Murano Glass Museum: The Beating Heart of Venetian Glass Art

Just minutes from Venice, on the island of Murano, there is a place that tells one of the most fascinating stories of Italian craftsmanship: the Glass Museum. It’s not just a collection of objects, but a journey into an ancient art made of fire, sand, and talent. Here, every piece of glass tells a story, and every room is a window into a luminous and fragile past—just like the material itself.

The Origins of the Museum: A Truly Murano Story

The Glass Museum was founded in 1861, initially as a historical archive of the island, thanks to the interest of the then-mayor Antonio Colleoni and Abbot Vincenzo Zanetti, a passionate glass scholar. It was Zanetti himself who collected documents, objects, and testimonies, transforming the archive into a true museum. The goal? To preserve and promote Murano glassmaking, which at the time was at risk of being forgotten.

Today, the museum is housed in the ancient Palazzo Giustinian, an elegant Gothic-style building overlooking the Grand Canal of Murano, which once served as the residence of the bishops of Torcello. It’s the perfect place to safeguard the beauty of an art as delicate as it is extraordinary.

What to See at the Glass Museum

The exhibition path winds through over 4,000 works, from Phoenician glass of the 1st century BC to contemporary creations. You’ll find finely decorated Renaissance goblets, gilded mirrors, majestic chandeliers, and signature pieces that seem to defy the laws of physics.

One of the most captivating sections is dedicated to 20th-century glass, featuring works by Murano masters who revolutionized glassmaking, turning it into a modern and experimental language. Each room is accompanied by explanatory panels and multimedia tools that help visitors understand the secrets of the techniques used—from blowing to murrine, filigree to glass fusion.

Useful Information

Address:
Fondamenta Marco Giustinian, 8, 30141 Murano VE
(Murano Island – Palazzo Giustinian)

How to Get There:
From Venice Santa Lucia or Piazzale Roma: ACTV vaporetto lines 4.1, 4.2 or line 3 (direct).
Recommended stop: Murano Museo (a few minutes’ walk from the museum)

Opening Hours
April 1 to October 31:
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (last entry at 5:00 PM)

November 1 to March 31:
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:00 PM)

Closed on December 25 and January 1.

Ticket Prices
Full ticket: €12.00
Reduced ticket: €9.50
(valid for students aged 15–25, seniors over 65, children aged 6–14, school group chaperones, residents of the Metropolitan City of Venice)

Free Admission:

• Children up to 5 years old
• People with disabilities and their companion
• Licensed tour guides
• Residents of the Municipality of Venice (on specific days)
• University students of Venetian institutions

Tickets can be purchased online to avoid queues. Combined tickets are also available, including entry to other museums in the MUVE network.

Contacts
Website: https://museovetro.visitmuve.it/
Phone: +39 041 739586
Email: [email protected] 

Photo credits: Museo del Vetro Gallery