Italian Craft - Discover Maker Mile

Words by Mandi Keighran - first published in our Italy Magazine

Many cities are shaped by their craft traditions, but perhaps none more so than Venice. For centuries, the Queen of the Adriatic has been defined by its Murano glass, Burano lace, finely carved gondolas, gilded timber-work, and the intricate masks and costumes that have long concealed Venetians during the annual Carnevale di Venezia. For the millions of tourists that descend upon the city each year, these traditions are part of the appeal - but, like the city itself, which is at risk of receding beneath the waves by as early as 2100 - genuine artisans are slowly disappearing.

Ilaria Marcatelli has made it her mission to prevent this erosion, much like the experimental MOSE system that is designed to stop the lagoon from overflowing during the infamous acqua alta tides. Drawing on her experience as an exhibition designer for the European Cultural Centre, Ilaria founded Maker Mile in her spare time, creating a map that charts the artisans keeping the city’s craft traditions alive.

“Today it is quite difficult to find something that speaks of the city’s identity - and it is very precious to find these things because they are increasingly rare,” says Ilaria. “Year by year, we are losing the culture and craftsmanship of Venice. I felt it was important to preserve the peculiarities of my city.”

Ilaria is originally from Cremona, a small city in Lombardy, but studied architecture in Venice and returned to live there after travelling the world. In 2016, whilst collaborating with Venice Design (an exhibition that ran alongside La Biennale di Venezia), she was tasked with discovering design destinations, and spent months wandering the streets of her adopted hometown. It was during these explorations that the idea for the Maker Mile was born.

“I was just losing myself in the city; it’s the most beautiful thing that you can do here,” she says. “I wanted to discover the craftspeople creating pieces that reflect the atmosphere, the environment, the culture and the identity of Venice. I was looking for high quality craftsmanship but I also got to know the human beings behind the art.”

Take, for example, glassblower Stefano Morasso, who was born on the island of Murano in 1962 and began learning his skills in his father Mino’s workshop. Today, Stefano runs a workshop inside the 15th-century ex-convent of Saints Cosma and Damiano, on the island of Giudecca, with his wife Nicoletta. In a tiny studio set in the cloisters (he is one of many practitioners working and living there, all of whom have open studios), amidst the brightly patterned Murano glass and shelves stacked with raw materials, Stefano passes his skills onto their son.

Ilaria’s first artisan map showcased the work of 42 different makers, from glassblowers and painters to paper artists, woodworkers, lace makers and jewellers. Ever-evolving, the map serves many purposes. At its heart, it is an archival record of the city’s true artisans that will allow everyone - including Venetians - to discover and understand more about their city’s heritage. Importantly, the map also gives visitors the opportunity to discover typical arts from Venice, rather than purchasing cheap knock- offs and imitations.

“People from Venice complain a lot about the tourists, but there are a lot of people who are interested in the authenticity of the city,” explains Ilaria. “It is important to give them the tools to support this side of Venice. The problem is not tourism, but the way we don’t always support it as a resource for the city.”

Ilaria also hopes that by broadening these crafts’ exposure, they will attract a younger generation. Besides the skyrocketing rents that have infamously made Venice an increasingly expensive place to live, one of the main challenges is finding new blood willing to dedicate a lifetime to an artform that might otherwise fade away. “There is a mystery around certain crafts - like the use of colour in Murano glassmaking - and an apprentice has to deserve to learn these skills.”

The first major event, titled In the Making, showcased the work of custom shoemaker Gabriele Gmeiner, milliner Giuliana Longo, paper artist Fernando Masone, ceramicist Daniela Levera, glassmaker Stefano Morasso, impiraressa (bead stringer) Marisa Convento, and Piero Dri, who crafts sculptural timber forcola, the rowlocks that adorn Venice’s iconic gondolas. The artisans sat on a panel discussing their work and shared experiences, and the talk was accompanied by an exhibition of photographs by Lorenzo Basadonna Scarpa and Matteo Losurdo showing the makers at work in their botteghe (workshops).

“We want to give importance to the process, the hands, the tools and the materials, and for people to understand the time and creative energy that goes into making these objects. That is what gives value to these things,” says Ilaria. “Craft is about empathy and sustainability; we should all be more aware of these aspects in our daily life.”

Continuing her mission to preserve and promote local craftsmanship from the Venetian lagoon, Ilaria has recently launched the Maker Mile platform and a series of videos that document the artisans at work. These initiatives were made possible thanks to a European grant and the direct support of the city council and local citizens, underscoring just how vital this heritage is to the community.

Featuring 25 makers based in the heart of Venice, Murano, and Burano, the website shines a light on the knowledge and techniques that define the city’s artisanal identity. 

If you want to learn more about these craftspeople, ‘Gli Artigiani di Sestiere’ video series invites you inside the workshops of 10 Venetian artisans, guiding you on a journey into their fascinating work and the passion that drives them to keep these traditions alive. Filmed by videographer Chiara Becattini, these intimate short documentaries capture the skilled hands behind the creations that both preserve and renew the heritage of the lagoon city. The series is available to watch on the Maker Mile website and on YouTube.