A bit of REAL, HONEST information for travelers going to Venice. The free tickets given out by either your Hotel or by fellows in Piazza San Marco are truly WONDERFUL and the Murano experience is something to see. Because one person had a bad time doesn't make the trip worthless. I have been going to Venice each year for the past 35 years and have taken groups as well as myself to Murano. Unbelievable to see the demonstrations and to see the products. NO ONE twists your arm and makes you buy anything and to those like Doug who love to make the nasty remarks - Try going one time please and then have the guts to put the response on Rick's site so the truth about Murano will be known for all travelers.
Posted by
Centennial, CO, US
2186 posts
I agree with Greg. We took the free trip years ago and really enjoyed the demonstration. We didn't buy anything and didn't feel unduly pressured. It was an interesting excursion.
Posted by
Hartford, CT, United States
92 posts
Greg,
I have to agree with you. We've taken the free tours 4 times now, and they're worth it for the water taxi ride alone. It's a beautiful ride through the lagoon and it's a nice break from the vaporetto. Rick says in his books that the price of the "free" tour is the comicallly high pressure sales pitch, but truthfully we've been to 4 different factories and none of them pressured us to buy at all. Yes, they escorted us from room to room, but I've never felt as if they expected us to buy anything in order to leave the premises. Murano is a beautiful island. You can either spend money to ride the crowded vaporetto across the lagoon, conforming your tour to the vaporetto schedule, or you can take the free fast water taxi, get a glassblowing demonstration, and walk through a store. Both options probably take the same amount of time from start to finish. I choose the latter. Your mileage may vary.
Ciao,
Meredith
Posted by
Alta Loma, CA, USA
1446 posts
I agree Greg. I don't think I'll return to Murano during my next trip to Venice but it was definitely worth visiting once. Murano glass is world famous and I often see Murano glass when shopping here in the U.S. and I now have a reference point and can visualize where and how it's made. We were given the glass blowing demonstration and sales pitch however it was not high pressure at all. We did not feel bad about not buying anything! I'm glad we visited Murano; I think visiting Murano should be mandatory for first time visitors to Venice.
Posted by
Morrison, CO, USA
893 posts
I may catch flack, but here goes. I agree with some of the statements made on this site about the free tickets to Murano and disagree with others.
On our first trip to Venice we were given a free "round trip" to Murano. We watched the glass blowers and it was fine, but quite frankly we had seen the same horse blown at a Renaissance festival.
After we went through all of the rooms in the showroom and didn't make a purchase we were escorted out and told that the boat had already left for the return. My husband and I had a great laugh and walked around the island and had lunch. We happened upon a glass museum and went in and saw a lot of glass that was old and much more beautiful. We really enjoyed the museum. It was okay since we were in Venice for 5 days on this trip, but I wouldn't advise anyone who is there for 2 or 3 or 4 days to take trip, free or otherwise.
Just my opinion.
Posted by
point pleasant beach, nj, usa
646 posts
On our first trip to Venice, we visited Murano. We did not have free tickets, we just got on the vaporetto and explored on our own. We did see a demonstration, and yes, it was the lovely little horse. We then walked through the gallery. No one pressured us to buy anything. However, we were not part of a tour. My advice would be to go on your own. On our visit, we went in several shops. In one shop, the owner told me her husband actually did the glass blowing. They had very lovely pieces. I bought some small pieces. When my purchases were totaled, the owner gave me a very lovely paper weight as a gift. No hype, no pressure to buy. I love my paper weight and look at it often and remember my lovely visit to Murano. I guess my point is, no one can force you purchase anything you do not want.
Posted by
Shoreview, MN, usa
187 posts
Camille,
I think we visited the same shop!
We didn't take the free ride, missed out on a demo, but got to meet the delightful owner of this shop. He explained as a video rolled about the process. We spent over an hour with him and came home with a glass pendant light and a wine set. He gave our son a free pen.
It was a delightful experience.
We visited one high pressure shop and one that was extremely dirty filled with Chinese stuff.
His shop is across the canal that you follow on the way into town from the Vaporetto stop and he makes it all. That was the experience I wanted, not a big shop. A true artist!
Posted by
point pleasant beach, nj, usa
646 posts
Could be the same shop. It was a great experience. Didn't feel pressure at all. I was treated so well, not like a toursit at all. Those are the experiences that will be remembered. I hope more people take Rick's advice and want that "backdoor" experience. I love Venice and can't wait to return.