Murano
228735
225183088
2008-07-12T09:36:09Z
Blahaccountblah
3320123
[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 225162456 by [[Special:Contributions/67.83.171.198|67.83.171.198]] ([[User talk:67.83.171.198|talk]]) uncited alternate history not reliable
{{otheruses4|the place in Italy|the Nissan SUV|Nissan Murano}}
{{unreferenced|date=March 2008}}
[[Image:Leguna Veneta.png|thumb|right|250px|Murano in the Venetian Lagoon]]
[[Image:Murano-view.jpg|thumb|250px|View from a bridge on Murano, overlooking the ''Canal Grande di Murano'']]
[[Image:MuranoSantaMariaeSanDonato20031230.JPG|thumb|250px|Santa Maria e San Donato, Murano]]
[[Image:Glass making.JPG|250px|thumb|Glass making in Murano]]
'''Murano''' is usually described as an [[island]] in the [[Venetian Lagoon]], although like [[Venice]] itself it is actually an [[archipelago]] of islands linked by bridges. It lies about a mile north of Venice and is famous for its [[glass making]], particularly [[lampworking]]. It was once an independent ''[[comune]]'', but is now a ''[[località]]'' of the ''comune'' of Venice.
==History==
Murano was settled by the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]], then from the [[sixth century]] by people from [[Altino (Italy)|Altino]] and [[Oderzo]]. At first, the island prospered as a [[fishing port]] and through production of [[salt]]. It was also a centre for trade, through the port it controlled on [[Sant'Erasmo]]. From the [[eleventh century]], it began to decline as islanders moved to [[Dorsoduro]]. It had a [[Grand Council (Murano)|Grand Council]], like that of Venice, but from the [[thirteenth century]] Murano was ultimately governed by a ''[[podestà]] ''from Venice. Unlike the other islands in the Lagoon, Murano minted its own coins.
In [[1291]], all the [[glass]]makers in Venice were forced to move to Murano due to the risk of fires. In the following century, [[export]]s began, and the island became famous, initially for [[glass beadmaking|glass bead]]s and [[mirror]]s. [[Aventurine glass]] was invented on the island, and for a while Murano was the main producer of glass in Europe. The island later became known for [[chandelier]]s. Although decline set in during the [[eighteenth century]], glassmaking is still the island's main industry.
In the [[fifteenth century]], the island became popular as a [[resort]] for Venetians, and [[palace]]s were built, but this later declined. The countryside of the island was known for its [[orchard]]s and [[vegetable]] gardens until the [[nineteenth century]], when more housing was built.
Attractions on the island include the [[Church of Santa Maria e San Donato]] (known for its [[twelfth century]] [[Byzantine architecture|Byzantine]] [[mosaic]] pavement and said to house the bones of the [[dragon]] slain by [[Saint Donatus]]), the [[Church of San Pietro Martire]] with its splendid chapel of the Ballarin family built in 1503, and the [[Palazzo da Mula]]. Glass-related attractions include the many glassworks, some [[Mediaeval]] and most open to the public, and the [[Glass Museum]], housed in the large [[Palazzo Giustinian]].
==History of Murano glassmaking==
Murano’s reputation as a center for glassmaking was born when the [[Venetian Republic]], fearing fire and destruction to the city’s mostly wood buildings, ordered glassmakers to move their foundries to Murano in [[1291]]. Murano glass is still interwoven with [[Venetian glass]].
Murano's glassmakers were soon the island’s most prominent citizens. By the 14th century, glass makers were allowed to wear swords, enjoyed immunity from prosecution by the Venetian state and found their daughters married into Venice’s most affluent families. Of course there was a catch: glassmakers weren't allowed to leave the Republic. However, many craftsmen took this risk and set up glass furnaces in surrounding cities and as far afield as England and the Netherlands.
Murano’s glassmakers held a monopoly on quality glassmaking for centuries, developing or refining many technologies including crystalline [[glass]], enameled glass (smalto), glass with threads of gold (aventurine), multicolored glass ([[millefiori]]), milk glass (lattimo), and imitation gemstones made of glass. Today, the artisans of Murano are still employing these century-old techniques, crafting everything from contemporary art glass and glass jewelry to [[Murano glass]] chandeliers and wine stoppers.
Today, Murano is home to the ''[[Museo Vetrario]]'' or ''Glass Museum'' in the Palazzo Giustinian, which holds displays on the history of glassmaking as well as glass samples ranging from Egyptian times through the present day.
==See also==
*[[Murano Beads]]
*[[Venetian glass]]
*[[Murano glass]]
==Notes and references==
<!-- this 'empty' section displays references defined elsewhere -->
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.promovetro.com/portal/index.php?&lang=2 Promovetro consortium]
{{coor title dms|45|27|30|N|12|21|12|E|region:IT-VE_type:city(6000)}}
{{commonscat|Murano}}
[[Category:Località of Italy]]
[[Category:Islands of Italy]]
[[Category:Geography of Venice]]
[[ca:Murano]]
[[de:Murano]]
[[eo:Murano]]
[[es:Murano]]
[[fi:Murano]]
[[fr:Murano]]
[[he:מוראנו]]
[[it:Murano]]
[[ja:ムラーノ]]
[[nl:Murano]]
[[nn:Murano]]
[[pl:Murano]]
[[ro:Murano]]
[[ru:Мурано]]
[[vec:Muran]]
[[zh:穆拉诺岛]]