Grand Canal of Murano Street / Area

The Grand Canal of Murano

A true backbone of Murano, the Grand Canal of Murano is the main waterway at the heart of the archipelago. Its course is not perfectly straight: from the San Giovanni area, it continues along the Canale Ponte Lungo and then the Canale degli Angeli before joining the lagoon to the west. Its banks offer a cross-section of Murano's landscape, where ancient palaces, modest houses, glass workshops, and industrial buildings bear witness to the island's different eras.

The canal is crossed at its center by the Ponte Longo Lino Toffolo, also known as the Ponte Vivarini. This 19th-century single-span metal bridge is one of the main pedestrian crossings between the two parts of Murano. Deeply restored and reopened in August 2026, it also offers an excellent viewpoint over the façades and activity of the canal.

Another Side of Murano

The Grand Canal reveals a Murano less exclusively focused on glass shops. Along its banks, one can see the Palazzo da Mula, a former vacation residence built for a Venetian patrician family, as well as quiet fondamenta, old industrial buildings, and several areas where the presence of glassworks is still perceptible. The passage of public transport boats and workboats reminds us that this canal is still a thoroughfare and not simply a tourist backdrop.

From the Murano Colonna landing stage, one must first go up the Rio dei Vetrai, historically associated with glassmaking activities, before reaching the Ponte Longo area and the Grand Canal proper. A walk can then continue along Riva Longa and towards Fondamenta Venier, with several opportunities to branch off towards San Pietro Martire, the Glass Museum, or the Basilica of Santi Maria e Donato. This layout makes it easy to integrate the canal into a more complete visit of the island rather than making it an isolated route.