Things to do in Umbria for children

Are you going on holiday to Umbria (Italy) with children? Below we have gathered some ideas as to what one can do with children in Umbria in central Italy.

Apart from the few ideas below, you can also take children to the many small medieval towns in Umbria and walk around. Usually one can see these town within about an hour and eat an ice cream somewhere on the piazza. The small alleys and old impressive buildings are also for children interesting, especially when you prepare the children with a few books about the middle ages and renaissance, where knights were heroes, cars did not exist, let alone TV and mobile phones. Walking through many of these typically Umbrian villages, perched on top of hills, you can feel like long forgotten times. Children have more immagination than most adults, so it does not take a lot to make them enjoy it all!

Not interested in the old times? Most towns have a small children play area, that is maintained well. These are simple, but for very young children it can be fun.

Ideas of what to do and visit with your children in Umbria:

Parco del sole
Natural oasis (park) where the wild animals who used to live in Umbria are roaming around. There are areas for children to play and nice walking trails. Parco del Sole - Loc. Pianelli - Collazzone (PG) - Tel./Fax 075 870 7308. www.parcodelsole.com. Take the E45 from Perugia to Todi and exit at Ripabianca, follow signs from here (direction Foligno). Open daily from 9.30 to 18.30 hrs, from April to end of October. Prices are 8 euro per adult and 6 euro per child.

Marmore waterfalls
Spectacular man made waterfalls, that can be closed and opened (therefore, do check the opening times because a visit is especially interesting when the falls have water in them). Made by the Romans, making it even more impressive. A drop of 165 meters divided in three waterfalls. One can walk along the falls down a safe trail. Info, pictures and opening times and costs can be found on: www.marmorefalls.it (also in english).

: Centro Canoa e Rafting "Le Marmore"; Via Carlo Neri - 05037 - Papigno (Terni); tel +39330753420 or +39337729154; Fax +390686212249; http://raftingmarmore.com; e-mail: Dit e-mailadres is beschermd tegen spambots. U heeft Javascript nodig om het te kunnen zien. . Booking is necessary and online you will also find the opening times and costs. Obviously, you should also visit the Marmore waterfalls!

Citta' della domenica

A zoo on a few kms from Perugia, of 40 hectares with all kinds of animals one can see (not in cages). Città della Domenica, Via Col di Tenda, 140 - 06100 Perugia, Tel.: 075 5054941 www.cittadelladomenica.com (take the exit from the road around Perugia called 'ferro di cavallo' and follow the signs. Open from the  beginning of April, daily from 10.00 to 18.00 hrs; from mid September only open on Saturday and Sunday. Adults pay 12 euro, children 8 euro.

Medieval shop in Gubbio
Really interesting for children as well as adults, is a visit to the medieval shop in Gubbio. This shop has an infinite number of harnasses, old weapons and other medieval objects. Immagining life in the middle ages. MedioEvo - Acacia Giuseppe s.r.l.; zona industriale Ponte d'Assi; 06024 Gubbio (PG).
Tel.: +390759221396 or +390759272596. 
Fax.: +390759228455. 
Opening hours: 
Mon - Fri from 8.30 to 13.00 and from 14.30 to 19.00 hrs. 
Sat and Sun from 10 - 13 hrs and from 15 to 18.30 hrs.

Visit a medieval home in the centre of Gubbio, Eastern Umbria
The owners of the medieval shop of Gubbio (see above) also have a real home the way it used to be in the middle ages (1200), in the centre of Gubbio, accross from the fountain (walk three times around the fountain and you are considered mad). This is part of the museum of the 'balestra', the effective medieval weapon (one the picture right you can see one).
Entrance is free. The museum is open Thursdays to Sundays.

Foresta fossile
Fosile forest with impressive stone remains of what once were trees. Unique palentological site.
Foresta Fossile di Dunarrobba-  Loc. Casacce - Dunarobba - 05020 AVIGLIANO UMBRO (TR)
tel 0744-940348. 
www.forestafossile.it. 
Take the E45 direction Orte. Strade Statali: SS. 79 - SS. 3 - SS. 209 - SS. 204. 

Carsulae - what remains of a Roman settlement in Umbria
It is called an Archeological Park. Carsulae is close to San Gemini in the province of Terni. Beautiful area to start with, but this archeological site is very interesting also for children. Some very old arches are still standing, one can see old roman roads, cisterns, a temple and a lot more. Open in April - September from 8.30 to 19.30 hrs. Closed 1st of May. Tickets are Euro 4,40 for adults and 3,30 for children (under 18) and the over 65.

Lake Trasimeno - visit the two islands
From the various shore towns, you can take a boat to the two islands. The isola maggiore is the easiest, it has a few bars and restaurants and one can walk around the island within one hour. Very nice for children, including a boat ride. Boats can be taken from Tuoro, Passignano and Castiglione del Lago. The isola Polvese is a natural park one can visit. The boat leaves from San Feliciano.

The 'grotte di Frasassi' and dinosaur park
Not to miss ... these caves are truelly impressive and open to the public (you can visit them accompanied by professional guides, along an easy tourist route that lasts about 75 minutes). The cost is 15 euro per person, children between 6 and 14 pay 10 euro and children under 6 are free. For more information (also on how to dress, as the caves are not warm!) and a virtual tour you can visit the website www.frasassi.com (also in English).

In the same area, 9 km from the caves, you can enjoy the dinosaur park, called 'le pietre del drago'. Entrance is 5 euro per person and children under 3 years are free. The dinosaur park is 13 hectare, there is a museum, a pic-nic area and a bar / restaurant. Le Pietre del Drago, Localita Niegola 1, 60047 Sassoferrato (AN) - www.lepietredeldrago.it (italian only, but has some good pictures).