Murano and Burano Islands

Today we took waterbuses to Murano Island and Burano Island.  Murano is famous for its glass making factories and glassmaking museum.  Burano is famous for lacemaking with numerous lace shops and pastel-colored buildings of the town.

In Murano we followed Rick Steves' suggestion (thanks Arnie for introducing us to Rick) to go to the first glassmaking shop in town.  Upon arrival the retired owner greeted us at the door and gave us a private tour of their commercial glass-making factory.  Two brothers are the glass-making maestros and their father who taught them their trade happened to be there at that time watching their work.  After watching them work on pieces of a chandelier, we toured the showroom.  The beauty of the glass work couldn't be captured in our photos.

Next stop was Burano Island.  It is such a small island it takes only 5 minutes to walk across the whole island.  We wandered the streets filled with the lace shops, had yummy gelato, photographed the pastel-colored houses and boarded the waterbus to return to Venice. 

Once we returned to Venice, we toured the Doge's Palace.  This was the home of the Venetian rulers (known as the doge) from 1150-1550. It also housed their government during this period and the prison.  It was amazing to see the wealth that existed at that time.

Dave having fun!

The 2 brothers glass-making.



Glass balloon lamps - very unique.

Murano Island - Glass blowing factories and showrooms

Burano Island - lace making and pastel-colored houses/shops

Tomorrow is our last full day in Venice.  We are going to Ca' Rezzonico Museum.  This is a palace of the wealthy Rezzonico family of the 1700's.

Ciao!