Rome
The many historical and varied attractions in Rome make it an ideal city to take the family. Visit the Spanish steps, wonder through the impressive Colosseum, enter the Pantheon to view the stunning interior, toss a coin at the Trevi fountain and climb to the top of St Peter’s Basilica to share the view of the stunning city of Rome with the family.
Florence
Many museums and historic buildings exist in Florence. One that will appeal to the family is The Children’s Museum, located next to the world famous Uffizi Gallery. The museum is an ideal place to visit as it brings the Renaissance city to life through appealing exhibits and demonstrates how the Medici lived and ruled. An English educational program for children also exists to guide them through its current exhibit. The Boboli Gardens, at Palazzo Pitti in the Oltrarno district, has wide open spaces for children to explore, climb trees, people watch, and play games. Horse drawn carts that depart from the centre of Florence are a fun way for the whole family to enjoy the sights of the city.
Venice
The ‘Floating City’ is a great destination for anyone visiting Italy. Walk across the Piazza San Marco or the St. Mark’s Square and scare the pigeons away with your family. Ride an elevator to the top of the Bell Tower and get a picturesque view of the city. Take a water bus ride or a gondola ride with the family and admire the buildings as you make your way around the canals.
Sicily
The large sunny island has a combination of historic buildings and sandy beaches that will make it fun for the family. Visit Palermo, the capital, and explore the beautifully designed buildings and take the family to a puppet theatre for some animated fun. Let the children run loose at Bioparco di Sicilia which consists of a zoo, playground and dinosaur park. Make a trip to Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano, and take the cable-car or a 4X4 adventure through the volcanic landscape for a unique experience.
Tuscany
The rural region of Tuscany offers a variety of entertainment for the family. Visit one of the zoos in the region such as the Pistoia Zoological Garden which holds exotic animals and has a playground for the children. For summer fun, take the family to one of the two Tuscany water parks, Acqua Village in Follonica (province of Grosseto) and Cecina (province of Livorno). The water parks feature waterslides, whirlpools with fountains and waterfalls, lagoons and a number of swimming pools. If you’re in Livorno, ride the classic double-decker, hop-on, hop-off guided bus tour either on the open top or inside where it is air-conditioned as your knowledgeable guide provides a commentary of the landmarks and shares the interesting history of this beautiful region with you.
