I am traveling with three kids who won't be that entertained watching their parents sip wine. We are spending 4 nights in Siena and will spend two days driving around Tuscany and hope to see the scenery and hill towns that would be interesting to kids. Definitely San Gimignano is on the list, and I was hoping for Assissi but we are traveling in July so know it will be extremely busy.Does anyone have recommendations of hill towns that have interested children of those ages? Thanks.
Posted by
Rome
212 posts
Lola,
If you do decide to visit a winery, my advice would be to choose a small, family fun place. Your children may just surprise you, between the farmland, the animals they will probably have, and the attention given them (Italians do tend to fuss over children - not to mention the biscotti) it could just be the highlight of your trip.
Posted by
Boston
215 posts
Hi Lola,
What are the ages of your children?
We are traveling with a 10 and 12 year old and I have planned things for them in our travels throughout Italy with the help of this great site. Let me know their ages and I will send some ideas to you.
Viv
Posted by
OP
Brush Prairie, wa, usa
10 posts
Thank you so much for the replies. My children are 8,11,15. I would love ANY tips you have for interesting sightseeing. I am going to Florence three nights, Siena four nights, Lucca area 4 nights, and Venice three nights.
If you can mention the name of any of the small wineries such as the first replier described, I would love to know it.
Posted by
Portland, Oregon, USA
320 posts
Lola:
Young kids get treated very well in Italy - the restaurants, the stores, the gelateria - all dote on the little ones.
As for a winery experience I have two to recommend. Our kids were 8 and 13 at the time and they still talk about these -
Panzanello - a small family run winery just outside of Panzano (Panzano lies exactly between Florence and Siena). They have a website - write ahead and make a reservation - they also have holiday apartments to let.
Volpaia - Volpaia is a tiny hill town - and the entire town IS the winery - there are pipes of wine running under the cobblestones - very ancient and very charming. There are also holiday apartments there - and a couple of nice restaurants. Volpaia has a website as well.
My last bit of advice for summer travel in Italy is - it is blistering hot - go slow - and remember that it is never to early for gelato!
Have fun.
Posted by
Clifton Park, ny, usa
109 posts
I have made 5 trips with my kids. I found that a place in Tuscany with a pool for at least a few days,is crucial. A couple of hours of pool time in the afternoon does wonders for everyone's disposition.
San Gimingnano has a Museum of Torture. I skipped it along with my younger daughter but my son who was about 13 at the time thought it was cool.
Florence has a Museum of the History of Science with the focus on Galileo (his finger is on display). Great place for my science buff son. Great English speaking guide spent a lot of time with my kids. NO lines.
Assisi was wonderful. One of my favorite places there was a walk through the Eremo delle Carcere. It is just outside the town and is the wooded area that St Francis spent time in contemplation. His little cave is there, a church and beautiful woodsy sun dappled paths. We came upon a group of pilgrims singing in the woods and it was almost mystical. Beautiful whether you are religious or not. You can
google it. Although, you are expected not to yell and be annoying, if gave the kids a chance to get out in nature and a break from the museum/ church circuit that I love so much but that most kids have a limited capacity for.
If you are going to San Gim, you might want to see "Tea with Mussolini" before you go.. Cher is in it and she is a hoot. It is funny and tragic in parts.
Posted by
Clifton Park, ny, usa
109 posts
Forgot-- My sister rented bikes in Lucca and rode on the wall encircling the town. Her kids thought it was one of the best things they did.
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
8 posts
Lola, we spend 10 days driving through Umbria and Tuscany last summer with our 3 kids (ages 9,9,&5) and found it to be such a great experience that we are going back this summer. We tried to stay in medium to small towns in hotels with swimming pools. Cortona was a great town for the kids. We stayed at Hotel cory's which I would recommend mostly because the walk into town was so great. Orvieto, Montalcino, Pienza, Montepulciano, Orvieto, and Citiva were all great stops for us. You would be amazed at how well your kids will adjust. I was concerned like you that they would not put up with sitting in the square while we enjoyed our wine and bruschetta, but they loved it. That is why we are going back. Another hotel that we stayed at with a pool was Hotel Vanucci near Orvieto. This hotel is highly recommended as a base camp with kids. The staff is great and they have a pizza oven in the hotel. Hope this helps you. Let me know if you have any questions.
Ed
p.s. a portable DVD player did come in handy when the driving from town to town got too long