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We recently took an amazing three-week vacation to France and Italy during the beginning of the kid’s summer break. We traveled to several cities along the French and Italian rivieras, spent five days in Rome, and finished the trip in Venice and Murano, Italy. Murano was once the glassmaking capital of the world and the home of some truly spectacular glass factories, museums, and shops. During our stay, we bought tickets to a Murano glass blowing experience.
Today, I want to share all about that!
Experiencing Murano Glass Blowing Near Venice, Italy
I wanted to share the details of our Murano glass blowing experience so you can decide if you would like to do it when visiting Murano. In this post you’ll learn about:
- Murano, Italy
- The Gino Mazzuccato Glass Factory
- Our demonstration
- Blowing glass
- History of glass making
- Authentic Murano glass
And, you can visit the Europe Travel section of my blog to read more posts from our trips!
Why We Stayed In Murano, Italy While Visiting Venice
The area around Venice, Italy, is a lagoon comprised of 126 islands. The entire island chain is being slowly swallowed by the sea due to subsidence, sediment erosion, and rising sea levels. The only way to get between these islands is by taking a boat or water taxi to docks located at various points throughout the islands.
Several large islands are close to Venice. Each is a busy tourist destination and has its own wonderful shops, restaurants, and businesses. One of these islands is Murano. We wanted to stay in Murano because it’s significantly less crowded than Venice. Murano is just a 10-15-minute boat taxi ride to Venice and not far from other large islands like Lido and Burano. Plus, we were able to use our Hyatt points and stay at the Hyatt Centric Murano.
Murano is small enough to walk around, with bridges connecting the small islands. Or, you can take the water taxi to various spots within Murano itself. There are a lot of glass shops and many opportunities to learn more about Murano glass making and even try glass blowing. Our hotel was actually right next to the Murano Glass Museum!
Which Murano Glass Blowing Tour Did We Book?
There are several options for glass blowing in Murano. After reading reviews on Get Your Guide, we decided to book a tour called Murano: Glass Blowing Experience at Gino Mazzuccato Factory. Many people rated this tour highly, the the comments were good. It seemed to be the type of hands-on, engaging experience our family enjoys, and was short and inexpensive. We weren’t disappointed!
If you read my blog regularly, you’ll know that a few months ago, I attended a glass-making workshop in Orange Beach, Alabama. I had such a great time and kept thinking that this would be a perfect activity with teenagers. So, I knew Abby and Jake would find this interesting!
Use the widget below to check rates and availability for this experience during your trip.
The Gino Mazzuccato Glass Factory in Murano
Our glass blowing experience took place at the Gino Mazzuccato Glass Factory, a Murano glass factory founded in 1958. It is one of the major glass factories on the island and very well known.
The Gino Mazzuccato Glass Factory Location
The Gino Mazzuccato Glass Factory is located on the very southern tip of Murano, at the end of a street named Fondamenta Manin. It faces a beautiful canal that bisects the island. It is nestled in a charming, touristy neighborhood filled with glass shops, boutiques, and cafes. The factory is located near the Murano Colonna water bus stop, the main stop on the island of Murano.
Gino Mazzuccato Glass Factory Address: Fondamenta Manin, 1, 30141 Venezia VE, Italy
The Gino Mazzuccato Glass Factory Shop
When you enter the Gino Mazzuccato Glass Factory, you’ll enter through the glass shop. It’s a large shop featuring a diverse assortment of gorgeously hand-made Murano glass art. We marveled at the craftsmanship of tiny ornate glass animals, massive urns, perfectly formed spheres, glassware, jewelry, trinkets, and almost anything you can imagine.
The artistry required to make these glass artworks is stunning. I can’t fathom the dedication and work needed to design and craft these masterpieces. Seeing the array of art here made me better understand why Murano is considered the glassmaking capital of the world.
The Gino Mazzuccato Glass Factory Workshop
The glass is made in the back of the shop in a large room overlooking the water. The heat from the kiln was balanced out by the cool salt breeze. There’s a large workspace, kilns, equipment, and tools. Around the kilns are a dozen seats and a small bleacher where groups can get a great view of the Murano glass blowing process.
Our Murano Glass Blowing Experience Near Venice
Our Murano glass blowing experience began as soon as the friendly leader gathered the 12 or so people in our group. We all sat inside the workshop and had front-row views of the kiln and work area just feet in front of us.
The demonstration leader asked each family what language they spoke. Because our class was so diverse, he ended up having to speak three languages: Italian, English, and French. Therefore, he toggled back and forth between the languages during the demonstration.
During the demonstration, he explained the various types of glass and their countries of origin. He also described the Murano glass blowing process and the care required to create these masterworks.
While he spoke, we watched in amazement as a second man – the “Glass Master” – carefully scooped molten glass from the kiln and twirled it on a long metal rod. He deftly spun the rod, using gravity and hard surfaces to mold and knead the glass into different shapes. With a flick of the wrist or a quick twirl of the rod, the glass slowly took the desired form. Before our eyes, he turned red-hot glass into beautiful vases and cups. The Glass Master would occasionally blow into the rod, creating an air bubble within the glass that gave it a uniformly spherical shape. You could tell he had done this a few times!
Next, he began crafting a highly detailed horse-shaped glass piece. It was magnificent! The glass horse’s head twisted, and its legs galloped, and the entire shape seemed to be alive with energy and movement. It was thrilling to watch the Glass Master’s remarkable skill as he created this ornate figurine.
Blowing Glass In Murano, Italy
At the end of the presentation, we got our own opportunity to blow glass in Murano! The Glass Master put molten glass onto the end of the rod and invited every member of the tour up to the front to blow through the rod and inflate the glass. It was so much fun! We held onto the rod (exactly where they showed us) and let out a huge breath. With enough force, the glass began to expand, stretching into an increasingly attenuated bubble that would eventually pop with a loud noise!
We all laughed as the Glass Master congratulated each person on having such “strong lungs.” Once the bubble had popped, we got to slam the rod against the ground and shatter the remaining glass (which I have to admit was a bit frightening!) I think the kids really enjoyed that!
The Murano glass blowing experience lasted about 40 minutes. Blowing glass at the end was completely optional, but most people volunteered! Also, to keep things sanitary, they did have small plastic pieces that went over the rod.
I want to stress that most of these demonstrations don’t give you a chance to make a glass item, only to blow glass. More lengthy classes are available on Murano that allow you to be involved in the entire glassmaking process. But, this one was short and inexpensive, giving us a great look at how these Murano glass making factories work.
Murano Glass Store Discount and Shopping
After the demonstration, the ticket gives you a discount in the glass shop. When we were there, I think it was 50% off jewelry and 10% off all other items. We browsed the shop again, and Abby and Jake bought a set of glass turtles and a small lobster.
Purchasing Authentic Murano Glass In Italy
Be sure to look for the “Vetro Artistico Murano” trademark when you are buying glass, as this certifies the glass was made in Murano, Italy. This is the only way to ensure you are purchasing authentic Murano glass. Some tourist shops sell lower-quality glass not made on the island, and it can be hard to distinguish.
Additionally, we learned to feel with our fingers for a slight imperfection at the bottom center of each glass piece. This imperfection is where the glass stem was broken off from the rod, and it means it was hand-made and not machine-made. All real Murano glass is hand-made. I bought the most beautiful wine glass that I will cherish forever!
Other Murano Glass Blowing Demonstrations Near Venice
During our trip, we learned that there are numerous Murano glass-blowing demonstrations available to watch on the island. Many of them allow you and your family to “drop in” and pay at the door. So you have the option of booking ahead through a third party or finding a demonstration on your own while you explore the city. It can be overwhelming for first-time visitors. Therefore, we chose the former simply because we wanted a structured schedule and a guaranteed ticket.
A Brief History Of Glass Making In Murano, Italy
I thought it might be interesting to provide a little historical context for how Murano evolved into a glass-making hub and why its glass is so sought after.
Origins and Early History
Murano’s glassmaking history began in the 8th century with techniques from the East. By 1291, the Venetian Republic relocated all glassmakers to Murano to reduce fire hazards in Venice, establishing the island as a glassmaking hub.
Golden Age
The 16th century marked Murano’s golden age, with its glassmakers enjoying special privileges and producing highly sought-after luxury items across Europe. Innovations continued with enamel painting and gilding.
Decline and Revival
The 17th and 18th centuries saw a decline due to competition and economic challenges. However, the 19th century brought a revival through the Romantic movement and the Venice Biennale, leading to a renewed appreciation and rediscovery of traditional techniques.
Modern Era
Today, Murano glass remains highly regarded. The island is now home to approximately 100 glass factories, many of which are family businesses where the craft has been handed down for generations.
The Glass Making Museum In Murano
We didn’t get the chance to visit it, but as I mentioned above, there is a large glassmaking museum on the island of Murano. The Museo del Vetro is housed in a former palace and explores the history of glassmaking in Murano and elsewhere.
Its collection of glass objects is one of the largest in the world and dates from antiquity through the 20th century. Likewise, if you want to visit, you can buy a Murano: Glass Museum Entry Ticket on Get Your Guide.
We Recommend Glass Blowing In Murano, Italy
Our Murano glass-blowing demonstration was so much fun! Buying tickets through Get Your Guide was easy and inexpensive. The entire family enjoyed the hands-on portion of the experience, where we got to blow glass ourselves. It was a fantastic way to acquaint ourselves with the time-honored local glassmaking trade and be a part of a thousand years of tradition.
We definetly recommend you try glass-blowing in Murano if you travel to the Venice area!
More Italy Travel Inspiration
If you enjoyed this post, make sure to check out my other family travel blog posts from our time in Italy! We have been back less than two months, so I will be writing about it more in the future. So, make sure to follow along here on social media (links below)
- Visiting The Pantheon
- Charming Camogli, Italy
- St. Peter’s BasilicaTips
- What We Learned About The Colosseum
- How To Plan A Trip To Europe
- European Travel Essentials
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