When you first think of Venice, you think of the canals, the gondolas, the romance and the mystery that surrounds this exceptional Italian city. At first glance, Venice doesn’t seem like the ideal location for kids, but despite first appearances, this wonderful destination is just perfect for toddlers and their parents. What is it that makes this marvelous part of Italy so special?
There’s so much to do
Beyond the romance, Venice is an ideal location for children of all ages, thanks to the sheer number of fun attractions available. From parks, like Parco Groggia, where kids can enjoy an enchanted garden, a theatre and even a swimming pool, to awesome museums, such as the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and Palazzo Grassi, a contemporary art museum which is very interested with introducing art to young children, there’s always something to do throughout the day.
It’s the land of (maybe) a million lions
A popular pastime with visitors to Venice is to count the lions that are scattered across the city. Sadly, these aren’t real lions, but statues, paintings and other art forms that depict the lion, which is the symbol of Venice’s patron saint, St Mark. You can spend hours wandering along the streets and spotting hidden lions from your gondola. Keep a tally of how many lions you find and count them at the end of your vacation!
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Gelato, everyday!
There are lots of gelaterie (ice cream stores) in Venice, each of them boasting hundreds of exciting flavors and combinations. If you want to treat your family to some gelato, look out for Grom, a local ice cream chain, or visit stores like Il Gelatone in Cannaregio, or Nico in Dorsoduro in Castello. Your kids will have great fun tasting traditional and more contemporary flavors.
You can go on a magical water adventure
The best way to really appreciate the beauty of Venice is to view it from the water. Water taxis can be taken from the airport, while water buses — which are also known as vaparettos — can be found on the Grand Canal and take visitors to the islands of Torcello, Burano and Murano.
If you want to climb aboard one of the city’s world-famous gondolas, you can find one on any one of the canals in Venice. Jump on one at night and ask your gondolier to explore the smaller canals for a quieter and much more interesting view of Venice.
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Venice isn’t just for adults, it’s a great place for kids too, so why not consider Venice this year?
Images by currybet and fhwrdh, used under Creative Commons license