Italy at Easter - but where??

[LapinDeBois]

Next year I would like to take the kids (two boys aged 10 and 7) to Italy, as they are desperate to go there. None of us likes it too hot, so we're planning to go at Easter (first half of April). My ideal holiday is a combination of sight-seeing (classical/medieval stuff) and walking/outdoors/wildlife. I know that Easter in Italy could be as hot as low 20s, so if we had access to some water for the boys to swim and splash about (pref. river/sea/lake, or maybe pool) then that would be great, but don't want to centre the holiday around that as it might end up being too cold to swim. I would plan to hire a car, happy to either self-cater or hotel/B&B/apartment, and would be happy to do a two or three centre trip, probably ideally over 10 days-ish.

So, big question is - where?? I'm thinking Sicily, but DH has some reservations (couple of people he knows didn't like it). He's thinking Venice plus some additional countryside - but I don't know that area of Italy (except for Venice itself). Italian Lakes - but is there enough to do/see to keep us all entertained there? Tuscany - but that's mainly sightseeing/pretty towns and might not be enough for the kids to let off steam (they're patient with sightseeing but only up to a point )? Anywhere else??

Any recommendations, including specific places to stay/visit, would be v much appreciated. Or if you think I should ditch Italy and go somewhere else instead (?Greece), all suggestions welcome!

I'd do Venice, Verona (amphitheatre), Gardaland, Lake Garda with kids that age. Lots of family things to do but maybe too much travelling (2 nights max in any one place).

I live near Venice in Friuli and apart from the city it's quite agricultural and tourism centres around mediaeval sites or beach towns mostly frequented by Germans. Trieste is amazing IMO if you like decaying Belle Epoque, but I imagine your kids wouldn't...

Booking.com or Trip Advisor are fine for Italy. Airbnb not so much.

We took DC of similar ages to Italy twice. To Rome - which they loved - loved the Colisseum, the gladiator displays, the forum where caesar was murdered - all the gory history, and then to Venice which they really adored. Good thing abotu Venice is, if it's hot you can hop on a boat and go to the coast - there's miles of beaches just a short ride away. And trips to the islands (they loved the glassblowers) and ferry/gondola rides. They love the food too - pizza, pasta, risotto, gelati.

For that age group I'd recommend a visit to Rome. You could spend a few days there (three would do), and then have a few days somewhere else. Venice is fun from a point of view of travelling by boat, but other than that I'm struggling to see the attraction for DC. Venice is, IMO, an adult place. Old cities too don't appeal to my DC (who are 6 and 9, so a similar age). So maybe take the train from Rome to Venice, spend one or two days there and then head to the south end of Lake Garda and hit Gardaland. It could still be a bit chilly up in the north of Italy at Easter, but Rome should be reasonably warm.

That age group plus classical/historical stuff = Rome. Book an apartment with AirBnB - loads of them.

Or if you want to do a bit of outdoors and countryside - Verona, day trip to Venice (not much more, it's tedious for children), Gardaland. If you hire a car you could stay at an agriturismo with pool etc.

We went to Puglia at Easter this year. The DCs should enjoy seeing and visiting the trulli houses in that area, and the cave city at Matera is incredible and I would think would also be good for that age range too.

Lots of amazing beaches all around the whole coastline if the weather is good (it was too cold this year for going in the sea but some lovely sunny days). The city of Lecce is worth a day's visit as is Gallipoli and lots of other beautiful towns and villages throughout the region. There are lots of sea caves and grottoes that you can do boat trips around but do be aware that some things don't open until later in the year. If you are there before the Easter weekend there are a lot of festivals and celebrations too.

We did a lot of driving but the roads were quiet that time of year and easy to find parking etc. Airports at Bari and Brindisi are both serviced by budget airlines.

Watching this thread with interest though as I'm starting to think about where to go next year now!

We did Lake Garda (and Gardaland), a few nights in an agritourismo place just south of Bologna then a week on the Venetian Riviera (with a couple of trips into Venice) last year (children were 7 and 11).

Thanks all, that's really useful. Lots of new ideas I hadn't thought of. What is this Gardaland of which you all speak??
Also - if we do Rome, are there nice countryside/walking-y places to easily combine it with? (I think Rome and Venice would be too much city for them - one or other would be fine).
Also, I haven't totally given up on the Sicily idea - anyone have experiences good or bad to share?

Gardaland is a bit like Alton Towers but 10 times less busy and 100 times more picturesque (its worth getting on the really scary rides so you get to see the view of Lake Garda from the top). Gorgeous hotel with lovely pool.

Gardaland is owned by the Merlin group so as other poster said, Italian Alton towers.

We stayed on lake Garda and hired a car. Did sermione, Verona, Garda land and drove up in the mountains. It rained a fair bit in June due to proximity to mountains so check rainfall in April.

Next plan for me is Rome where we'd stay nearby so can go to the city, beach and mount Vesuvius etc

Love Italy 🇮🇹

Rome - we went to Tivoli for the weekend, nice walk through a gorge with grottos etc and the Villa d'Este would be great for adults and kids as full of fountains.

Rome at easter will be heaving busy so unless you're a pilgrim, avoid. Venice / Vicenza countryside will be glorious

We had a fabulous holiday to Sicily this year. It was too hot to do much sightseeing and I would love to go back at a cooler time of year. Easter would be ideal. It is a large island so a 2 or 3 centre holiday would be the best option.

We stayed in Cefalu BTW and loved it.

I am surprised people are saying Venice is boring. Its my childrens favourite Italian place to visit. Its fun travelling on the canals and just a really different place to visit. Easter is perfect as the weather can be warm enough to sit outsite to eat but you don't have the crowds. You can also take boat cruises out to the islands.

I think Garda is really boring and more of a resort type place where I would go in the summer when you cam swim.

Rome is a big city. Of course its impressive, but we found the food was really hit and miss compared to other places in Italy.

We also love Florence and its very walkable.

Have a great holiday.

I've just had a lovely holiday in Bari, I stayed in savelltri which is near monopoli. I would highly recommend it. There are lovely beaches. Lots to see and its not to touristy. I'm certainly going to go back in the future.

If you want glorious countryside/walks after exploring Venice, think about heading up to Bolzano or Merano in Sud Tirol. Even though both are surrounded by mountains, it will be warm in the city and valleys. Walking is excellent, Bolzano has the Otzi (iceman) archaeology museum which is fascinating. Merano is absolutely beautiful and has a fantastic thermal spa (child friendly too). The area is my favourite in Italy and my two (10 & 12) love it too.

Good point about Rome and pilgrims at Easter. There is amazing food in Rome but a lot of mediocre - you have to make an effort to find the good stuff. We found the same in Venice.

Venice would depend on how much your children like sightseeing - yes it looks really really different but given most visitors only go for a day trip/weekend break anyway its attractions beyond art and churches run out fast.

We went to Naples last Easter - can thoroughly recommend!

Was going to suggest BARI & MATERA too

On my 'to do' list is Naples/Sorrento, to visit Pompeii and Herculaneum. I think Easter would be a good temperature for visiting historic sites.

Great, great ideas folks. Thank you so much. Maybe now leaning towards Venice plus countryside. Langerhans I will definitely check out that area - totally new to me. KatyBerry I don't know the Vicenza countryside at all either - any specific recommendations of places to go?