Florence-the town of the art, statues, frescoes, history….and you want to take a child? YES! Yes you can!
A little homework will make your trip with a child more enjoyable. First explain there is no “technology” today-they will actually learn to read a town map to the various sites (an experience for the GPS children of today). They will be walking…and walking…so pick out some great new walking shoes-we love our Keen brand shoes that take the cobble stone roads well! Grab a book-My child LOVES her “Young Traveller’s Guide to Florence” (Giunti). It explains in kid terms what they are looking at and some fun historical facts…to be honest…it’s one of my favorites too!!
Then of course…the camera-Below are some amazing pictures my kid took of some of the things she learned from her book. She actually goes into Florence every trip looking for something new that she read about!
When you tell a child that Ponte Vecchio used to have stinky meat cutters and fish mongers and the Prince would only walk above the bridge in a special tunnel ..that is tons more interesting than…”Hey let’s got to Ponte Vecchio so Mommy can look at pretty jewelry”.
Tell them to look for the secret owl at the bargello, the iron rings outside the Palazzo Vecchio or the gothic gutters around the Duomo….so many secrets and fun things to keep them entertained.
Also-looking online or at books of the statues and their fun stories makes the entire “naked” issue seem to disappear…kind of…ha…I will say, my kid was worried her first trip that everyone in Italy must run around with little to no clothes because that what all the statues looked like!
Gelato…nowhere can you find gelato like Florence. Like so many of the buildings, the Gelateria’s offer what look like true artistic masterpeices! Take a moment to sit with your ice cream in a piazza or take a stroll in Boboli Gardens and ask your kid what they think about…statues, the italian fashion, Florence pizza verses our pizza, etc.
Florence and all of Italy can be a special trip with children but you just have to take a little time to do some homework..I have found it has enhances MY own trip tenfold!
Door of Miracles tells 8 Bible stories!
Did you know they dropped hot oil and bombs from secret windows?
Atop the tower at the cathedral
Blood jetting out the neck of Medusa-cool!
Now this view was worth the climb! Atop the tower at cathedral.
A favorite street performer.
Real gold in the ceiling….
So much pizza…so little time
Map reading!!
