Florence is for Children Too!

Many people contemplating a visit to Florence have asked me for activities that children  might enjoy.  Our young grandsons, ages three and five have just left after a 12 day visit. Happy to report that this city welcomes children and there are so many fun things to experience with them.

As the Duomo sits in the center it is a great first stop. Both our boys were able to climb the 463 steps to the top. (I could not even try as it is not for anyone with knee issues).

At first the view can be daunting, if one fears heights (note, I am not there) Here is their Dad providing a steady hand…

And Nonno …

There are many museums that children can enjoy depending on their age.  My list included the Stibbert (full of soldiers. arms and  amour), The Gallieo Museum and the The Specola Museum (a museum of Zoology and Natural History). These three museums may be best suited for children who are seven and older although I have been told it just depends on which exhibits you plan to see.

We decided to go the Children’s museum in Palazzo Vecchio. Online I was able to sign up four adults and the two children on a tour geared for young children.  http://musefirenze.it/musei/museo-di-palazzo-vecchio/

Many tours to choose from, all with age suggestions and some offered in English and French as well as Italian. We were the only group on the tour of the Fable of the Tortoise and the Sail (Favola della tartaruga con la vela). Our tour guide was Alberto and he captivated us all with this charming legend of Cosimo dei Medici as a young child.

The tour was interactive and the children were sent on a mission in The room of the 500 (Il Salone dei Cinquecento) where the boys set out on a task to find all the emblems with the tortoise and the sail:

They identified over 30, but who is counting!

Another fun activity is visiting the interactive museum of Leonardo da Vinci http://www.mostredileonardo.com/leonardo-da-vincis-florence-museum/

Here the boys were able to get  their hands on the many models of Leonardo’s inventions and to see huge models hanging from the ceiling of his flying machines.

A great day trip for that age group is the Park of Pinocchio in Collodi, which is about a 40 minute drive from Florence.   https://www.discovertuscany.com/pistoia/the-pinocchio-park-in-collodi.html

Children loved exploring the Pinocchio trail as well as going on the rides that included gondolas in water and  a car track.  Some highlights were being able to climb to the top of the whale that ate Geppetto and getting lost in the maze (where they had to rescue Nonna!). There is also a garden nearby that has a butterfly house which we did not have time to visit.

Do not fret if you can not make this day trip, there are plenty of Pinoochios in the center of Florence to amuse you.  Here we are at the wooden toy shop on via Condotta near Santa Croce.

Of course eating gelato, pasta and pizza is something that everyone enjoys and trying out different gelato shops is a delicious competitive event. Our local gelato shop ll Procopio, on Via Pietrapiana 60r, is the winner! Chocolate was this boy’s fav and his brother loved the mango along with vanilla.

Bottom line: Florence is a terrific city for all, adults as well as children. Eating a pomegranate on Ponte Vecchio (old bridge) can become a happening.

Kids have a great way of putting things into their context. When Mama explained that the bridge in front of them, the Ponte Santa Trinta, was  built from a design by Michelangelo, kids exclaimed: You mean Ninja Michelangelo!

OK time to get real at the Giostra in Piazza della Repubblica!