It’s back to business on the Venetian lagoon with a new season of bespoke cruises (with an art twist) on Eolo, the 75-year-old traditional bragozzo Venetian fishing barge with standout russet sails. The lagoon around Venice is a vast enclosed bay of the Adriatic Sea (at 550 square kilometers, it is two thirds the size of the New York City). Exploring its dozens of islands, historical sites and fascinating ecosystem is a must for anyone visiting the city.    

Mauro Stoppa (info@cruisingvenice.com; 011-00-393-497-431-552) skippers his 56-foot boat (for up to 10 guests) and knows every nook and cranny of this captivating water world. He crafts his cruises to highlight the best of the natural beauty, history, folklore and cuisine of the area. Now he is joined by L.A.-Swiss writer and artist Allison Zurfluh (info@allisonzurfluh.ch; 011-41-76-345-3554), whose charming paintings depict Venice’s ever-changing watery scenarios.