The Islands of San Michele and Murano

Starting from San Giovanni e Paolo Square, where you could stop for a while to admire the incredible match of the Gothic façade of San Giovanni e Paolo’s Church and the Renaissance one of the Scuola Grande di San Marco, you could then proceed to Fondamenta Nove, direction: Murano. From the motor boat, you can easily glimpse the red town walls and the black green of the cypresses in contrast with the pure white Renaissance and Istrian stone façade of the Church dominating the chessboard floor of the square together with the white dome in the corner. This is the island of San Michele, the cemetery of Venice, first stop over of our itinerary to discover the northern part of Venice lagoon. 
San Michele welcomes us from the pointed gate; defeating the dragon, he takes over its immortality.
Inside the cemetery, alongside the row of cypresses, beside Venetians’ tombs and famous people like Brodskij e Stravinskij, who chosen this water garden as eternal abode. 

The same motor boat will take you than to Murano island, called the islands of fires, to indicate the many furnaces that were moved from Venice to limit fires risk in the city. Just like a little Venice, the island is split in two by a wide canal. Getting off at Colonna stop, we suggest you to leave the mass of tourists behind and proceed to the Church of San Pietro Martire, where you could have a look at two beautiful altarpieces by Giovanni Bellini.
Therefore, you cannot leave the island without visiting the gem of this island: the Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato, magnificent example of Venetian-Byzantine art. After a stroll along the water docks, you will get in front of the majestic cathedral’s apse, while the entrance is in the modest Paleochristian façade. The colorful stone mosaics floor it’s worth a visit, together with the internal decorations and the dazzling and ipnotic Virgin that covers the golden dome of the apse. fThen, if the glass charm fascinated you too, you could take a look at the present artistic glass production in one of the many glass factory where you could have the possibility to look at the creation of one of the many little objects made by the glass master that can be bought directly in the furnace or in the many glass shops of Murano. Lastly, the artistic glass shops such as Venini, Moretti and Barovier deserve a visit.
Now you can decide whether to continue your itinerary to the islands of Burano and Torcello, you need to go to Faro stop.

Addresses and useful information:

San Michele on Island
Address: Cannaregio cap 30121 – Venice
Telephone: 0417292811
Opening times: Cemetery is open from April to September from 7.30 to 18.00; from October to March from 7.30 to 16.00 – 25th December and 1st January from 7.30 to 12.00
Actv lines: 41, 42, 61, 62, 71, 72 stop San Michele on Island

Island of Murano

Church of San Pietro Martire
Address: Campiello Michieli 3, Murano
Telephone: (+39)041739704
Actv lines: 41, 42, 61, 62, 71, 72 stop Colonna

Museum of Glasswork Art
Address: Fondamenta Giustinian 8, Murano
Telephone: (+39)041739586
Opening times: From April to October 10.00-17.00
From November to March 10.00-16.00 (ticket office closes 30 minutes before)
Closed on Wednesdays, 25th December, 1st January and 1st May
Entrance fee: full 4 € reduced 2,50 €
Reductions valid for holders of Museum Pass, Islands’ museums and Museum Card
Website: www.museiciviciveneziani.it 
Actv lines:  41, 42, 61, 62, 71, 72 stop Murano Museo

Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato
Address: Campo San Donato, 30141 - Murano
Telephone: +39 041 739056 +39 041 739056
Opening times: From Monday to Saturday: 9.00 - 12.00/15.30 -19.00. Sunday 15.30 - 19.00
Actv lines:  41, 42, 61, 62, 71, 72 stop Murano Museo

Showroom Venini, Moretti, Barovier & Toso
Address: Fondamenta dei vetrai, 30141 - Murano
Telephone: +39 41 273 7204

Indicative length of journey: half day