When traveling with children, finding new experiences that pique the little ones’ interest without boring the older kids is no easy task!
Here are a few things to do with the kids in and around Imola.
The Rocca Sforzesca, in the town centre, is something of a wonder when seen through children’s eyes. They’ll love exploring the underground passageways that house the cannons and bombards once used to defend the fortress and walking on the battlements, just like soldiers on guard!
Then it’s down the narrow stairs to the Keep, the heart of the fortress: the perfect position from which to spot approaching enemies!
Together with the whole family, the children can visit the rooms and learn what they were used for with the aid of info panels. Alternatively, they can choose to visit the fortress with the aid of a very special guide: thanks to the VisitARe Imola App and some help from augmented reality, Leonardo Da Vinci himself will unveil all the secrets of Imola’s number one monument.
To dedicate a day entirely to the youngest kids, the Civic Museums (Musei Civici) of Imola also organize the Giocamuseo, a series of children’s workshops and activities
The Casa del Fiume (literally, ‘the house of the river’) is a Visitors’ Centre in the Parco Regionale della Vena del Gesso Romagnola.
It’s located at Borgo Tossignano on the banks of the Santerno. Here, children can discover the unique features of this landscape via the “Gypsy and the magic of time” trail.
This geology learning trail passes through a natural landscape that has been shaped by gypsum: ‘Gypsy’, the trail’s mascot-cum-guide, is, in fact, a fragment of gypsum that helps young and old alike learn about this land’s incredible 15-million-year history!
The park hugging the River Santerno is the perfect place to spend an afternoon in the midst of nature. Located in Fontanelice, you can reach it by heading down to the river along Via Santerno. Here the waters are shallow and slow-moving. The riverbed is pebbly, as are the ‘beaches’ that form naturally along its shores.
Children can enjoy splashing around in the cool water, spot the fish and birdlife that inhabit the Santerno Valley and relax in the shade of the tall trees. The meadow and open-air barbecue and picnic areas make the day even more unforgettable: an out-of-town trip with a difference.
