Museum of glass on Murano Island

This museum is dedicated to famous Murano glass, made exclusively on the Murano Island but due to the extremely developed Venetian trade fleets reached numerous countries on different continents and established itself for its quality. Here you will have the chance to get to know the 700 years long history of glassmaking on the Murano Island.

The exhibited collection is in chronological order. The exhibition starts with archeological findings from the Roman period- 1^st to 4^th century AD. Continuing on the trail starts the overview of the Murano glass that covers 700 hundred years of glassmaking on the island (from 1300 to today).
In the collection from the Roman period visitors will have a chance to see objects of glass made in Syria, Palestine, Greece, East-Mediterranean area and Dalmatia. Here you will see ancient perfume vials cinerary urns and other funeral objects made by glassblowing technique which served as the inspiration for Murano glassmakers.
Venetian glassmaking started under the influence of Syrian glassmakers whose art was very appreciated in the Middle Ages. In the beginning, Venetian glassmakers only imitated Syrian masters and even imported raw materials from Syria.
Only in the 15^th century, Venice took supremacy in glassmaking having played an important role in the decline of the Syrian glassmaking industry.
Murano Island is definitely famous for the invention of clear glass, invented by Angelo Barovier from Murano. For the first time the glass became transparent and crystal-like.
In the 16^th century onwards, glassmaking became an art in which artists competed to make more extravagant objects. The Free hand technique (handling glass by hand) and engraving glass with diamond pointed tools (a technique already used in the Roman period) became popular. In the 17^th century, iced glass as well as filigree technique were invented.
With the fall of the Venetian Republic, glassmaking suffered a great blow. At first the laws favoring the local production were abolished, resulting in the spread of glassmaking in other areas. Later, during the Austrian rule, the market was overwhelmed by Bohemian crystals, while the import taxes on raw materials rose for Venetian glassmakers. Murano glassmaking suffered but survived, finding its way into the Italian design industry and evolving with the current trends.


Interesting facts

• The origins of glassmaking are unknown today, however it is assumed that this material was discovered in Syria. According to one ancient legend, glass was first discovered by Syrian merchants, who used blocks of saltpeter to protect a campfire on river coasts. Fused by fire and mixed with sand, saltpeter gave birth to a new material we know as glass.
• Glass was produced in Syria, Mesopotamia and Egypt even before the 10^th century BC. In the 10^th century, glassmaking started to spread over the Balkans to other parts of Europe. From 4^th to 1^st century BC, glassmaking spread on the territory of the entire Mediterranean Sea.
• Murano glassmakers are famous for their glassblowing technique. However, keep in mind that this technique was invented in Palestine in the 1^st century BC and represented a major breakthrough in glass production.

Ticket prices for the Museum of glass on Murano Island
Regular ticket price is 10 Euros (€).
Reduced ticket price is 7.5 Euros (€).
Reduced ticket price is reserved for children between the age of 6 and 14, students from 15 to 25 and individuals older than 65 years.
We advise you to check ticket prices and working hours before visiting – check the official website of the Museum of glass on Murano Island.

Working hours of the Museum of glass on Murano Island
From April 1^st to October 31^st working hours of the museum are: 10:00-18:00h.
From November 1^st to March 31^st working hours of the museum are: 10:00-17:00h.