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The Venetian Lagoon is known around the world as a center of glass production and innovation. Much of the area’s glass is produced on the island of Murano near the city of Venice. 

The earliest documentation of Murano glass dates to the 13th century, but the history of glass in the area has ancient roots with Roman artists. 

Venice became the glass center of Europe from the Middle Ages to the Italian Renaissance.

The merchant city thrived during this time period and wealthy patrons of the arts supported glass innovations. 

Murano glass became so sought-after that guilds prohibited glass makers from sharing their secrets outside the island. Glass makers were confined to Murano and needed special permission to leave the island.

While held to strict standards, Murano glass artists also enjoyed high positions in society.

Their daughters could even marry nobles and take on their husbands’ enviable status. 

The spread of glass production methods across Europe