Nine Luxury Gifts You Can Only Find in Venice

In Venice, the line between art and craftsmanship blurs. The delicacy of a Murano goblet, the fluidity of a Fortuny silk gown speak to an exquisite sensibility and a matchless quality that is the legacy of guilds formed in medieval times to uphold standards and train artists to preserve the tradition of excellence. Despite the tidal wave of mass-produced copies, artisanal craft survives—if you know where to go. 

Items compiled by Antonietta Poduie in Venice.

Pillow

A Byzantine-style motif is woven on 18th-century looms by the weavers of Bevilacqua. A winged lion is the symbol of St. Mark, the city’s patron saint, and of the city. Mario e Paola Bevilacqua, 337/b, San Marco, Fondamenta della Canonica.

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This Story Is a Selection from the Venice Issue of the Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly

Discover Venice anew, from its rich history and many cultural quirks to its delightful, present-day customs and excursions.

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