The Murano Island is probably as famous as Venice itself, thanks to its glass known, appreciated and envied all over the world. It has been the center of glass processing since 1291, when it was decided to move the furnaces and, consequently, the artisans, to the island of Murano, to contain the risks of fire and the unpleasant effects that smoking could cause. Thanks to the importance of the glass industry, the island had its own council and governor from 1272 to 1797, the year in which Venezia was conquered by Napoleon.

Between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries it became the main glass center in Europe, all its craftsmen enjoyed unprecedented privileges but, for those who left the island to settle elsewhere, heavy punishments were foreseen, including the death penalty. This enchanting island can be easily reached in half an hour by vaporetto, from the historic center of Venezia, in its streets we can find many workshops and shops where you can buy something.

In many shops it is possible to admire how the glass is blown, with nice demonstrations that end up in the glittering shops full of souvenirs. Not to be missed is the Murano Glass Museum, which contains over 4000 handcrafted objects, which come from Phoenician artefacts to the present day, and which preserves a majestic chandelier of over 300 kilograms.

On this characteristic island stands out one of the oldest buildings in the Venice lagoon, the Basilica of Santa Maria and San Donato, which dates back to the 12th century. The name comes from the remains of San Donato, which were placed here after the conquest of Kefalonia, in 1125, one of the major Ionian islands of Greece.

The basilica represents one of the best examples of the Venetian-Byzantine style, inside it preserves an incredible mosaic with ornamental motifs, made at the time of the construction of the cathedral. Another masterpiece that we can admire is the apsidal half-cylinder, embellished between the windows of frescoes of the Giotto school, a 14th-century movement linked to the teachings of the great Italian painter and architect, and on the vault with a hemispherical cap we find a precious mosaic of the Madonna in prayer.

Also on the island emerges the 12th century Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, in honor of the Virgin Mary. An event not to be missed is the Murano Regatta, an event that takes place on the first Sunday of September, where the oar rowing skills are demonstrated. The brightly colored gondolas are a unique sight and the arrival of the race is one of the most exciting moments on the Venice sports calendar.