Venice, Italy - Murano/Burano Islands

 Today was a trip of two Islands: Murano & Burano

During our boat 45 min ride to Murano an interest to me was the passing of the giant hands sculptured by Lorenzo Quinn.  These 6 giant hands are designed to build a bridge over Venice. With each pair representing one of six universally essential values - Friendship, Wisdom, help, Faith, Hope and Love. 

  

Murano is the island of master glass blowers.  Original factories were in the city center of Venice, but the government wanted all the factories moved to its own island because they made a lot of money from it and they didn't want anyone to know these glassblowing secrets.  Because the technique is so difficult, these men would start this trade as young at 14 years old.  The youngest on the island is 60 years old.  If you look closely at the picture of the Glassblower, you will see a Horse.  He did this horse as a demonstration and was completed in 3 1/2 minutes.  I have the video but it's too large to upload in the blog.  We were unable to take any photos of any of the Glassblower Exhibits.  

Burano is the island of Lace making and colorful houses. The ladies would make lace while the men fished. There are very few of these master lace makers left.  It takes 7 different lace makers to make 1 design.  The technique is very tedious and a lot of patience.  Each house is brightly colored, and the reasons is when fisherman came back to the island, they would recognize their home by the color.