Ponte Longo reopens on Murano after restoration on 11 October

The restored Ponte Longo on Murano reopened on 11 October 2026, returning a principal pedestrian link across the island's Grand Canal to everyday use. The reopening gives visitors to Venice a different way to read the island: its glassmaking heritage remains central, but its bridges and canals also shape how the place is experienced.

Ponte Longo reopening restores a main Murano crossing

The bridge, also called Ponte Longo Lino Toffolo, reopened after the completion of a restoration project led by the City of Venice. The municipal announcement describes it as a principal pedestrian connection used by residents, workers, students and visitors, making the 11 October 2026 change relevant to movement across the island rather than only to the appearance of the structure. The municipal reopening notice records the return to pedestrian use.

The restoration recovered the principal structural elements, replaced the walking surface and secondary supports, and added a steel structure designed for the loads required by current regulations. The project also revised the anchor systems and reorganised the utility lines running through the bridge. Work began in September 2024, and the final phase included paving, service connections and improvements at both ends.

Murano glass history meets a restored canal bridge

Ponte Longo is a nineteenth-century metal bridge with a single span measuring 33 metres. It crosses the Canal Grande di Murano between two parts of the island, so its restored surface connects directly with the canals, workshops and museum visits that define a day here. The bridge is therefore more than a backdrop to Murano: it is part of the pedestrian route through the setting in which Venetian glass is made and displayed.

The Glass Museum provides a fixed historical point for that wider story. The museum was founded in 1861 after Antonio Colleoni and Vincenzo Zanetti secured approval for an archive about the island and its glassmaking. In 1862, Zanetti established a school beside it, and the museum became part of the Venetian Civic Museums after Murano joined the municipality of Venice in 1923. The Glass Museum history places the institution within the island's long craft tradition.

That connection between infrastructure and craft is especially clear after the reopening. The bridge carries people through the working island, while the museum preserves objects and records that explain why Murano is recognised far beyond the Venetian Lagoon. Visitors can now include the restored crossing in the same walk as the canals and the museum without treating the bridge as a separate attraction.

Visiting Murano: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Ponte Longo reopened on 11 October 2026 after restoration and crosses the Canal Grande di Murano.
• The bridge is open to pedestrians as a principal connection between two parts of the island. During the works, a temporary floating footbridge maintained the crossing; the restored bridge now provides the lasting route.
• Murano lies in the Venetian Lagoon north of Venice and is reached from the city by vaporetto. The island has several landing points, including Murano Colonna, Murano Faro and Murano Museo.
• The route across Ponte Longo is a pedestrian crossing over water. The bridge is a single-span structure with a 33-metre span, so the crossing involves a bridge deck rather than a road journey.
• Italy uses Italian as its official language and the euro as its national currency.

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Frequently asked questions about Murano

What changed at Murano on 11 October 2026?

Ponte Longo reopened after a complete restoration on 11 October 2026. The crossing is again available to pedestrians between two parts of the island.

Where is Murano and how do you get there?

Murano is an island in the Venetian Lagoon near Venice. Vaporetto services connect the city with landing points including Murano Colonna, Murano Faro and Murano Museo.

What is Murano known for besides Ponte Longo?

Murano is known for its glassmaking heritage and the Glass Museum, founded in 1861. The museum became part of the Venetian Civic Museums in 1923.