*Not long ago Inghams Italy Travel Site and Tours contacted me about sharing some of my experiences about living and traveling in Italy as a family. Inghams Italy compensated me for writing this post but all experiences, thoughts and ideas are my own.
Over the last 13 years my husband and I have lived and raised our 3 children in Italy and done our fair share of exploring this beautiful country as a family. When considering travelling to Italy, one traditionally thinks of the wealth of historical sites, the breathtaking art and architecture, and one of the best loved cuisines, all within the stunning natural beauty from the Alps to the Aegean – a perfect tourist destination.
But, one of the things I love most about Italy, is that it is a family centric culture. Here, in Italy, family has the highest priority and this shows in how they treat travellers to their country, especially families.
Inevitably, you will encounter kind and generous people who will go out of their way to make your small travellers happy and comfortable. Italians love the little ones and aren’t shy to show it – usually by squeezing cheeks and loudly proclaiming “che bel bambino!”. No worries, your kids will get used to it and will most likely return home with an amazing sense of self-confidence.
Living in Italy has given us the inside scoop on the best places to visit, most comfortable accommodations, favourite places to eat out and just about anything else you would need to know about traveling through Italy in famiglia.
Food: 
Italy is world renown for its delectable cuisine and luckily it’s also one that most kids absolutely adore. On just about any menu your kids will find something they’ll love to eat (and recognise). Some favourites of local Italian kids are Pasta Rossa (pasta with tomato sauce), Riso Giallo (saffron risotto), Milanese con Patatine (breaded pork cutlet with french fries) and of course Pizza Margherita (pizza with tomato sauce and mozzarella). And if you don’t see something your child likes on the menu don’t be afraid to ask – they are usually more than willing to whip up a simple pasta for the little ones. My kid’s favourite thing to order in a restaurant is a variety or antipasto plates. You can’t go wrong with sliced meats, cheeses, olives and fresh Italian bread.
Gelato:
Of course one of the main gastronomic attractions for kids in Italy (and adults actually) is the iconic Italian gelato. Gelaterias are found on just about every street corner and are usually made with fresh, high quality ingredients. A promised gelato will help kids get through the museum visits, the long hours of pavement pounding, the intense summer heat and the over exhaustion of traveling that can sometimes get too much for them. Look for signs that say Gelato Artigianale for the highest quality and home-made ice cream. And remember in the hot summer months it’s quite normal to visit a gelateria more than once a day!
Beaches:
When traveling with kids you can never go wrong with a beach visit. And Italy boasts both a myriad of coastlines and beautiful lakes to choose from. The world famous Costa Amalfitana (Unesco World Heritage Site), the Ligurian coast with it’s famous Cinque Terre villages, the Northern Lakes including Lago Como and Lago Maggiore and the pristine aquamarine waters of Sardinia will be appreciated by the whole family.
Italian beaches are very family friendly with chairs and umbrellas for rent, small beach playgrounds and restaurants just metres from the water’s edge. From here, parents can enjoy a plate of fresh Fritto Misto while watching the kids frolic in the warm waters. Warning: since one has to pay for a space, these beaches can end up being quite pricey but well worth it for a few days of relaxing family time.
Read on for more tips for traveling in Italy as a family…
Colourful walls in Milan. And long skinny 12 year old legs.
Test shot for our upcoming photo booth at a local pyjama run in support of kids with cancer. A few years ago we folded those paper cranes (actually 1000 in total) for a little friend of ours who was diagnosed with a brain tumour. He’s doing really well at the moment and we couldn’t be happier. (holy top knot!)
The poppies that are in bloom everywhere you look at the moment. That bright orangey red pop of colour on the green fields is so gorgeous.
Read on for the recipe… 
A few months ago I wrote all about the 
Stretching out a little injury. Afterwards the instructor turned around happily and informed me “Pretty sure nothing is broken”. Ummm, okay.
They just looked so cool dragging their surfboards down K17 beach (up the coast from Agadir). And these were the only clouds we saw during our entire 7 day trip. Made the Atlantic feel that much colder. 
While visiting the souks of Agadir we got trapped in a little shop that sold teas, creams, herbs, spices and everything else you could ever imagine to cure any ailment a person could be inflicted with. For me the packaging was more attractive than all the proclaimed health benefits. And yes, I did leave with a bag full of cactus cream, argan oil, teas and spices.
One of my favourite images of Morocco is always the pyramids of delicious spices. I have already gone through half of what I purchased. Guess that means I’ll have to get back there soon to buy some more.
…geraniums. And the fact that they are pretty AND can survive even though I’m a horrible gardner and that Birdie lays on top of them all day long.
Jillian In Italy 
