Murano glassblowing and Burano lace-making

General information

Destination	Category
Venice, Italy	Attractions/Entertainment

Program details

Join us on a fascinating half-day trip to the timeless islands of Murano and Burano and discover traditional crafts that have survived the passing of time.

On the short boat trip over to the islands admire the beautiful views and be entertained by your guide with a description of the sights as we pass them. In no time at all we arrive at pretty Murano famed for its glassblowing. Once upon a time the glassblowers here were the only people in Europe who knew how to create mirrors and their skills were so valued that they were banned from leaving the city of Venice under threat of execution! Watch a craftsman in action as he goes about his daily business and browse the huge collection of glass art before strolling around the island.

Then back to the boat and off to our next stop, Burano, a tiny picturesque island famous for its coloured houses and its centuries old tradition of lace-making. Huddled tightly together along streets and canals, each house is painted a different colour. Legend has it that fishermen started this trend, painting their houses in bright shades so that they could distinguish it from a distance.

We wander through the streets to a small building where women sit working feverishly, stitching lace like their mothers and grandmothers before them. Stay and watch their painstaking work, listen to a full commentary on what, in the age of sewing machines, has become a dying art and then take the time to examine the beautiful lace samples on display.

Meeting/ Pick up point: At the statue of man on a horse at San Zaccaria vaporetto stop, in front of the lagoon.
Duration: 4.5 hours.
Start or opening time: At 2:15pm. It is the responsibility of all visitors to be at the meeting point 15 minutes before departure. Guests arriving after departure cannot be accommodated, & missed tours or tickets cannot be refunded.
End or closing time: This service ends around 7pm at the dock in front of Hotel Gabrielli Sandwirth (near San Marco).
Languages: English.Others: We regret that we are unable to accommodate guests with wheelchairs or mobility impairments on our tours. We are also unable to accommodate pushchairs or strollers on our tours.
Does not include entry to the Burano Lace Museum.