In the lagoon off Venice is the Island of Murano, renown for its glass manufacture for hundreds of years. Glassmaking was dominated by an elite group of craftsmen. It still is an exporter of traditional products like mirrors and glassware, and its factories produce modern items such as glass lampshades, and electric chandeliers. If you are approached by men in Piazza San Marco offering a free water taxi to Murano, be prepared for them to take you directly to a factory where you will be expected to buy from their over priced stock. ... (more)