You don't need statistics to prove that families traveling with children are warmly welcomed in Italy. This is a destination where"bambini" rule. Below are some unique things you can do with your family if you have already visited Italy.Pinocchio park in the Tuscan town of Collodi pays homage to the creator of the puppet who wanted to be a real boy. Young fans will see the original interpretations of the character come to life in puppet shows, storytelling and exhibits.

Kids can also participate in hands-on crafts activities such as mask-making, giant chess games and rides on antique carousels.The park also offers the Garzoni gardens, complete with topiaries and a maze, and the Butterfly House, filled with exotic species of butterflies.

In Rome, families can take in the Explora il Museo dei Bambini di Roma, the first such museum for children in the country. Situated near the Piazza del Popolo, the facility offers hands-on fun including play areas for toddlers to crawl around in and a tv studio for older kids.

Monsters Grove in Bomarzo in Lazio, offers eerie creatures of mythology. Not for the easily frightened, the park is strewn with surreal statues of scary stone monsters set in a landscape of beautiful gardens.

Take the children to St. Agatha's Feast day in Catania, Sicily, clebrated in eraly February. the entire town turns out for the multiday event, billed as the second largets religious festival in the world. Essentially, a massive street fair, the festival commemorates catania's patron saint, who is believed by locals to have stopped a tidal wave of lava at the border of the city when Mt. Etna erupted some 500 years ago.

In a dramatic procession, costumed locals carry her statue through the streets at night, carrying candles the size of baseball bats. Food, music and much merrymaking follow the event.

Families can also take advantage of Catania's proximity to Taormina to visit the Roman ruins. Families who like to ski and snowboard might want to consider a visit to Pila in the Aosta Valley, where the terrain ranges from wide-open trails to winding catwalks. A children's ski and snowboard club is available on the mountain, offering a magic carpet lift, group instruction and a new Adventure Park with a ropes course and treetop slides. The mountain also offers bobsledding and sleigh rides.

For families that have not been to Italy, there are introductory tours that include activities for both children and adults. The most popular Italy family tours are Ciao Italia, Italy Family Vacation and Gladiators, Gondolas and Gold.

Written by: C Kennedy
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