Le Stanze del Vetro

Le Stanze del Vetro is a glass-art exhibition space on Venice’s San Giorgio Maggiore island, in the Cini Foundation complex. Its changing displays focus on 20th- and 21st-century glass, including Murano works, Venini pieces and objects made for commercial production. The galleries are calm and carefully arranged, with exhibits that can appeal to adults and children alike. Check the current exhibition before you go, and allow about half an hour to explore the rooms.

A gallery for modern glass

Le Stanze del Vetro is in the west wing of a former boarding school, within the Cini Foundation complex on San Giorgio Maggiore. Its exhibitions focus on glass from the 20th and 21st centuries, covering both artworks and pieces made by commercial producers. The emphasis on more recent work sets it apart from museums devoted to a broader history of glassmaking.

The gallery rooms have a sleek design, with displays arranged to give the objects room. Exhibitions change over time, so the works on view depend on when you visit. Past displays have included Venini glass lamps and unusual glass animals.

Murano glass and the Biennale

Some exhibitions look at the history of Murano glass in relation to Venice’s Biennale. The collection has included historic pieces associated with the event’s early exhibitions, tracing glass’s place in the Biennale from around 1920. Displays can bring together different kinds of work, from individual art pieces to designs made for producers such as Venini.

When guided visits are available, they add explanation about the exhibition and the objects on display. The museum also has a bookshop near the entrance and activities for younger visitors. Check the current programme before setting out, since both the exhibition and its focus can change.