Walking Tours – The History and Techniques of Glass – Glassworks – Studios Showrooms – Shops

Michela Scibilia

Murano is fortuitously close to Venice. Since 1291, only the glassmakers of Murano have been authorised by the Serenissima to practise the trade, a privilege that generated an exclusive makers’ culture and has shaped the very identity of the island. Murano is, in many respects, a little too close to Venice. Just a hop away, it is often too fleeting a stopover for visitors to capture the true essence of the island. Once there, you should really experience it from within. 

This guide was written for those who venture beyond: beyond the bright shop windows; beyond the routine tour of the basilica and the showrooms; beyond the souvenir hastily bought before catching the waterbus to Burano. Murano is a destination for those who arrive early in the morning, when boats are unloading anything from sand to newspapers, when children head to school and when, behind some doorway, the rumble of machinery has already begun.

Within this guide you will discover a thought-provoking itinerary along calli and canals, a layered history and an atlas of techniques – glassblowing, lampworking, the murrine, engraving and many more – that will help you appreciate the essence of a glass object rather than just its appearance. Behind every piece, there is a choreography of hands, fire, time and split-second decisions made before roaring furnaces. This is a guide for curious travellers, professionals and arts and crafts enthusiasts. Murano is not just a short stopover but a world in itself. 

Format 17×24 cm
Pages 144
Photographs 270 in colour
ISBN 978-88-85587-18-2
Binding Paperback
Price € 24,00

Michela Scibilia was born in Treviso but since 1986 has chosen Venice as her home. She specialises in editorial design and visual communication for museums, publishers and European institutions.  A pioneer of desktop publishing, Michela combines a profound knowledge of printing with extensive experience in digital media. She has previously authored multiple guides to Venice (currently out of print). This guide to Murano was created with the same care about content and the same curiosity for local artisanship and techniques that drive all her work.

www.michelascibilia.com