Murano and Burano in a Half Day Boat Tour

Murano and Burano Boat Tour Description

Your 4-hour tour includes:

• Round trip transportation from Venice by private boat

• Tour and glassblowing demonstration in Murano

• Tour and lacemaking demonstration in Burano

• Friendly, English-speaking guide

• Maximum group size of 22

Murano

After meeting your small group in St. Mark's Square, your adventure begins with a short and comfortable boat ride to Murano. There’s a lot to see on the way, and your guide will keep you entertained with stories of the sites you sail past. Soon enough, you'll arrive in beautiful Murano, a small island world-famous for its glass.

Once upon a time Murano glassblowers were the only people in Europe who knew how to create a mirror, and their skills were so valued that they were banned from leaving the city of Venice under threat of execution. The artisans are allowed to leave the island now of course, but the craft has stayed the same and you'll witness it first-hand at our first stop—a glassblower’s workshop. 

Witness a master craftsman in motion as he conducts his daily tasks, while receiving a detailed explanation of the process. What gives the glass its color? How does silica sand become glass? Which is the most difficult part of his job? All your questions will be answered throughout the demo, as this is a real, working studio and your experience here will be as authentic as it comes. Afterwards you'll have time to browse the huge collection of glass art in the show room or wander the island on your own for a while.

Being an island and subject to problems related to high water, the gondola or boat tour cannot be guaranteed due to force majeure.

Burano

Our next stop is the colorful island of Burano, you'll be struck immediately by its old-world charm. Huddled tightly together along streets and canals, each house is painted a different color, with laundry strung up across the narrow streets. Legend has it that fishermen started this trend, painting their houses in bright shades so that they could see home from a distance.

However, Burano’s major claim to fame is its ancient tradition of lacemaking. Your guide will take you through the streets of Burano to a small building where women sit and stitch lace like their mothers and grandmothers before them. They only demonstrate for tours, so this is your best bet to see them in action! Stay and watch their painstaking work, and hear how, in the age of sewing machines, these traditional methods are unique and highly sought-after.

When Michelangelo visited Burano he bought an altarpiece for the brand new Duomo in Milan, and there's no shortage of wonderful artisan shops to explore today either. You can spend your free time in the island winding your way along the kaleidoscopic streets and taking in the ambiance. We'd recommend trying the local cookies for one of the island's bakeries too—delicious!