Did You Know?

Venice, Italy is built on more than 100 small islands and has over 400 bridges connecting them all together. The city has no roads, only canals and footpaths.

Did you know that Venice has over 400 footbridges? These bridges play a crucial role in connecting different parts of the city, spanning the canals and allowing pedestrians to move around. The most famous and iconic bridge in Venice is the Rialto Bridge, which dates back to the late 16th century.

Did you know that Venice is home to the world's oldest operating casino? The Casino di Venezia, located in the Palazzo Vendramin-Calergi, opened in 1638 and continues to welcome visitors to try their luck at various games of chance in a historic setting.

Did you know that Venice experiences an annual phenomenon called "Acqua Alta"? During certain times of the year, particularly in winter, high tides cause flooding in some parts of the city. Wooden walkways, known as "pontoon" bridges, are temporarily set up to allow pedestrians to navigate through the flooded areas.

Did you know that Venice is known as the "Floating City" or "City of Water"? This nickname is due to the absence of roads and cars within the historic center of Venice. Instead, transportation is primarily conducted by boats and water taxis, making it a truly distinctive and charming city to explore.

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Murano: A Treasure Trove Of Venetian Glass Artistry

A beautiful view of colorful Murano, the picturesque Venetian island famous for its exquisite glass-making tradition and vibrant canal-side buildings.

Murano Glassworks is world-renowned for its colourful glass objects, works of beautiful but practical art, hand-crafted on this island of Venice often referred to as the island of glass. Glassworks have been in operation on this island sector of Venice for many centuries, and it’s still blown in the traditional method. A short ferry ride from the centre of Venice, this can be an hour’s pastime, or a day-long adventure, depending on your personal passion.

As pretty as the rest of Venice, Murano island is built right to the edge of its canals, and is totally walkable (once you get there by water) because of its condensed area plan. Visitors revel in the variety available from the various glass factories, and can watch local glass-blowers in action, plus buy their wares in the many shops.

Here you will find stunning glass vessels, jewellery, ornaments, figurines and even full-sized chandeliers ready to be wired and lit. As you wander between the glassworks, stop for a custom-designed Italian gelato treat.

And don’t miss the legendary Romanesque Church of Santa Maria and San Donato with its brightly coloured mosaic floors. It is said that a slain dragon is buried beneath the church; that might explain how the glass was originally fired...