For those who want to experience the birthplace of the Renaissance – the art, architecture, culture, history, charm, and food – with their children, there might be particular questions and considerations that they have, in order for the trip to go smoothly. So, if you are booking a villa in Florence and you are bringing the little ones along, here is the key information that you need to know.
Visiting The Museums
Of course, if you have found a vacation rental in Florence and have come to this glorious city of art and culture, you will want to share experiences of these things with your children. This is certainly possible but, with kids along for the ride, a little more planning might be necessary.
For anyone visiting a museum so packed with treasures as The Uffizi, for example, it is always best to research in advance so you know what you want to see and can plan a route accordingly – there is simply too much to see for one visit and it is easy to become overwhelmed. And if you’re bringing someone around who might grow tired or impatient, this kind of planning is especially important.
Many museums, including The Uffizi, provide different learning materials for children that can help them engage more directly with what they are seeing in a fun and exciting way, so always check websites beforehand to see if they have online resources or activity packs that you can pick up upon arrival.
If a museum doesn’t have these kinds of resources at hand, you can come up with questions to talk to your child and to have them think about what they are looking at – this will ensure that they stay more entertained and will allow you to learn together. In fact, children often see things you might not notice or look at them from a different perspective so allow yourself to learn from them as well!
Here are samples of questions you might ask about a painting or work of art:
- What do you see in the image?
- Why do you think they are doing that?
- What expressions are the people making? Why do you think they feel that way?
- If you were to make this work of art, how would you do it?
- Do you like it? Why/why not?
- How do you feel when you look at this?
The Museo Leonardo Da Vinci, meanwhile, embraces the great Renaissance man’s inventor side, with models of some of his inventions brought to life and is a really great interactive space for curious minds!
Taking Breaks From Being Indoors
All of the culture and art of museums and the admiring of incredible architecture is invaluable but there is only so much of it all that kids can take before they grow tired and impatient. So, be sure to schedule some breaks that will allow them to run around freely outdoors.
The Cascine Park is the largest public park in Florence, covering an area of 160 hectares, and is a beautiful green space in the city. Here you can take horse-drawn carriages on guided tours, rent bikes or rollerblades and zoom around the park, use facilities like the tennis and football fields, try out archery, play in one of the several little playgrounds, and go swimming at the public swimming pool. There are incredible fountains and sculptures, a pyramid, and gorgeous trees to admire and you can enjoy picnics on the grass. For kids, the opportunity to run around totally unencumbered is freedom after being on their best behaviour in museums!
Other parks and gardens such as the Boboli Gardens and Rose Garden also offer the chance to explore, play, and take in some wonderful surroundings in less stuffy environments.
Specific Activities For Kids In Florence
While the city and Italy, in general, is less child-focused than some other destinations, there are some specific activities that we think will be particularly fun and rewarding for those who book a holiday rental in Florence and have kids in the group. Scheduling some of these will also help ensure that everyone stays happy and has something to enjoy:
- The Piazza della Repubblica Carousel
This iconic fixture of the city is something most young children will be enamoured by and makes for some rather pretty pictures of your kids. So, plan to head to this piazza around sunset some evening and grab food nearby while you treat the little ones to some rides on the carousel and capture images of them having a great time as the sky turns pastel shades and the lights come on all around them.
- Enjoy some Gelato
You don’t need to get it from one specific place but stopping between activities for a gelato helps break the day up, treat everyone, give the group a chance to take a break and refresh, and is a great way to cool down if you are visiting during the summer months. It’s also an important part of Italian culture so, really, it’s just as important as a visit to a museum!
- Pick up a toy at Città del Sole
This toy shop is the perfect place to stop if you want to treat your child to a toy as a memento of their trip (and maybe as a bit of a bribe).
- Bring soccer fans to the Museo Del Calcio
Ideal for older kids who are soccer fans, they’ll be able to see trophies, jerseys from the likes of Pelè and Maradona, and more at this museum. If you time it right, you might also be able to bring them to the city’s stadium for a match as well.
- Brave La Specola
This eclectic natural history museum boasts striking looks and exhibits that include taxidermy zoological specimens from all over the world (including animals that are now extinct), wax anatomical figures, extraordinarily beautiful wax figures of plants, the Hall of Skeletons, and more. Varied, educational, and vaguely macabre, La Specola should appeal to a range of age groups.
- Keep your eyes peeled for street art
As you walk through the city streets on vacation in Florence, you should also remember that it is basically one giant museum with fascinating examples of street art to be found all over. So, stay vigilant to spot examples and make a game of it!
Book a villa in Florence - or a villa with pool in Tuscany and visit Florence for a day or two - and experience the charms of the city in a way that everyone in the group can enjoy together, including your youngest travel companions...
