- you are here: Home
- Hidden Treasures
- The Barovier Cup at the Glass Museum of Murano in Venice

The Barovier Cup at the Glass Museum of Murano in Venice
What to give for a wedding has always been a very difficult question. At the Museum of Glass in Murano, the small island in the lagoon of Venice, famous throughout the world for its glass blowing, you can admire one of the most beautiful objects ever given away for someone's wedding: the Barovier cup.
It's made of dark blue glass, decorated in enamel and gold, and was made between 1470 and 1480 as a wedding gift for the two characters depicted in the medallions; in addition two allegorical scenes are depicted, a ride and a swim to the fountain of love and of youth, that were to serve as a good omen for the new couple.
This cup is so famous that even today it is produced in the same way in which the original was made more than 500 years ago and by the same furnace that produced it. The Barovier & Toso is considered among the world's oldest family businesses still in operation as it has existed from the middle of the 13th century.
The cup is kept in the Palazzo Giustiniani, which since 1861 has housed the Museum of Glass Art, where you can admire a beautiful collection of glass objects, ranging from archaeological ones from the 2nd century B.C. until the most recent creations of Venetian glass.
Palazzo Giustiniani was built following a design by Antonio Gaspari from 1680 onwards for the Bishop of Torcello Marco Giustiniani, who moved the episcopal seat here, because of malaria which was rampant in Torcello.
If you found this article interesting and would like to discover other extraordinary masterpieces safeguarded in Venice, make a request for Francesca's availability! The editor of this popular section will organise a tailor-made itinerary just for you...
- Google+
- tumblr
Search posts
Latest posts
Venice: What happened on March 3 in Venice

Almanac of Venice
According to the Venetian Liturgical Calendar, today is St. Cunegundes Empress’ Day - March 3, 1043: the monastery and church...
ViewVenice: What happened on March 2 in Venice

Almanac of Venice
According to the Venetian Liturgical Calendar, today is Pope Simplicius’ Day - March 2, 1429: an exceptional high tide with pu...
ViewVenice: Veronica Franco: the most talked-about woman in the Serenissima

Big Names
Among the various Venetian female figures of the past, certainly one of the most interesting and, for many reasons also modern, was Ver...
ViewVenice: 10 songs that will make you think of Venice

Did you know that...
Sometimes we hear the first few lines of a song and our minds are suddenly transported back to a place, a memory or a dream. We put tog...
ViewTop posts
Chioggia: The Valley of the Seven Dead Men

Mysteries & Legends
Halloween is just around the corner: have you already got into the fascinating terrifying aura of the scariest party of the year? No ye...
ViewVenice: The stone heart of St Mark’s Basilica

Unknown places & works
If you are visiting St Mark’s Basilica and have just abandoned the wonderful vision of the Pala d'Oro (which is a must-see), just a f...
ViewVenice: Map of Venice, what to know before you leave

Did you know that...
Did you know that Venice is not a single large island but rather a collection of 117 small islands linked together by over 400 bridges?...
ViewVenice: The origins of the Spritz cocktail

Local Traditions
Spritz, the typical Venetian aperitif, has nowadays become the iconic cocktail of Happy hour not only in Italy, but all over the world....
View