry to vases to wine glasses to art sculptures) or witness glass blowing techniques in one of the furnace factories.
I’m not enamored with glass so I didn’t even bother to check the shops. We were however curious to see a glass blowing demonstration but I personally couldn’t stomach the hawking—buy this, buy that, especially after the demo. So instead, we wandered off, walking along the canals and crossing bridges, then we had coffee paired with this heavenly tiramisu. Yummy. I don’t have a sweet tooth—ok, blame it on Blondine who wanted her daily dosage of sugar, but this tiramisu is just wickedly delicious.
We found Murano a bit boring, so after the scrumptious tiramisu, we were ready to head off to another island, Burano, where we will have our late lunch.
Travel Period: April 2010
Destination: Murano, Venice (Veneto), Italy
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
Like Venice, Murano Island is also a cluster of islands with bridges linking the islands together. The island still lives on its old trade -- glass blowing but mainly survives now from tourism.
There is a boat service to the island of Murano in San Zaccaria vaporetto stop in the Castello quarter of Venice which is just a stone’s throw away from piazza San Marco. The line 41 and 42 stops at every vaporetto stop. An option is the Fondamente Nove stop in the Cannaregio quarter as this goes direct to the islands. It was already late in the morning when we headed off to Murano. The island is renowned for its glass making industry.
To protect Venice from outbreaks of fire, in 1291 all the glass furnaces in the city were moved to the nearby island of Murano. The Murano glass is well-known worldwide and most of the tourists that come over to this island are looking for opportunities to buy authentic ‘Made in Murano’ glass items (from jewelry to vases to wine glasses to art sculptures) or witness glass blowing techniques in one of the furnace factories.
I’m not enamored with glass so I didn’t even bother to check the shops. We were however curious to see a glass blowing demonstration but I personally couldn’t stomach the hawking—buy this, buy that, especially after the demo. So instead, we wandered off, walking along the canals and crossing bridges, then we had coffee paired with this heavenly tiramisu. Yummy. I don’t have a sweet tooth—ok, blame it on Blondine who wanted her daily dosage of sugar, but this tiramisu is just wickedly delicious.
We found Murano a bit boring, so after the scrumptious tiramisu, we were ready to head off to another island, Burano, where we will have our late lunch.
Zoom in and out the map to see the location of Murano. It is quite near to Venice.
Our vaporetto captain in action and a glass mosaic, Murano without an O.
Bridges, canals, boats, boulevards and shops selling all sorts of glass trinkets on Murano Island. It was a greyish day but luckily dry.
Blondine posing with the canals.
The tower on Campo Stefano and the bridge - Ponte San Pietro Matire.
Lovely cafes and restaurants along the canals.
Taking a quick souvenir shot.
The heavenly tiramisu! We share this though as I just wanted to taste really. I am not really the sweet-toothed type.
The glass artwork that looks like an asteriod, in Campo Stefano. I particularly took note of the name of the art sculpture mentally before I shot this photo but helaas I have become forgetful.
Chiesa di San Pietro Martire in Murano Island.
More glass art work here in Murano.
Travel Period: April 2010
Destination: Murano, Venice (Veneto), Italy
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
