From the very first glance, Florence lay claim to the title of “my favorite European city”. It might actually be my favorite city – period.  While the Renaissance city may not seem like an ideal family destination, kids will be awed by the art, architecture, gardens and food.  And it’s no wonder, Florence is simply magical- the light casting a warm golden glow on the decorative buildings, the tantalizing smell of traditional Tuscan cuisine wafting through the air and the laughter of children as they romp about the square.  It all sets the stage for a fabulous Florence, Italy holiday with kids.

When visiting a destination such a Florence, with kids in tow, it’s particularly important to not jet off on a whirlwind cultural tour of the city. Plan a slower paced experience mixing in cultural, kid-friendly attractions with plenty of downtime to roam unhurried.  Even include unexpected stops for pizza and the ever important gelato!

Our family-friendly Florence itinerary should provide a wide range of options for kids of all ages.  Chat about the vast history and have kids point out interesting things they see.

Florence, Italy Holiday

View from above

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You’ve likely read about this picturesque community along the Italian Riviera. It seems everyone is talking about the string of rugged coastal villages known as Cinque Terre.  With all the hype, you may have been wondering, “what’s so great about Cinque Terre, Liguria?”

The seaside villages on the Italian coast are picture perfect with terraced vineyards and haphazardly stacked pastel colored buildings next to the glittering Mediterranean Sea.  The charming villages, so spectacularly situated, have not gone unnoticed.  Millions of tourists flock here each year to admire Ligurian architecture, take in breathtaking views from the hiking trails and savor Italian cuisine.

Cinque Terre, meaning “Five Lands”, is located in the Liguria region of Italy and is made up of 5 villages: Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore & Monterosso.  The area has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1997. Tucked between sea and mountain, the villages were largely undiscovered until recently, when they were connected to the rest of Italy via train.

An interesting fact – The houses of Cinque Terre were painted different colors so the fishermen could easily identify their house while fishing offshore.

I think the key to making our visit to Cinque Terre so great was actually staying in Cinque Terre.  Many visitors to Cinque Terre are day trippers.  And while the area is fabulous in the afternoon, our favorite time of day was early evening.  Most of the tourists had headed home for the day and it was just the locals and a few other remaining visitors strolling the narrow streets, visiting shops and admiring the sparkling sea and vineyards.  The sunset is sensational and something the average traveler doesn’t get to enjoy.

 

While there aren’t a ton of Cinque Terre hotels, we did find plenty of accomodation choices that suited our needs.  We rented an apartment with a balcony overlooking the sea.  It was the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of local wine after a day of exploring.

If you’re not a fan of touristy places, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit!  It just means, you should be a bit smarter about when you visit.  The best times would be April and October in the off season.  Our first trip was in October and it was perfect.  The weather was a bit chilly but it was great for hiking.

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