Murano & Burano Islands Private Boat Tour with Glass Blowing & Lace Making

Your half-day tour of the Venetian Lagoon and its two most beautiful islands – Murano and Burano, begins in the afternoon. Off in a small group tour in a private taxi, you will visit the islands which have a rich history and exquisite artisanship. Enroute to the islands you will be able to see Venice’s most spectacular sights along the canals.

Settlement on these Venetian Islands began in the 1st century and since then each of the islands has developed their own speciality. Your first stop is at the Murano Island, famous for its glass-making art. In ancient times it was the only place where the artisans knew how to make mirrors. Their art was so valued that they were forbidden from leaving the island, for fear of their lives!

You will watch an expert glass-maker at his workstation in a traditional glass-blowing factory. Your guide will translate the entire glass making process and answer all your questions about glass-making. You can buy a small glass souvenir from the workshop to remember these memories. If you have time, you can explore the rest of Murano Island which has stunning Gothic architecture. Some of the places of interest in Murano are the Palazzo da Mula, Santa Maria e Donato’s Cathedral and the Murano lighthouse.

From Murano you will proceed to the island of Burano. Nearing the island you will notice the colourful homes, just as the fishermen have been doing for centuries now! The legend goes that they started painting the homes in vibrant colors so the fishermen could see their homes from the sea. While the picturesque homes itself are a visit worth to the island, its lace-making art is what you are there for.

Burano’s lace-making is an ancient tradition and its women have been stitching delicate lace-work for centuries now. In fact, Michelangelo picked up an altar piece when he visited Burano for the then newly constructed Duomo in Milan. You will visit a shop and watch the women in action. You can also take back your own lace item as a souvenir on a discount. After the lace shop visit, you can explore the island and savour the goodies at one of the local bakeries in the Galuppi Square.

You will head back to Venice and back to the humdrum of the city, treasuring the memories of an ancient era gone by!