Why did the Venice Lagoon provide protection from military attacks?

The Venice Lagoon provided a natural defensive barrier for the city due to its complex geography, which consists of mud banks, shallows, and intricate channels.12

This unique environment served as a strategic advantage against military threats because it was difficult for outsiders to navigate. The Venetians were able to leverage their superior knowledge of these specific navigable channels to defend themselves, most notably defeating the Genoese in 1380. By remaining within this protected, watery landscape, the city could effectively deter or repel forces that lacked the local expertise required to maneuver through the lagoon's treacherous and shifting waters.21