VENICE FOR CHILDREN

 Young children tire quickly and a fold-up stroller is essential. Although Venice is not an obvious choice for children, don’t be discouraged, it is surprisingly easy to navigate and children love the boat travel. Why miss the most romantic city in Europe? Food and people are child friendly and you can combine beaches with art and churches with masks. Most of the important sights are outside and the best way to see the treasures of Venice is to wander aimlessly, stopping for ice creams and cappuccinos. The lack of traffic means that children can play about in the squares or meander in the streets without fear.

Play Area

Children tired of art and architecture can release their energy at well-equipped play-grounds with slides, swings and frames at Parco Savorgnan near Ponte delle Guglie in Cannaregio area and the fenced-in waterfront park at Giardini in Castello area. the vast shady green expanse of Sant’Elena even boasts a modest skating rink and an artificial climbing wall. Other-wise make friends with the city kids as they kick footballs or cycle around Campo San Polo of an afternoon.

Doge’s Palace Prisons and Armoury

Children are thrilled by the spooky labirinth of narrow passegeways through the palace’s erstwhile prisons and it’s fun deciphering the graffiti scratched on the walls by inmates over the centuries.

Museo Storico Navale

The museum contains relics from various regional navies and from the Italian navy. The 2nd floor has a room dedicated to the Bucintoro, the gilded cerimonial sea craft of the Doge, used in the solemn ceremonies like the Venice’s wedding to the sea.                         Permanent exibition: collections of original documents, remains and models of boats of several forms an sizes.               

Museo di Storia naturale

A partial reopening of the Venetian Museum ( closed for restoration) offers visitors a chance to view the renovated hall dedicated to the historical Ligabue Expedition (1973) and, on the ground floor, a new acquarium with more than 50 species of fishes.        

ClockTower       

The Torre dell’Orologio stands on the north side of St. Mark’s Square. 500-year-old mechanical robots use sledgehammers to strike the hours on a large bell.

Telecom Italia Future Centre      

A 1,000-year-old convent has been trasformed into a hands-on technology museum where you and your kids can explorer interactive exhibits, check your e-mail and browse the web for free.