We will be in Venice for our honeymoon, and would love to bring back a set of champagne glasses. Any suggestions for the best shops and neighborhoods? Would it be best to go to Murano or are there good options elsewhere?

Thanks!

Hi mw,

Unless you are collecting ART, you don't have to go to Murano.

PS,

If you see a set you like and the price is OK, take it. It won't be there when you come back.

Hi there,
From my experience, I know there are what seem like hundreds of glass merchants in Venice. The main tricks we learnt about shopping in Venice, was to pay in cash (you get altogether different prices it can seem) and to haggle!!

We went to Murano, and we got some absolutely gorgeous vases, and paid for what was less that what one of them cost. We had to wait a moment or so though, because there are a lot of tours going on, and there is no benefit to trying to get a deal when there are lots of people around who will buy whatever as a souvenir for whatever price - and can you blame them?

You can often find free ways out to the islands by companies that want you to visit their 'museums' or showhouses complete with Glassblowers, which is great, as long as you know that you can leave at any time. The public transit works just great, so meander around til you find the stop!

But I honestly don't think there is always a good reason to head out that far if you don't want to. A lot of the vendors have partnerships with Glass Houses (or whatever they're called!) and buy the glass themselves for super cheap.

So - best advice: Shop around for the best prices and exactly(!) what you want, then go in and bargain away!

Good Luck!

Hey, this rich Jewish woman I deal with at my job always recommends Pauly for glass in Venice. This woman is an antique collector with exquisite taste. She always says, "Christine, if you ever want to buy glass in Venice, you have to head to Pauly."

Christine

Handmaiden: Couldn't you have just said a rich woman. I took offense.

You won't have any problem finding beautiful glassware in Venice. It is around every corner! The challenge is to find what you want at the right price, of course. We were impressed with the variety of pieces, and we did not see the same pieces at every little shop, even though they are lined up next door to one another in places. So, if you find what you like, get it-- as Ira said, it will be gone soon!

Here's a shop we liked, which is somewhat off the beaten track: Vetri Artistici di Murano, 3 G di Giordani, Castello 4589 (www.venetian-art.com).

Have fun!

Sometimes it is worth it to buy quality Venetian glass. You spend more money, but the value goes up more if you purchase from a quality house. Also, cheaper glass products are usually made in Venice, but rather the Czech Republic.

We purchased glass from Seguso, who also had a showroom in Piazza San Marco. Three other notable names in glassmaking are Venini, Berovier and Toso. The other three glassmakers might have showrooms in Venice proper.

Also, a reputable glassmaker will ship and insure your product.

We have several pieces from Cenedese.They were recommended by the concierge at the Hotel Danieli. They also have a small shop in San Marco's. You will find beautiful glassware everywhere. Just choose what pleases you; noone will know the price. I bought simple glass jewelry in shops that looks priceless. Buon viaggio.

Handmaiden -

I too took offense.

Nina

Handmaiden - how does it go ...I remember SHAME,SHAME, SHAME

mw2006
We just got back from Italy and Greece.We bought in Venice(in my trip report) 98 glass cherries to display in our bar. The name of the place is called LA Gondola off of San Marco. I even have there e-mail you could see if they could send you pics. www.lagondolasrl.com or [email protected]
phone number is 0039-0415207015
fax 0039-0415203462
Congrats on your marriage

Well I am Catholic not Jewish but I took offense too Nina and Candenman.

Venitian glass is so beautiful mw2006, enjoy your shopping adventure. I had several lovely Ventian glasses that friends would bring me as hostess gifts from Venice when visiting me. Well I had then until the display shelf holders broke and they were smashed to pieces. That sure gave me a good cry!

Hi H,

I am sure that you did not mean to offend, but unless you are posting a police report, religious, ethnic, racial....etc descriptors are unnecessary.



Jokes are an exception:

Two guys are sitting in front of the Vatican begging.

One has a poster of the Star of David, and only a few coins in his hat.

The other has a poster of Jesus on The Cross and lots of coins in his hat.

A priest comes buy, puts some coins in number two's hat and says to number 1, "My man, you shouldn't be displaying a Jewish symbol in front of the Vatican", and goes on.

Number one turns to number two and says, "Look who's telling the Czarnovski brothers how to be schnorrers".

Ira ..... For thirty years, I was a San Francisco police secretary, and I typed thousands and thousands of reports. Never once did we use a suspect's religion as part of his/her physcal desciption. In fact, normally it would be impossible to ascertain the unknown, wanted subject's religion - unless he said "Hi, I'm Ray and I'm a ______, give me everything in the cash drawer".

Even if the suspect's idenity was known, his/her religion was never mentioned. Race always, religion never.

Ira, I know that your heart is in the right place, but IMO - that joke was derogatory. As you may or may not know - a schnorrer is a free-loader. lazy neer-do-well, etc....


Sorry folks and especially mw2006, I didn't mean to change the topic or helpful nature of this post, but some things need to be said.

LoveItaly, I know how you feel about your lovely broken glasses. We lost one of our very special wedding champagne toast glasses in the earthquake in '89 or was it '88?

Nina

LoveItaly and Starrsville, when are we going to have that glass of wine?
We can toast the honeymooners!

We just returned from Italy for our 10 year anniversary. We collect two new champagne glasses each year. I asked a similar question and got about the same answer. We decided not to go to Murano based on this advice. The problem is that all of the posters talk about glass they bought, not champagne glasses. We found that finding the glasses was not that easy. First, there is no such thing as a "pair" of glasses. We bought two similar glasses. One is shorter than the other. They are more of a wine goblet than a champagne glass but it will work. They are etched on top, with gold leaf on the bottom (different stem designs) and signed by the artist. Think pricey. We paid 300euro for the pair. We didn't get them in a glass shop. I didn't see any glasses in any of the glass shops. Having not been to Murano, I can't say if it would have been easier. Somehow I don't think so. I would advise looking on the shop websites to see if you can narrow down a shop that sells "glasses" not "glass". Email a few and ask if they have a recommendation. Also, we wound up having an extra day after we did everything we wanted to in Venice and went to Burano. It was lovely. You might find yourself with time to go to Murano afterall.