A day in Florence with the family: 5 activities for young and old
Written on : 08 July 2021 By : Emilie Dubillot
Have you decided to spend your next family holiday in Florence, Tuscany? It's a great idea: you won't be bored in this exciting city, the cradle of the Renaissance. Here is our selection of fun activities for young and old: between cultural discoveries, gourmet breaks, and sensory experiences, the Tuscan atmosphere will seduce you!
1. Picnic in the Boboli Gardens
The Boboli Gardens, in the historic center of Florence, are a large park full of charm, 45 hectares of lawns where children can run, play and discover ancient treasures... Ideal also for picnics!
More than four centuries old, the Boboli gardens were commissioned by Cosimo Medici I in 1594 and created by Niccolo Pericoli. The work was then continued by three other famous architects: Vasari, Ammannati, and Buontalenti, over 400 years. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, the garden was enriched and extended by the Medici and Lorraine families. The gardens are now an open-air museum with numerous fountains, statues (dating from the Roman and Renaissance periods), sculptures, centuries-old oak trees, and many other hidden treasures.
You can enter this magnificent place through one of the four entrance gates (the courtyard of Palazzo Pitti, the Forte del Belvedere, the Porta di Via Romana, and the Piazza di Porta Romana). You can also enter from Piazza Pitti. The entrance fee is 10 euros.
2. Take the secret passages of the Palazzo vecchio
The Palazzo Vecchio is a magnificent 13th century fortified Florentine palace, used as a film location for the movie "Inferno" starring Tom Hanks. The Palace overlooks the Piazza Della Signoria and offers exciting interactive tours for families. Play the mystery card with a tour of the palazzo that will usually cover the richly decorated rooms, where children can play explorer and discover the secret passages that lead to the private rooms of the Medici family. They can also dress up in extravagant Medici clothes and play at posing like in the famous Renaissance paintings.
However, the visit is only open to children aged 10 and over, while younger children can enjoy the children's museum inside the palace.
3. Take a ride on the merry-go-round in Piazza della Republica
Take a trip back to your childhood and visit Piazza Della Republica with its famous colorful merry-go-round: it is also a perfect place for a unique family photo! You can also enjoy an ice cream or a Florentine pastry in one of the shops in the Piazza. The tour costs €1.50 per person.
4. Visit the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum, for budding scientists
Children will love this small interactive and very playful museum, representing all the genius of Leonardo illustrated by experiments and machines to manipulate oneself. The museum has machines divided into 4 elements: earth, water, air, and fire. The price is 7€/adult and 5€/child.
5. Enjoy an ice cream at Gelateria La Carraia
As well as offering a wide range of homemade ice creams with authentic flavors, Gelateria La Carraia is probably the only place in Italy where you can get a generous scoop of ice cream for the price of 1 euro. The gelateria is on the banks of the Arno River, and you can enjoy your gelato on one of the two benches nearby.
6. Relax by boat on the Arno River
Discover the beautiful city of Florence from an original and unique angle: sail on the Arno in a "Florentine gondola" and admire the Ponte Vecchio from the water. The tour lasts about 1 hour and allows you to contemplate the main monuments of Florence such as the Santa Trinita Bridge or the splendid Corsini Palace. Depending on the provider, the price starts at 40 euros per person for an adult.
7. For the older ones: get into the shoes of Ezio Auditore with the Assassin's Creed guided tour
If you're travelling with older children or teenagers and you're worried that they'll get bored with a traditional tour, this tour is the perfect experience for them! This unusual discovery of the city will reveal many of the secrets of Assassin's Creed and its characters, most of whom lived in Florence in the 15th century.
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