Taking a Vaporetto across the lagoon to Murano, the home of Venice’s renowned glass makers, is a must-do activity for anybody visiting the city of canals. In the 13th century, they were brought here to lessen the possibility of a fire breaking out in one of the glass furnaces sweeping across the densely packed core of Venice.
The Council of Ten of the Venetians took serious notice of this, passing a law in 1454 that stated: “If a glassblower takes his skill to another country to the detriment of the Republic, he shall be ordered to return; should he refuse, his nearest relatives shall be thrown into prison to induce him to return; should he persist in his secret disobedience measures shall be taken to eliminate him wherever he may be.” If they were restricted to an island, keeping track of them would be much simpler.
Today, glass showrooms and studios surround the canal, displaying anything from expensive works of art to inexpensive imported souvenirs. The Glass Museum, housed inside the 17th-century Palazzo Giustinian, houses one of the most significant collections of Venetian glass from the time of the Romans until the 20th century.
But the church of Santi Maria e Donato is not entirely made of glass; due to its multiple construction phases between the seventh and 12th centuries, it mixes Veneto-Byzantine and Early Romanesque elements. Particularly noteworthy features include the Greek marble columns with Veneto-Byzantine capitals, the animal-themed mosaic floor from the 12th century, and the statue of St.