We start our itinerary rom the northern lagoon of Venice to discover two islands not far from the historical city center, called respectively the island of the deads and the island of fires, which are the island of San Michele and Murano, the island of the furnaces.
Starting from San Giovanni e Paolo Square, where you could stop for a while to admire the incredible match of the Gothic façade of San Giovanni e Paolo’s Church and the Renaissance one of the Scuola Grande di San Marco, you could then proceed to Fondamenta Nove, direction: Murano. 
From the motor boat, you can easily glimpse the red town walls and the black green of the cypresses in contrast with the pure white Renaissance and Istrian stone façade of the Church dominating the chessboard floor of the square together with the white dome in the corner. This is the island of San Michele, the cemetery of Venice, first stop over of our itinerary to discover the northern part of Venice lagoon.
San Michele welcomes us from the pointed gate; defeating the dragon, he takes over its immortality.
Inside the cemetery, alongside the row of cypresses, beside Venetians’ tombs and famous people like Brodskij e Stravinskij, who chosen this water garden as eternal abode.
The same motor boat will take you than to Murano island, called the islands of fires, to indicate the many furnaces that were moved from Venice to limit fires risk in the city. Just like a little Venice, the island is split in two by a wide canal. Getting off at Colonna stop, we suggest you to leave the mass of tourists behind and proceed to the Church of San Pietro Martire, where you could have a look at two beautiful altarpieces by Giovanni Bellini.
Therefore, you cannot leave the island without visiting the gem of this island: the Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato, magnificent example of Venetian-Byzantine art. After a stroll along the water docks, you will get in front of the majestic cathedral’s apse, while the entrance is in the modest Paleochristian façade. The colorful stone mosaics floor it’s worth a visit, together with the internal decorations and the dazzling and ipnotic Virgin that covers the golden dome of the apse. 
fThen, if the glass charm fascinated you too, you could take a look at the present artistic glass production in one of the many glass factory where you could have the possibility to look at the creation of one of the many little objects made by the glass master that can be bought directly in the furnace or in the many glass shops of Murano. 
Lastly, the artistic glass shops such as Venini, Moretti and Barovier deserve a visit.
Now you can decide whether to continue your itinerary to the islands of Burano and Torcello, you need to go to Faro stop.
Indicative length of journey: half day
