Imagine being forced to move to an island because you were so skilled at your job, and leaving was a crime punishable by death.
That’s just what master Venetian glass-blowers faced in 1291 when the city forced them to move to the island of Murano. The Venetian government lived in fear of losing its monopoly over the glass makers’ exquisite works, so they packed them up and shipped them off. They fawned and fêted their captive glass makers, allowing them to wear swords (a privilege usually given only to the aristocracy) and marry into prestigious families—they just couldn’t leave their little island. Ever. Apart from protecting trade secrets so important to Venice’s prominence, isolating glass-blowers also served to quell concerns over fires spreading from their hot furnaces through the streets of Venice.
Judge one of the world’s oldest art forms for yourself as you go behind the scenes to watch the mesmerizing skills of a local Venetian glass-blower. In existence since Byzantine times, the technique you’ll see today remains largely unchanged. Heating the silica compound to a liquid state, the artisan has a narrow window of time to mold the glass before it hardens. See how the most delicate and intricate figurines emerge from glowing fire and black iron rods.
Though Venetian glass is now admired as a contemporary art, glass was first produced in the 12th century as beads for Catholic rosaries. Later, Venetians revolutionized the way mirrors were made—glass panes lined with foil instead of polished metal. Continuing to innovate, Venice’s glass-blowers discovered in the 16th century something we now take for granted—how to make glass clear. Glass before then was cloudy, making your see-through windows indebted forever to Venice.
From stunning color to clarity and elaborate design, enjoy Venetian glass for both its decorative beauty and practical function. Perhaps you’ll leave Italy with a vase, a year-round ornament, or a beautiful glass paperweight. No matter what you choose, you’ll come home with an Italian treasure and a new appreciation for one secret that we’re all glad finally got out.
Explore our most popular tour that includes this activity: explorica.com/rfv