Made in Veneto: craftsmanship, culture and tradition, from gondolas to ceramics

In the Venetian Lagoon, craftsmanship is an integral part of the landscape. In Murano, furnaces that have been in operation for centuries continue to transform glass into sculptures, chandeliers, jewellery and design objects. The master glassmaker's technique – the blowpipe, the breath, the continuous rotation of the incandescent mass – is a technical ritual that requires years of experience.
It is no coincidence that Vetro Artistico di Murano (Murano Artistic Glass) is a collective trademark of the Veneto Region, registered and regulated as a means of protecting and promoting, both nationally and internationally, products made in accordance with the island’s characteristic artistic and production standards.
The Glass Museum houses works that document the evolution of this art form from the Middle Ages to contemporary experimentation, testifying to how Murano has managed to combine tradition and innovation while maintaining a central role on the international scene.

In Burano, among the brightly coloured houses, lace represents one of the finest expressions of craftsmanship. The famous 'punto in aria' (air stitch), created without the use of a fabric base, adorned the European courts between the 16th and 18th centuries. The Lace Museum tells the story of this art form, characterised by patience and precision, while a number of lace makers continue to pass on complex techniques that require concentration and extraordinary manual skill.

In the heart of Venice, craft workshops keep alive the tradition of papier-mâché masks, modelled and decorated by hand, associated with the Carnival. However, the lagoon is also home to a less visible but equally distinctive art form: traditional boatbuilding. In the squeri, small boatyards overlooking the canals, gondolas and traditional boats are built and restored. This art form has also received institutional recognition: the collective trademark ‘Imbarcazioni in legno tipiche e tradizionali della Laguna di Venezia’ (Typical and Traditional Wooden Boats of the Venice Lagoon) has been registered to protect and promote this unique craft. The Squero di San Trovaso, one of the oldest still in operation, offers visitors the opportunity to observe up close a craft that combines expertise in woodworking, a balance of forms and adherence to rules handed down over the centuries.

Between Bassano del Grappa and Nove, ceramics are much more than just an artisanal product: they are a hallmark of the region. Since the 17th century, the presence of high-quality clays and watercourses has encouraged the development of workshops that have made this area one of Italy’s main ceramic production centres.

Over the years, dynasties of ceramists skilled at combining decoration and technical innovation have established themselves in Nove. Historiated plates, tableware sets, terracotta figures, polychrome majolica: each era has left its own distinctive stylistic mark. The Nove City Museum of Ceramics documents this journey through collections ranging from historical pieces to contemporary works, highlighting the ongoing dialogue between tradition and experimentation.

In the Belluno Dolomites, between Sottoguda and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the tradition of artistic blacksmiths and master woodworkers lives on and is being revitalised. Here, wrought iron, worked using techniques handed down through the ages, is shaped into gates, furniture and decorative features inspired by Alpine nature, while local woodworking continues to showcase the wood species and techniques typical of the mountains. This craftsmanship combines functionality with aesthetic expression, helping to keep the area’s cultural and productive identity alive.