Magical Art of Glassblowing

During the reign of the Roman empire, moulded glass was used in Venice for illuminating the bathhouses. Blending this art with the skills picked up during the Byzantine Empire and from the Trade relations with the Orient, Venice emerged as an important glass manufacturing centre known for its fine work and world-class quality.

In 1200, a Glassmakers Guild was established in Venice and they safeguarded the secrets of the trade to ensure the profitability of the trade. This committee laid out laws for the glassmaking industry flourishing in Venice and one of them was that glassmaking must be restricted to the Islands of Murano in order to avoid the risk of fire from the furnaces spreading onto the largely wooden structures of overpopulated Venice.

This made Murano the centre for glassblowing in Venice and over the years they refined their techniques and started moulding objects of daily use like cups, glasses, dishes, mirrors and lamps. This art of moulding the glass in all these shapes was one of the most safeguarded secrets in the Venetian Republic.

This tour will take you through the prized Venetian tradition of Glassblowing; a delightful art that will leave you spellbound.

You will live this experience in St Mark's Square in an old glass factory showroom. This detailed guided tour will run you through the ancient techniques used, the evolution of glassblowing art over time and a glimpse of the principal objects made with this art. Consume the warmth, smells and the sounds of the furnace while you're here and be awed by the magical hands of the artisan moulding glass right in front of your eyes. The icing on the cake being, you will receive a tiny glass gift as a memory of this visit.