I finally made it to Burano on our last family trip to Venice. This colorful fishing village is an island in the Venetian archipelago. There’s not much to do there other than stroll, shop, and eat a fresh seafood lunch, but it’s unique and fun to pair with a trip to a glassblowing factory in Murano. Burano also is famous for traditional lacemaking and there’s a lacemaking museum, Museo del Merletto, to visit as well. Although, that was a tough sell for my boys so we didn’t go.

When I say colorful village, I mean colorful …

Over the Easter break we went to Florence and met up with Monica and Elena of Context Travel who took us on their “symbols and legends” walk. It’s a tour for families where you walk around and learn about interesting stuff.

We started at the Palazzo Vecchio in Piazza della Signoria where Monica gave us pictures of different symbols that are hidden all over the city. The Palazzo Vecchio was a government building, made over 700 years ago. It looks like a castle and it was built to show how important Florence was in the world.

If you’re looking for a memorable kid-friendly activity in Rome, Gladiator School is an event your children will never forgot. Nancy has raved about her experience for years and my 9-year-old Devon was thrilled to finally give it a go over our spring family vacation in Italy.

Although the swords are fake, the skills learned in class are real. Scantily clad men of yesteryear lead the troops through vigorous training.

Poggio Al Casone is visually amazing. The setting is exactly how I think of Tuscany with rolling hills of grapes. It’s beautiful and completely gated, so it feels really safe for kids to run around and play outside.

The guest experience is very relaxing. We stayed 10 days and our apartment (La Torre) was very large, comfortable and deluxe! The apartments have views of the hills and the rooms are furnished with fantastic Italian furniture and amazing linens. Our apartment had a full kitchen so we could go grocery shopping …

Families are always looking for ways to engage their kids while sightseeing in Europe. Sometimes the attraction is so compelling that kids are naturally interested, while at other times they could care less and do the child’s equivalent of thinking about their “to do” list – they tune out completely.

Interestingly, sometimes the least expected things excite them. While in London last spring, my then 8-year-old Devon could care less about viewing the cities’ most iconic landmarks …

A week-long visit to Tuscany is a big part of the most popular family itinerary in Italy for Ciao Bambino readers and clients. This is the best opportunity for families to really dig into their experience together in Italy as settling into a single location for seven or more days engages parents and children alike in the experience.

An essential part of a successful trip to Tuscany with kids is selecting the right accommodations.

It’s practically impossible for kids not to be engaged in the Venice tourist experience given the allure of the boats and maze of alleys, steps, and bridges. Love it or hate it, Venice is unique and commands attention.

Three days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Venice, particularly during busy periods when it’s tough to escape the crowds.

We have been lucky to have Italy’s heel of the boot, Puglia, right in our backyard for the past year. Angelo decided to move back to Italy after living in the US for sixteen years. We met in New York City in 1999, got married in 2003 and had two children Isabella and Carlo now ages 3 ½ and 5. We moved to Milan in 2009 and now we reside in the seaside town of Monopoli in the region of Puglia.

Often times I’m asked the question “why did you leave one of the greatest cities in the world, New York, for Puglia?” My response is simple: “Why not?”

Many families prefer renting apartments in European cities as they offer more value and living space than traditional hotel rooms.

My issue with apartments is that standalone units can be a quality risk unless you are diligent about checking references (see my post on finding the best family-friendly vacation rental for more tips and links to resources). Moreover, the management of an apartment may be nonexistent which leaves you without someone to help with planning and logistics in a foreign environment.

I stayed at one of our longtime Ciao Bambino Approved properties last summer, Internazionale Domus, and was reminded why this apart-hotel is such an exceptional option for families visiting Rome.

Located on – literally – one of the most coveted and picturesque squares in Rome, the Piazza di Spagna, Internazionale Domus guests need only to walk out their door to be immersed in their adventure. Many of Rome’s major attractions are walking distance from here, not to mention that wandering the streets in this neighborhood is a joyous activity in and of itself.