| 8 mins read
By Rachel Barac
With a colourful and vibrant culture and history, Italy has always been a popular tourist destination for holiday goers from all over the world , and across all age groups as well. What's more, Italians love children; so if you are planning a family vacation, your little bambinos and bambinas will be more than welcome! Here are a few suggestions that promise you a magical experience on your Italian holiday…with kids!
1. Cooking classes for one and all!
Rolling hills, picture perfect towns and lush vineyards make Tuscany one of Italy’s most beautiful regions to sightsee. And it’s also a perfect place to take a child friendly cooking class! Many Tuscan cooking classes are held at private residences set on beautiful properties, sourcing many of their ingredients from their own farm or garden. These classes provide a fun way to learn about Italian cuisine and family traditions through hands on experience. Imagine your kids’ delight when they pick herbs and vegetables right from the garden and collect eggs straight from the chicken! Delicious, authentic cuisines such as pizza and pasta are easy enough to make, and kids will enjoy activities like kneading dough, and decorating their pizzas. The best part of course, is being able to eat at the end of the class and having a new skill to take home, with memories of Tuscany flooding back each time you recreate a meal together as a family. As a bonus, adults can indulge in some well-deserved Tuscan wine while taking in the beautiful surroundings - buon appetito!
2. Delve into the mysteries of ancient Rome
Hidden, dark, underground tunnels, containing sacred burial sites shrouded in mystery are a great experience to pique yours and your kids’ curiosity. The Roman catacombs are some of the longest underground burial tunnels in the world, and can be rather spooky; but then that’s why kids will find them exciting! Do make it a point to get yourself a kid friendly Rome tour guide, who will not only help you navigate through these ancient underground tunnels, but also keep the kids enthralled with fascinating information about where Christians once worshipped and were buried many years ago. Appealing to the kid’s inner detective, your tour guide can further help to decipher secret symbols of the heydays. Two of the better-known catacombs are the Catacomb of St. Callisto and the Catacombs of St. Sebastian. There are many more catacombs and underground tunnels than one can probably imagine; be sure to research the ones that might be too creepy for younger children and better suited to older kids and teenagers - skull lined wall anyone?
The Colesseum is a must see in Rome and guaranteed to be enjoyed no matter one’s age. But why not take the experience one step further and enlist the help of your tourist guide to get your children first hand insights into the gladiator games? Prepare them by getting them to don their best gladiator garb, and learning the art of battle while absorbing some intriguing history at the same time. Kids will love using their imaginations while training as a gladiator and recreating the excitement of the ancient battles.
3. Venice; Gondolas, Masks and Swirling Glass
The fact that Venice is a city set upon water is an intriguing idea in itself for children. Enjoy the amazing views of Venice as you chaperone your kids through the winding narrow alleyways on foot and the twisting canals by gondola! Just be wary of any “free” boat rides to the island where you could possibly be greeted by a pushy sales person at the other end who might make you feel obligated to buy a souvenir for more than you’re willing to pay. This is where going with a Venice tour guide can come in handy to avoid these situations.
Aim to extend this adventure and head over to the small island of Murano, home to some of the world’s best glassware. Murano has several glass factories to explore, often with fascinating live demonstrations of the glass blowing process. It is especially so, when different colors are added to the mix, swirling to form masterpieces. If not visiting not one of the larger factories, you may be able to walk right in and start watching without making a reservation. Otherwise it is best to take an organised tour. Your kids can than bring home a little souvenir with a greater appreciation of the intricate process that took place to make such pieces of art.
Another fun activity to do with your kids is to attend a mask-making workshop in Venice. Masks have played a significant part in the Venetian way of life for centuries. Let them learn about the difference between a Bautta and a Moretta and then get their hands dirty while decorating their chosen style of papier-mâché mask. Of course it goes home too, as a unique souvenir reminiscent of this magical city.
4. So many Castles to be conquered!
Almost every little child would have wondered what it would be like to step into a fairy tale and live in a castle; let yours have a taste of the surreal in Italy, home to hundreds of medieval castles. Many of these castles contain museums or have been refurbished to reflect their former glory, and some have even been converted into hotels where you can spend the night. One such iconic castle is Castel De Monte located in the Southern region of Puglia. It’s recognizable by its octagonal shape and the fact that it is displayed on Italian currency. And while you can’t stay here, close your eyes as you stand in its courtyard, and your Italian tour guide gives you and your family a background of this breathtaking architectural feat, also a UNESCO world heritage site.
Aosta Valley in northern Italy is home to the dramatic Castello di Fenis. This impressive castle depicts a more classic style attracting large volumes of visitors each year. Within the castle walls lie impressive frescoes and remodeled medieval furnishings. This castle can only be visited with an Italian tour guide. If the weather permits, pack a picnic to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding landscape.
Also located in northern Italy and more specifically, the lakeside town of Sirmione, is Scaliger Castle. This 13th century castle is a fine example of a medieval fortification. Beautiful views of Lake Garda and the town can be enjoyed from the top of the castle’s tower.
Whichever castle you choose for your explorations, make sure to pick one where the kids can actually go inside and have a good look around. This, and their flights of imagination will make the Italian holiday so much more a pleasant memory.
5. You can't go wrong with the Amusement Parks.
Take a break from sightseeing at one of Italy’s many amusement parks. Gardaland near Verona is the largest amusement park where rollercoasters and water rides abound. It has enough variety of entertainment to cater to different ages including shows as well as rides for younger and older children. If your travels are keeping you close to Rome, Rainbow Magicland or Cinecitta World are your choices. Other notable amusement parks include Mirabilandia near Ravenna and Italia in Miniatura in Rimini. Although if you are looking for water parks, look no further than Aquafan for some of the longest waterslides in the world. Be aware that amusement parks get very busy during the summer months and on national holidays.
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