The celebrated home of Venetian glass-making since the 13th century, Murano is a draw for art lovers and history buffs alike. Head to this island in the lagoon with an expert guide for an up-close look at time-honored glass-making techniques and the chance to craft your own sparkling treasure.

Meet up with your guide in the center of Venice and make your way together to the vaporetto stop, where you board one of these zippy boats to skim across the waters of the Venetian lagoon to Murano, Venice's famous Glass Island. Listen as your guide points out landmarks and historic sites along the way, and then disembark for a short walk to the glass factory.

Head into the glass-making room for a fascinating demonstration, watching various glassblowing and glass-sculpting techniques up close as your guide offers detailed commentary on the science and art behind what you're seeing. Walk through the factory to get a behind-the-scenes look at artists at work, and then head into the showroom and museum to check out spectacular finished pieces.

Next, grab a seat in the workshop for a hands-on class that teaches you to create your own works of glass art. Craft a necklace out of shimmering, colorful beads, or make a delicate mosaic out of fine glass pieces in rainbow hues. Take your masterpiece with you as the perfect souvenir before you hop back on the vaporetto for the return ride into Venice.