Family-Friendly Adventures in Italy

If you’ve ever thought an Italian vacation is a dream come true, you aren’t alone. With beautiful scenery, mouth-watering food and oodles of culture and history, there are so many choices for things to do that trying to plan the perfect trip will make your head spin. Trafalgar, a travel company that does all the hard work of planning adventures for you, has a family-friendly tour of Italy perfect for families with young children.

Led by a knowledgeable travel director and handpicked local guides, the 10-day the Gladiators, Gondolas and Gold tour provides families with a one-of-a-kind adventure across Italy. Starting in Rome, the trip makes stops in Florence, Pisa and Bologna before ending in Venice. Of course, you get to see the traditional, must-see sites along the way, like the Colosseum and the Sistine Chapel in Rome, the Gothic Duomo in Florence, the iconic Leaning Tower in Pisa and the Grand Canal in Venice. What sets this adventure apart from other sightseeing tours is the unique activities Trafalgar arranges along the way.

Stops along the journey include city tours jam-packed with educational and historical information about points of interest, but each stop also includes something unique to that city. During the three-night stay in Rome you don’t just see the Colosseum. You get to see the Colosseum, then take a class at gladiator school where the little ones can have a ball learning all about the history of this ancient Roman sport and dressing like a real gladiator to learn some sword-fighting techniques. After your day of touring the Italian capital your family gets to take a pizza-making class — and the best part is eating your pizza after you’re done!

Mother and daughter visit Colosseum in Rome, Italy © Travnikovstudio | Dreamstime.com

In Florence, your tour includes a visit to Michelangelo’s famous statue, “David,” before heading to a local gelateria to try some fresh gelato. Let’s face it, when you’re in the city that invented gelato, it would be a shame not to have your fill of the tasty frozen treat. Your time in this romantic city is rounded out with an expertly crafted meal served in an authentic Tuscan villa.

In addition to enjoying the sights and sounds along the canals of Venice, your family will be treated to a class on Venetian mask-making ,where you all get to design and make your own carnival masks, as well as a watch a glassblowing demonstration on Giudecca Island.

Trafalgar also respects family time and spontaneity, so there is plenty of time allotted throughout the tour for your family to enjoy some free time exploring these beautiful Italian cities on your own.

Tours include nine breakfasts, four dinners and a farewell lunch on the last day of the tour. VIP entrance to many of the most popular sites is included so little time is wasted waiting in long lines. Trafalgar handles all of the arrangements, so instead of spending time worrying about booking hotel rooms and securing transportation, you are free to spend all your time enjoying the wonders of Italy and your time together as a family. Air travel is not included in tour pricing but Trafalgar does offer some assistance with booking flights at the best possible rate.