Murano

Murano is a center for glassmaking. Long ago, when the Venetian Republic was born, glass making shifted to Murano because of fears of fire and destruction to Venice's mostly wood buildings. The Murano glassmakers lived like kings: immunity from prosecution, their daughters married into affluent families. The only catch was that they could never leave the Republic! Glass shops, like tourists, are everywhere. I gravitate toward the small, less expensive beads. There are so many pretty patterns and shapes. The technique I like in particular is called millefiori--thousand flowers.
Shop lined canal in Murano.	One of many glass shops.	Millefiori-so cute!