Italy with Kids

Your kids will never forget a visit to Venice, truly a place like no other. Read some practical advice about visiting this most romantic of cities with little kids along.

Suggestions include the Colosseum and Roman Forum (two top ancient sites that are side by side), the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Vatican City, the Borghese Gardens, and more.

The Eternal City has over two and a half thousand years of history and is one of those places -- like Venice -- where simply strolling the streets is better than touring an art museum: every turn, it seems, reveals beautiful fountains and statues and architecture. Visitors will want to do a lot of walking, but Rome is also a very hot place during summer when most families visit. Read tips about strollers, rest spots and restrooms, using public transport, and helping yourself to free cold water throughout the city.

Visitors rave about the ice cream in Italy, but if you visit a few times you'll realize: not all gelato is created equally. It's worth a bit of attention to get the best.

Adventures by Disney offers several escorted "family adventure" trips in Europe. Read a review of this all-details-handled experience that includes Rome, the medieval hill-town of Orvieto, Tuscan countryside, Florence, and Venice as a grand finale.

To visitors, medieval "hill towns" are like storybook towns that time forgot. These towns didn't develop into big cities over the centuries, but rather kept their narrow lanes, massive gates, stone buildings... perfect settings for kids' imaginations to travel back in time. Read about visiting Cortono, in Tuscany, and Todi, Assisi, and Orvieto, in Umbria.

Orvieto is a medieval hill town that's a delight to visit: wander the lanes, visit the ice cream stores, and be wowed by the giant cathedral that's one of Italy's finest. Orvieto is in Umbria, and is not far from Tuscany.

Assisi is a wonderful hill town in the beautiful region of Umbria, with cobbled lanes, stone buildings, and other charms typical of medieval hill towns. But Assisi is also much more: thousands of people flock to Assisi to worship in the magnificent churches and to pray to St. Francis of Assisi, a much-beloved saint.

Eurocamp's dozens of "holiday parcs" are a whole different concept in family getaways. Families can stay in multi-room canvas tents with real beds, or in "holiday homes" equipped with kitchenettes. The large Eurocamp properties typically offer swimming pools, restaurants, sports and recreation, free kids' programs, and a great opportunity to...

Every August in the lovely town of Ascoli Piceno, some 1500 citizens wearing 15-century garb stage a parade that's followed by a medieval-style joust. The evening brings more parading, family-friendly celebrations, and fireworks. Ascoli Piceno has a beautiful historic quarter to explore, and very few tourists. Location is a short drive inland from the coast, about halfway down Italy's boot.