Attention Venice Shoppers!

The wifeout 10 min. When thats done, the usher you into an over priced store and high pressure you to buy..... and I have been to Venice several times over the past few years. You can get glass from Marauno a few steps away from the train station or in any of the local shops. The Island is way over priced, and the glass blowing presentation only last about 1o min. When thats done, they usher you into an over priced store and high pressure you to buy..... We stay in Venice and try to get lost... Going again for 12 days in the morning to rest, drink wine and people watch.... Have fun

Thanks Dennis! Just as I thought! Good to hear a confirmation. Lucky you with only a 12 day count down....I have 7 weeks....hope it goes by quickly.
Enjoy your vacation and be safe.

bj

I recently went to Murano while in Venice to look for some upscale glass, but all that I found (near the vaporetto stops anyway) was cheap-o touristy junk. What a disappointing waste of time. I usually frequent a more upscale shop west of St. Marks Square in the designer shops district. It is the showroom for Carlo Moretti. The store is called L'Isola. I've purchased there on my last two trips. They have some relatively inexpensive items, and some that are no so inexpensive. Unfortunately, Carlo Moretti passed away and so his glass works is in limbo. They re-opened after his death but had to shut down again for whatever reasons. Here is their website: http://www.lisola.com/

There are some nice small glass jewerly shops between Rialito and the Frari Church. They are reasonably priced, and they make most of thier jewerly on site. Plus a necklace/earings is easier to back than a lamp. When you cross the bridge heading west, walk and turn left at the first major street. You can follow the yellow signs to the church.

Thanks Michelle! I already have the Frari church on my sightseeing list and will do this at the same time.

BJ

We went to a little shop to the left of the train station as you come down the steps. She sold beautiful glassware and murano jewelry. We had glass items shipped home and they were extremely reliable and very pleasant. There beads were beautiful and when I was in Murano one of the high end shops complimented me on my beautiful necklace. I saw the same thing there for a much higher price. Also there is a shop--down the steps off the bridge at the Rialto Market. He was extremely nice and would make earrings, etc that you selected from the beads he had. He gave a guarantee that they were genuine Murano. Both places were very reasonable.

Do be careful that what you are getting is actually Murano glass. Many of the tourist trap shops in Venice are selling Chinese knockoffs. My friends and I got quite a lecture about it from a shop owner who showed us the difference (and she lost some Asian customers in the process who didn't like hearing what she had to say as it wasn't very PC).

Beware of glass bought in shops by train station! Knockoffs galore! My husband is a glass blower in Benicia,Ca at Nourot Glass and he spotted fakes on our trip last Spring. Just a FYI that might save someone some money!

Cheryl: What were the clues to the knockoffs vs the real thing? Can an average Joe (or Joanne :) ) be able to tell the difference?

There are plenty of Chinese knockoffs to be found in Venice nowadays. Of course going out to Murano and visiting a glass factory will guarantee an authentic piece. You do not have to take a tour. Just take the vaparetto out to the island and wander around yourself. I have done that a couple of times without any high pressure sales tactics. Authentic pieces should have a label on it from the glass factory, and can be found at many stores in venice itself. Look for the label and ask what factory the piece was made at.

So, how do you get it home safely?

Venice might be one of our first stops, I hate the thought of a lovely becoming a million sparkly pieces!

There is a shop near the Guggenheim Museum. I bought three tiny glass birds (have to pack light!) two years ago and still love looking at them every day. The shopkeeper (owner/glassmaker ?) was really fun to talk to, and I thought the glass was less "touristy" than at many other places. (But I'm not really knowledgeable about it.) Unfortunately, I don't have the name of that shop, but it was on a corner with windows on both streets. In looking at my map, I think it might be on Calle Bastion just east of the Guggenheim.