MURANO 'amurianum' was its original name. located just north of venice, murano is the island of glassblowers. murano was a commercial port as far back as the 7th century, and by the 10th century it had grown into a prosperous trading center with its own coins, police force, and commercial aristocracy. 1000 AD - venice glass center dominates in glass production, murano island is established as a major glass center.  venice moves its glass ovens to the island of murano to remove the danger of fire. the city establishes draconian penalties for any glass maker caught jeopardizing the venetian monopoly in clear glass by taking production secrets abroad. read more