5 OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN ITALY WITH FAMILY

WRITTEN BY JOELLE EDWARDS

Anyone who has spent time in Italy will, at some point, have experienced the overwhelming presence on the social and cultural scene of La Famiglia. I’m not talking about the stereotypical large Italian families, which are actually not as prevalent as we are led to believe, but about the sense of family as a holistic approach to the wellbeing of individuals and society as a whole. Unlike some cultures, in Italy generations mix socially. Teenagers aren’t embarrassed to hang out with their grandma, or even their own parents!! Toddlers get special treatment at restaurants, family mealtimes and family holidays are not only encouraged but simply part of the norm. This respect for family life and family values means that Italy is very good at looking after family needs, especially when it comes to holidays. Some parts of the country offer more family friendly options than others and, naturally, every family has different needs, so here we are to give you a brief lo-down of our 5 best kid friendly places in Italy.

The Dolomites, is hands down one of the best kid friendly places in Italy

Trentino – Alto Adige

I have to start here when talking about the best places to visit in Italy with family. This entire region in the north of Italy, home to the beautiful mountain range, The Dolomites, is hands down one of the best kid friendly places in Italy, all year round. A huge number of Italian families rate this as their number one holiday spot too, because it really does have it all. Possibly better known for the glitzy ski resorts, many of which are considered some of the best in the world, it’s easy to dismiss Trentino – Alto Adige as purely a winter sports destination. The reality is that this part of the country offers spectacular, natural outdoor summer activities for all ages too. Walking, hiking, cycling, climbing, rafting, lakes, nature parks, mountain music festivals, all tailored to families. If parents need a proper, relaxing break, the organization of the resorts and campsites and provision of kids’ clubs means that kids are given the experience of a lifetime, learning invaluable new skills, in the fresh, mountain air, while mum or dad can simply have the days to themselves!

Rome

Italy’s beautiful capital. It is almost impossible to choose just one place when looking for the best city in Italy for a family vacation as all the great Italian cities offer such different experiences. Rome however is an obvious choice for families who enjoy culture, history and adventure. It’s busy, it’s touristy, it’s chaotic, it’s vast, so be prepared for lots of walking, but it is marvelously majestic and a trip to this Eternal City should be on everyone’s bucket list. My advice is to stay somewhere central, like near The Pantheon or Piazza Navona, so you can get sightseeing first thing and not have too far to get back in the evening. Also, these are gorgeous spots to wake up in. If walking gets a bit tiring, consider an open top bus tour where you can sit back and cover lots of sights in one go! Ancient Rome is a fascinating subject for kids and there are endless activities to help them appreciate the city’s role in history, including learning how to be a gladiator at the Gladiator School! The Colosseum will impress every child (even the ones the adults have inside) but get a guided tour otherwise so much of it will be lost. This incredible city is easily one of the best places to visit in Italy with family.

Lake Garda

Italy’s largest lake Lago di Garda is a prime holiday destination for Italians and one of the best kid friendly places in Italy. Close to Verona and Milan airports, access isn’t a problem and if you’re feeling adventurous, resorts in The Dolomites like Ortisei are only a few hours further north. In addition to endless outdoor swimming in the stunning lakeside resorts, Lake Garda boasts beautiful landscapes of mountains, forests and natural parks, offering plenty of activities for all ages including numerous watersports, making it one of the best places to visit in Italy with family. This region is also home to many traditional Italian dishes such as Tortellini, Panettone and Panna Cotta and wine enthusiasts will be pleased to know that Valpolicella, the second ranking region for DOC wines after Chianti, sits in the hills just to the east of the lake. While the younger kids are off playing in the popular water theme park ‘Gardaland’ at the southern tip of the lake, the adults can run off here to play in their own vineyard theme park!

Puglia

When it comes to beach holidays in Italy we are truly spoiled for choice but the beaches of Puglia are hard to beat when looking for the best kid friendly places in Italy. This beautiful area of Italy can feel a little more private, purely because there are fewer direct connections to this southeasterly corner in the heel of the boot. Once you’ve made the effort to get down here (main airports are Bari and Brindisi) you will be rewarded with some gorgeous beaches and some lower prices. Beaches in this area are close to amenities and small towns and tend to offer wide strips of sand. From the dunes and fine white sands of San Pietro in Bevagna, the shallow waters of Torre Lapillo and the magical quality of Marina di Pescoluse (known as the ‘Maldives of Salento’) Puglia offers some of the best places to visit in Italy with family.

Tuscany

This central region of Italy is probably its most famous and for very good reason. Easily accessible from international destinations, it offers an incredible wealth of art, gastronomy, culture, natural beauty, entertainment, beach life and so much more, all concentrated into one area, at the heart of which lies one of the most famous wine regions in the world. Its capital, Florence, when looking for the best city in Italy for a family vacation is arguably one of the greatest, with a fantastic selection of museums and sights specifically for children: They can learn how Da Vinci tried to fly and play with models of his inventions; the creativity of Michelangelo can be found on every corner and the world of Galileo can be explored in the Science Museum. Heading up into the hills you can enjoy a short break at an agriturismo (holiday working farm) with outdoor pools, cookery courses for the kids and wine tasting for the adults! Heading across to the west coast you can enjoy the beach bike trails of Maremma or hop across to the island of Elba, a gem of the ‘Arcipelago Toscano’. The region of Tuscany has long been one of the best places to visit in Italy with family and continues to be one of the best kid friendly places in Italy.

At Alma Italia Travel, whether you are looking for the best city in Italy for a family vacation or the best beach spots, we will happily guide you through these destinations (and more) to help you plan your trip to some of the best places to visit in Italy with family, where fun and enjoyment is to be had by all! Contact us here today.

Timelessness for those caught in the fever and fret of life.

For all it’s beauty, the thing we value most about Puglia is its gift of time. The days pass differently here – the mornings effortlessly blend into the afternoons and the afternoons into night. One day complements the next in the way that vineyards complement the sea in the Valle d’Itria. Puglia is best enjoyed with others – with those you most love – not just because good food and good wine invites good company, but because the region offers time to reconnect, rekindle, and rejoice.

In short, here is our humble opinion: tours of Puglia never disappoint. They rejuvenate, revive, delight. And while there is more to the region than the ocean, you are never far from the sweet, sweet sound of the sea.