| The inhabitants of Altino, escaping from barbarian invasion, find refuge in the islands of the lagoon, giving them the names of the six doors of the city: Murano, Mazzorbo, Burano, Torcello, Ammiana e Costanziaco. Murano Island - A Glassmaker's Paradise. Since 1291, this tiny Venetian island has been the home of Venice's glassmaking industry. Glassmaking has quite an exalted tradition in Venice, and is considered to be one of the most important forms of art. Murano is usually described as an island in the Venetian Lagoon, although it is actually an archipelago of islands linked by bridges. It lies about a mile north of Venice and is famous for its glass making, particularly lampworking. It was once an independent comune, but is now a locality of the region of Venice. Today it is a significant tourist attraction, and it is easily accessible by vaporetto, the public water bus or by a private motor boat taxi. The glass museum is one of the main attractions of the island. There is also a Modern and Contemporary Museum, which features more current glass. |
