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Isola di Murano
( Islands )
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Venezia - 30141 Venezia
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Yes
vaporetto n. 42/52
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Divided into nine islets crossed by a wide canal, Murano is the island of
glass blowing. A long and still-thriving tradition, this magic art has involved
whole generations of Murano residents. The Museum of Glass (open: from
November to the end of March 10am-4pm; from April to October 10am-
5pm. Closed Wednesdays) is a must for anyone wishing to bone up on the
art of glass-making in Venice. Located in Palazzo Giustiniani - in times past
the prestigious seat of the Bishops of Torcello - the museum has an extraordinarily
rich collection of decorated articles and glass produced between
the 15th century and the present - showing how tastes and styles
have changed, and
how experiments
and new techniques
have affected a tradition
that brings the
island wealth and
fame.
A short distance
from the museum is
the Basilica deiSanti Maria e Donato (open: from Monday to Saturday 9am-
12am/3.30pm-7pm. Sunday 3.30pm-7pm), which is one of the best examples
of the Veneto-Byzantine style. The decorations on the exterior of the
apse are curious while, in the interior, the mosaics in the paving with ornamental
motifs date from the period of the construction of the basilica
(1140). Of the original decorations inside there remains a Byzantine mosaic
while the lunette above the Baptistery door frames a painting by L. Bastiani
(1484).
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