Venice lies in the center of a vast lagoon that stretches for about thirty miles from north to south, studded by numerous small islands, mostly deserted. This amazing environment is what drove the Venetians to establish their city here, a perfectly secure and inaccessible little world. Along with your local guide, enjoy the beauty of a ride across the waters of the lagoon aboard your private motor launch, stopping off first at Burano, a quaint and colorful fishing island famous for its lace and charming architecture. Cruise on to the island of Murano, where glass has been made for over 700 years and where you can see the age-old techniques of glass-blowing still in use today.