Walking across the bridges of Murano makes it easy to forget that your short walk is really taking you across several separate islands, particularly because there is a common theme linking the town: glass. Every year, dozens of glass blowing factories on Murano produce thousands of pieces of glass which are shipped all over the world--and sold right on the island, to shoppers willing to part with ten dollars--or ten thousand dollars.
Take a vaparetto (a water bus) to Murano. Ask at your hotel for a schedule and information on where the closest stop is for boarding. You might also try going to St. Mark’s Square in Venice and looking for representatives from the various Murano glass factories. They will give you a free ride over and generally do not expect that you will necessarily make a purchase from their factory in return.
Make watching a glassblower your number one priority for your tour of Murano. Factory owners will be eager to have you visit and watch glass being blown by the workers. Some even provide a small gallery area with chairs where visitors can observe and may even be given a running commentary. Each of these factories will also house a showroom where you can see the finished products of that particular factory.
Buy a souvenir. Remember that when you are browsing through these various showrooms attached to the glass blowing factories, the prices you see marked on items are actually just a starting place for bargaining; no one is really expected to buy the item for that price. Bargaining is the norm. However, keep in mind that if you ask for a particular one-of-a-kind item to be created just for you, you’ll agree upon the price up front with no bargaining later. Ask the artist if he would be willing to let you take a photo of him as he creates your personal souvenir.
Complete the “glass portion” of your visit by spending a little time at the Museo Vetrario with all of its beautiful old glass. During tourist season, the museum is open everyday except Wednesdays.
Walk around the island, crossing the bridges, noticing the small houses which once were all inhabited by workers. You’ll also come across many small shops selling glass items which may or may not have come from the Murano factories.
Include a stop at the Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato. Look for the incredible mosaics, particularly the Madonna in the apse and mosaics in the floor. Keep in mind that the basilica, which is open at 9:00 in the morning, is generally closed in the afternoon but reopens at 4:00 for a couple of hours.
