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Discover the charming islands of Murano and Burano with TouringBee's convenient mobile audio guide. Follow the app's map to explore main attractions like the Glass Museum, Lace Museum, and colorful houses along Burano's canals in just 2-3 hours. Engaging stories narrated by professional historians and journalists bring the islands' history to life.
Highlights
Flexible Duration
Professional Content
Easy Navigation
What's included
Offline map with a route for easy GPS navigation
Audio Guide App for iPhone and Android
1-year access to the tour in your preferred language
22 audio recordings narrated by a professional historian
Illustrations to help you identify landmarks
Not included
Smartphone and headphones
In-person tour guide
Transportation
Food and beverages
Itinerary
1
Murano
1h
Murano is the island of glassmakers, just across the lagoon from Venice. Since the 13th century, Venice concentrated its glass furnaces here to reduce fire risk in the city, and Murano’s artisans went on to become world-famous for their craftsmanship. Wander the canals and you'll find workshops creating delicate chandeliers, colorful sculptures, and intricate glass jewelry. Quieter than Venice itself, Murano offers a glimpse into a centuries-old tradition where fire, sand, and skill are transformed into art.
2
Stop 2
10min
San Michele Cemetery (Cimitero di San Michele) occupies its own island in the Venetian Lagoon, creating one of the most unusual cemeteries in the world. Established by Napoleon in 1807, it became Venice’s main burial ground when burials within the city were prohibited. Behind its red-brick walls lie cypress-lined paths, quiet cloisters, and the graves of notable figures such as Igor Stravinsky and Ezra Pound. Serene and contemplative, San Michele feels like a city of the departed — peacefully floating between Venice and Murano.
3
The Glass Cathedral Santa Chiara
Pass by
The Glass Cathedral (Santa Chiara Murano) is a beautifully restored former church on the island of Murano, transformed into a unique venue celebrating Venice’s glassmaking heritage. Inside, historic brick walls and soaring arches are paired with live Murano glassblowing demonstrations, where master artisans shape molten glass before your eyes. It’s a striking blend of sacred architecture, craftsmanship, and Venetian tradition.
4
Stop 4
10min
Column of the Call (Colonna della Chiamata) is a historic column in Venice associated with public announcements and civic life during the days of the Republic. Important decrees, official notices, and summonses were proclaimed here so that citizens could hear the decisions of the government. More than a monument, it served as a medieval noticeboard — a place where Venice quite literally called its people together. Today, it stands as a reminder of the city’s long tradition of public life and civic participation.
5
Chiesa di San Pietro Martire
Pass by
Chiesa di San Pietro Martire is one of Murano’s most important churches, rebuilt in the 16th century after a fire. Its simple brick exterior hides a rich interior filled with artworks by Bellini, Veronese, and Tintoretto. Located along the island’s main canal, it reflects both Murano’s religious heritage and its historical wealth. Quiet, elegant, and often overlooked, it offers a peaceful pause amid the island’s glassmaking bustle.
6
Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angeli
10min
Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angeli is a peaceful Renaissance church on Murano, founded as part of a Benedictine convent in the 12th century. Though modest from the outside, it once housed important works of art and was closely connected to Venice’s noble families. The church is also known as the burial place of Marina Nani Mocenigo, the last descendant of a prominent Venetian dynasty. Quiet and little visited, it offers a glimpse of Murano beyond its famous glass workshops.
7
Duomo di Murano Santi Maria e Donato
Pass by
Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato is Murano’s oldest and most important church, founded in the 7th century and rebuilt in the 12th century. It is renowned for its stunning Byzantine mosaic floor, one of the finest in the Venetian Lagoon, with intricate geometric patterns that seem to ripple like water. The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Saint Donatus, whose alleged dragon bones hang behind the altar. Ancient, atmospheric, and rich in legend, it is one of the true treasures of Murano.
8
Stop 8
40min
Burano is Venice’s most colorful island, famous for its brightly painted houses reflected in quiet canals. According to tradition, fishermen painted their homes in vivid colors so they could find them through the lagoon’s fog. Beyond the postcard-perfect streets, Burano is renowned for its centuries-old lace-making tradition, once prized across Europe. Smaller, calmer, and more intimate than Venice itself, it feels like a place where everyday life and beauty coexist effortlessly.
9
Il Campanile Storto
10min
The Leaning Bell Tower of Burano (Campanile di San Martino) is one of the island’s most recognizable landmarks. Built in the 17th century, the tower gradually began to tilt due to the soft, marshy ground beneath the Venetian Lagoon. Rising above Burano’s colorful houses, its noticeable lean has become part of the island’s charm rather than a flaw. Featured in countless photographs and paintings, it serves as both a landmark and a reminder that in Venice, even the architecture adapts to the water beneath it.
10
Stop 10
10min
Baldassare Galuppi, known as “Il Buranello” (“the man from Burano”), was the island’s most famous son—a celebrated 18th-century composer whose operas and sacred music were performed across Europe. The statue in Piazza Baldassare Galuppi, Burano’s main square, honors his legacy with a dignified bronze figure gazing over the island he never forgot. Surrounded by colorful houses and everyday island life, the monument is a reminder that this small fishing community once produced a musician admired from Venice to St. Petersburg.
11
Museo del Merletto di Burano
Pass by
Before you go
Ticket & redemption
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
One ticket covers the whole booking
Accessibility
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Good to know
Public transportation options are available nearby
The audio guide is available through a special mobile app for iOS and Android
Admission tickets to the museums are not included. Please purchase them separately in advance
The tour does not cover all Murano and Burano sights
This is a self-guided tour. You will need to download the audio guide app, activate your purchase, and follow the route on the app's map. There is no human guide provided
The audio guide is available anytime, the date and time provided for checkout are approximate
Location
Museo del Merletto (Lace Museum) celebrates Burano’s most famous craft: handmade lace-making. Housed in the former lace school on Piazza Baldassare Galuppi, the museum showcases exquisite lace pieces ranging from delicate collars to elaborate ceremonial works. Through displays, tools, and demonstrations, it tells the story of an art form that brought Burano international fame from the Renaissance onward. Small but fascinating, it reveals the extraordinary patience and skill hidden behind the island’s finest tradition.
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