caption: Glass lanterns and decorative shapes. To reduce the threat of fire to Venice, all glassmakers were forced to the island of Murano in 1291 AD. Murano is a series of islands linked by bridges in the Venetian Lagoon, in northern Italy, Europe. Venetian glass is world-renowned as colorful, elaborate, and skillfully made. Once an independent comune, Murano is now a frazione of the comune of Venice. Venice and the Venetian Lagoon are honored on UNESCO's World Heritage List.