5 Top Things to do with Children in Tuscany
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Sometimes the Renaissance treasures that pepper Italy can lack appeal for the smaller members of your party. Here are some suggestions for how to best entertain those juniors.
Climbing towers
There are countless opportunities to climb the heights of a bell tower or church. The best of the bunch is Brunelleschi’s Dome in Florence. It will ensure some tired legs and some dizzy heads. Torre Giunigi in Lucca has the reward of a tree to sit under at the top.
Ice Cream
Italy is the home of Ice Cream. The best in Florence is Vivoli, set in the backstreets near to Piazza Santa Croce. Best ever eaten by us at Essential Italy is Mondo Gelato in Castiglion Fiorentino (near Cortona).
Exploring
Get them out of the car and head down some dirt tracks. Invariably they will lead to some great views and you can talk them through olive oil, vines and sunflowers.
Picnic
Fill your backpack with bread, salami, cheese, pop and wine (for you) and find a tree to sit under. It is a recipe for those classic family pictures.
Running
Recreate the Giostra del Saracino (see picture above) on foot in Arezzo: see who can race from one side of the Piazza Grande in the quickest time. The real Giostra is carried out on horse back with a large lance, but we suggest you leave that at home. The slope on the Piazza makes this all the harder (especially if you go from lower end to the upper end). On your marks, get set, GO!