fun things to do with kids in tuscany  italy    
  Travel for Kids
Italy
   
     
    Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is the perfect place to explore the medieval towns and Renaissance cities, rent a house and enjoy the glorious countryside. Traveling with kids in Tuscany, will it be the torres of San Gimignano, Roman ruins in Volterra, the glories of Florence, climbing up the Tower of Pisa, checking out Leonardo da Vinci's home town, or just walking through a rustic village looking for the next gelato?
  Florence (Firenze)
    Siena
    San Gimignano and Volterra
    Collodi – Pinocchio
    Lucca
    The Garfagnana
    Pisa – Leaning Tower
family house rentals tuscany italy

Travel for Kids has so many fun things to do with kids in Tuscany, but you'll need a fun place to stay.

Here's our own Travel for Kids hand-picked list of accommodations in Tuscany (house rentals are ideal for families), in areas near to places you'll want to explore:

Tuscany vacation rentals
family tours tuscany italy

Tuscany is bursting with art and good food, but kids may be more interested in how to make cheese, tasting gelato and doing their own paintings than wine tasting or shopping for local ceramics, and the whole family will enjoy biking through the Tuscan countryside. Here's our editor's choice for family tours that combine the best of both for kids and adults:

    Classic Journeys
    Backroads
kids books italy
     
On Etruscan Time - kids books Italy  
On Etruscan Time
Tracy Barrett

Twelve year old Hector wasn't keen on spending his summer on an Etruscan dig in Tuscany, but when he finds a mysterious stone eye, the dusty ruins around him become a thriving Etruscan village, more than 2,000 years ago. Can Hector protect an Etruscan boy from an evil plot, and keep the archeological dig going? (Chapter book)

 

     
Dante's Daughter
Kimberley Heuston

1301, Florence. Step into exciting times in Tuscany, seen through the eyes of Dante's daughter, Antonia. After her poet father is exiled from Florence, Antonia finds herself in Siena, living in the warm noisy household of the artist Duccio. Antonia's story is a vivid panoramic journey, her quick restless mind and vibrant dreams illuminated by poetry and painting. A wonderful teen read. (Chapter book)

 

 
     
Leonardo da Vinci - kids books Italy  
Leonardo da Vinci
Diane Stanley

Engaging story of Leonardo da Vinci – his fascination with nature as a child, busy years painting, his inventions, scientific studies, sculptures, pageants and costume designs. Rich, detailed illustrations bring Leonardo to life. (Picture book)

 

     
Leonardo da Vinci
(Magic Tree House Research Guide)
Mary Pope Osborne, Natalie Pope Boyce

Find out about Leonardo da Vinci and his world, the Renaissance and life in Florence for this incredible artist, inventor and scientist. Packed with Leonardo's drawings and paintings, perfect to bring on your trip. (Chapter book)

 

 
     
Michelangelo - kids books Italy  
Michelangelo
Mike Venezia

Michelangelo, like Leonardo, was another talented Tuscan who could do everything – painting, poetry, sculpture, architecture. Lively mini-biography of Michelangelo, from his sculptures (including his most famous sculpture, David, in Florence), architectural feats, and frescoes. (Picture book)

 

     
Pinocchio
Carlo Collodi, Emma Rosa, Sara Fanelli

This unique translation of Pinocchio, from the Italian original, is filled with unexpected adventures of the puppet who wants to be a real boy. Young readers will enjoy Pinocchio as a hero very different from the cartoon character, illustrated with fabulous paintings and drawings by a contemporary Italian artist. (Chapter book)

 

 
     
The Renaissance  
The Renaissance
Anna Claybourne

Take a tour of Renaissance Italy – when to visit, where to go (Florence is a top destination), what to see, what to wear, where to stay, what to eat, where to shop, and safety tips (watch out for bandits). (Chapter book)

 

(More children's books on other Tuscany and Italy pages)