This year we started our summer adventures with an epic trip to Italy, covering five cities in 2 weeks. We absolutely fell in love with this country and want to go back again and again. Here are 5 reasons to take your kids to Italy even if they don’t remember:
1. Italian Food
Chief among the 5 reasons to take your kids to Italy is the food. Pasta and Pizza are the staples on kids’ menus and many kids’ favorite foods. Guess what? Italy has a never-ending supply of both. We ate a lot of Pasta and Pizza while we traveled around Italy. The food in Italy is so fresh and mainly consists of 3-5 ingredients, making it relatively healthy. Even the pickiest eaters can find something to eat at any restaurant. And of course, who doesn’t love gelato any time of the day? We ate gelato at least twice a day, after lunch, after dinner, and sometimes when we just felt like it as a snack. Fun fact: gelato was invented before ice cream! Any day in Italy that is not going well can be solved by gelato.
2. Iconic Sites and Art
There is ancient history, art, and spectacular architecture everywhere you look, making it a giant outdoor museum. Italy has the world’s most excellent museums and is home to some iconic works of art. Exposure to art and stunning architecture is always a great conversation starter and inspires kids to think outside the box. Older school-age kids learn about these iconic sites’ history firsthand. I looked up the history of most cities we visited and read the main facts to Lo. You don’t have to choose between adult and kid activities; both are blended in Italy.
3. Piazzas
Piazzas (Squares in English) are the center of every Italian city/town. It is a place where people can hang out throughout the day and enjoy the sweetness of doing nothing (dolce far niente). Kids can run around and play in a beautiful setting with a rich history. At the same time, you enjoy an Italian coffee or glass of wine. The best part is that there are no cars to watch out for.
4. Walkability and Traffic Free Zones
Most Italian cities are very walkable and easy to get around. Most attractions are within a short walking distance of each other. We traveled to Venice, Siena, Montepulciano, Pienza, Florence, and Milan. In each village/ town, getting around either on foot or a short bus ride was effortless. All city centers are in the zona traffico limitado (limited traffic zone), so you hardly have to worry about your kids dashing off into the street.
5. The People
As a Black family, it’s important to us that we are in spaces where we feel comfortable and welcome. Italians were some of the friendliest people we have met in our travels. Everyone we encountered would go out of their way to have a positive and playful interaction with Lo even when she was not at her finest.
We hope you are convinced to take your kids to Italy. We are here to answer your questions; please drop a comment or share this post with friends you know who are planning a trip to Italy. Also, check out our previous post on Things To Do in Lake Como.