Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
craft), which was located here from 1872 to 1970. Don't be shy to ask questions about
their work - your interest is welcome and provides a break from the mind-blowing con-
centration required for Burano-point stitching.
CHIESA DI SAN MARTINO
( 041 73 00 96; Piazza Galuppi; 8am-noon & 3-7pm Mon-Sat; Burano)
F
This 16th-century
church is worth a peek for Giambattista Tiepolo's1725
Crocifissione,
showing Mary gone
grey with grief, and Giovanni di Niccolo Mansueti's fanciful
Flight from Egypt
(c 1492),
which looks suspiciously like Torcello. The Russian icon near the altar is the Madonna di
Kazan, a masterpiece of enamelwork with astonishingly bright, lifelike eyes.
CHURCH
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
REGATTA REVELRY
The biggest event in the northern lagoon calendar is the 32km
Vogalonga long row
(
www.vogalonga.it
) from
Venice to Murano and Burano and back each May. It's a fabulously festive day when hundreds of enthusiasts take
to the waters in their wooden
batèla
and motorised boats are banned from the lagoon for the day.
Plan in advance and find a grassy picnic spot on Mazzorbo. If you'd like to have a go yourself get in touch
with Jane Caporal of
Row Venice
( 345 241 52 66;
www.rowvenice.com
; 2hr lessons 1-2 people €80, 4
people €120) , who'll soon show you how to wield an oar standing up like a
gondolieri
.
Murano
Venetians have been working in crystal and glass since the 10th century, but due to the fire
hazards of glass-blowing, the industry was moved to the island of Murano in the 13th cen-
tury. Woe betide the glass-blower with wanderlust: trade secrets were so jealously guarded
that any glass worker who left the city was guilty of treason and subject to assassination.
Today, glass artisans ply their trade at workshops along Murano's
Fondamenta dei Vetrai
marked by '
Fornace'
(Furnace) signs, secure in the knowledge that their wares set a
standard that can't be replicated elsewhere.
To Murano, the most regular
vaporetto
services are the 41 and 42.
MUSEO DEL VETRO
MAP
MUSEUM
GOOGLE MAP
(Glass Museum; 041 73 95 86;
www.museovetro.visitmuve.it
;
Fondamenta Giustinian 8; adult/reduced €8/5.50;
10am-6pm Apr-Oct, to 5pm Nov-Mar;
Museo)
Since 1861, Murano's glass-making prowess
