4 Places to Travel with Children in Italy

Italians love children and welcome them nearly everywhere. Finding food for fussy youngsters is easy —  there is always pizza. Anywhere you go, you’ll find things to do with kids, so make Italy part of your plans for family travel. These places are sure to be big hits with young travelers.

Venice

Who can resist being charmed by a city that looks like something out of a fairy tale? The streets are canals and the sidewalks disappear into tunnels beneath buildings. Except for St. Mark’s (they have to see those gold mosaics and the jewel-studded altar), go easy on the churches and instead opt for exploring the neighborhoods like San Paulo, where they’ll find mask makers and other artists’ shops. Stay in the city and enjoy the lighted squares and streets after the day tourists have left. Take the boat to Murano to see glassblowers at work.

Rome

Kids won’t feel like they’ve really been to Italy without seeing Rome. The Colosseum offers special tours taking visitors under the arena floor where the lions were kept and budding gladiators can take lessons. When little legs get tired of sightseeing, rent a boat and drift around in the Borghese Gardens. Teens can rent bikes there and the whole family can explore the park in a pedal surrey.

Lucca

 This small city may not be on everybody’s radar, but kids can’t resist its tree-covered walls with a promenade on top wide enough for biking and strolling. The city is small enough to quickly feel at home in, and you can look for arches and stonework of the former Roman stadium, now built into the houses surrounding the oval piazza.

Lake Maggiore

This lake is good for a summer trip when cooler lake breezes are welcome. Travel around by the lake steamers to visit the highlights. Stresa makes a good base, a short ferry ride away from the over-the-top palace on nearby Isola Bella. The many-tiered gardens are even more fantastic than the island palace. Ride the cable car up Monte Mottarone; get lost in the dahlia maze at Villa Taranto; and take young children to Villa Pallavicino, where they can meet exotic animals as they explore the park.