Murano Glass Museum

A trip to Murano, the island of glassmakers just north of Venice, makes most sense with a visit to its Glass Museum, the Museo del Vetro. It has been open since 1861 in a building that was once the residence of the bishops of Torcello, beside a canal in the centre of the island, and it is run by the city's civic museums foundation. The museum describes its holdings as the most extensive historical collection of Murano glass, and it gives context to the shops and furnaces you will pass on the way.

The displays begin long before Murano. An archaeological section shows cinerary urns and vessels in blown glass from a necropolis in northern Dalmatia, a reminder that the history of glass spans thousands of years. The main rooms then follow Venetian glassmaking through its golden age, with enamelled goblets, delicate filigree, mirrors and chandeliers. Another section explains mosaic glass and millefiori, or murrine, which nineteenth-century Murano glassmakers revived in response to a production crisis. Modern and contemporary pieces show how the craft continues to evolve.

The museum is open every day. From April to October it opens 10:00 to 18:00, and from November to March 10:00 to 17:00, with last admission an hour before closing. Tickets can be bought online through the MUVE ticketing site. Allow an hour to ninety minutes. It suits design lovers, families with older children and anyone planning to buy glass, as it helps you understand techniques and recognise quality.

Murano itself is worth a few hours. Many furnaces offer demonstrations, and the island has its own canals, churches and a quieter pace than central Venice. When buying glass, look for workshops that make their pieces on the island, and ask about shipping for larger items. Glass is fragile and often expensive, so it is worth comparing a few workshops before you buy, and keeping receipts for anything you plan to ship home.

Vaporetti from Fondamente Nove reach Murano in a few minutes, and Line 12 continues to Burano, so the two islands are easy to combine in a day. Several lines also run from Piazzale Roma and the station. Once on the island, the museum is a short walk along the canal from the main vaporetto stops.