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Santi Maria e Donato

Byzantine mosaics and legends

Ancient church adorned with magnificent Byzantine mosaics and a dragon legend.

Murano With Kids Without Crowds

Murano island

Murano Museo + 4-min walk

Vaporetto Guide

www.sandonatomurano.it

Visit official website

+39 041 739056

Standard admission is €3.50.

Additional resources

What makes it special

12th-Century mosaics

Marvel at the golden-glass mosaic of the Virgin Mary and the intricate floor mosaics beneath your feet. Birds, symbols, and geometric patterns crafted from precious stones whisper stories of a long-lost world.

Dragon bones

Look behind the altar and you'll spot enormous hanging ribs. According to local legend, these are the bones of a dragon slain by San Donatus.

Santi Maria e Donato : Legend says the bones belong to a fierce dragon slain by the patron saint of the church

Discover more about Santi Maria e Donato through 9 photos with explanations.

Open gallery

Getting here from Venice

We cover all the ways to get to Murano, from vaporetto to private transfers, in the dedicated section on the island.

How to get to Murano

What to see nearby

These top spots are just a short walk from Santi Maria e Donato:

Glass Museum : The spacious central room, also known as the portego, situated on the first floor

super close

Glass Museum

Rio dei Vetrai : Artisan glass shops line the canal, their doors open to welcome customers

10-15 min away

Rio dei Vetrai

Glass Cathedral : The former church's interior has been transformed into an elegant event space, highlighted by glass chandeliers

10-15 min away

Glass Cathedral

More like this

Inspired by Santi Maria e Donato? Discover more family-friendly places in Venice:

Da Vinci Interactive Museum : The room with flying machines

Da Vinci Interactive Museum

San Barnaba : The sheer array of contraptions under one roof is nothing short of overwhelming

San Barnaba

Libreria Acqua Alta : Well-known for its resident cats

Libreria Acqua Alta

Natural History Museum : During the early 1700s, the 'rooms of wonders' became popular for showcasing collections of creatures rarely seen by Venetians at that time

Natural History Museum

Vintage Toys : The giant Grendizer robot

Vintage Toys

Parco delle Rimembranze : The park is characterized by its unique umbrella pine trees, which offer a shaded retreat in the midst of a bustling urban setting

Parco delle Rimembranze

Carlo Goldoni's House : One of the last puppet theatres - that were once common in the patrician houses of the 18th century- with its authentic collection of marionettes

Carlo Goldoni's House

Murano : Stroll along Rio dei Vetrai all the way to Campo Santo Stefano, the heart of Murano, easily recognizable by its Clock Tower

Murano

Music Museum : Three cellos stand majestically in front of the altar

Music Museum

And more peaceful alternatives to Venice's busy hotspots:

San Pantalon : The church is renowned for its vast ceiling painting

San Pantalon

Da Vinci Interactive Museum : The room with flying machines

Da Vinci Interactive Museum

San Nicolò dei Mendicoli : Gold leaf decorates not just frames but even the arches of stone columns — a lavish expense for a modest community

San Nicolò dei Mendicoli

San Sebastiano : The bright interior is adorned with works by Veronese

San Sebastiano

Venetian Arsenal : The twin towers guarding the original main waterway entrance

Venetian Arsenal

Naval History Museum : Inside the former oar joinery of the adjacent Venetian Arsenal, the Ships Pavilion displays one of its star exhibits: the Scalè Reale — a boat built in the early 19th century to transport high-ranking guests

Naval History Museum

Biennale Gardens : The Giardini are the perfect place to relax end enjoy spectacular views over the entire San Marco basin.

Biennale Gardens

Parco delle Rimembranze : The park is characterized by its unique umbrella pine trees, which offer a shaded retreat in the midst of a bustling urban setting

Parco delle Rimembranze

Santi Giovanni e Paolo : The majestic main altar immediately draws your gaze upwards

Santi Giovanni e Paolo

Scuola Grande di San Marco : The exquisite facade makes it arguably the most beautiful of all the Scuole Grandi

Scuola Grande di San Marco

Santa Maria dei Miracoli : The narrow, tall nave has a raised altar so that everyone can see the venerated painting of the Virgin

Santa Maria dei Miracoli

Madonna dell'Orto : The 'Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple' was initially created as two vertical halves, a fact easily noticeable at the bottom, particularly in the child's dress

Madonna dell'Orto

Palazzo Mocenigo : To evoke daily life as it was back then, rooms contain mannequins wearing ancient garments and accessories

Palazzo Mocenigo

Fortuny Museum : The Winter Garden is remarkable for its unexpected painting cycle on the wall, meticulously crafted by Fortuny over 25 years

Fortuny Museum

Zattere : Zattere ranks as the second-widest promenade in the city, following Riva degli Schiavoni, and it’s perfect for a quiet walk along the water

Zattere

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