Italy
Italy has a special place in my heart. I am from Rome and I have called Italy home for over 40 years. I have experienced it as a local, I had the privilege of studying its history in University (I am a Roman history graduate from the University of Rome) and I have traveled Italy extensively on my own, with friends and now with my husband and kids. As you can imagine, this means I have quite a lot to say about it! So much so, that I have now this large section on this website about it, but also two dedicated websites: MamaLovesItaly.com and MamaLovesRome.com with even more guides!
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Best day trips from Florence and guided day tours from Florence you’ll love (family friendly)
The best day trips from Florence by car, train and guided tour. From medieval towns to wineries and areas of great natural beauty in Tuscany, these are the best side-trips from Florence Italy There is only one reason why I would recommend visitors to leave the amazing city of Florence and that is the opportunity to go on a day trip to Tuscan towns nearby. Tuscany is one of the most visited areas of the whole of Italy and it is easy to see why. The land is dotted by historic, picture-perfect towns with beautiful views, wineries, olive groves and world-class food (think Chianti wine, cheese boards and steak!). If…
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Taormina travel guide: the best things to do and why you will love this stunning town in Sicily
Our essential guide to visiting Taormina, Sicily. The best things to do in Taormina Sicily, where to stay, how to get around and tried and tested addresses for some of Taormina’s most delicious foods! Taormina is one of the most famous places in the whole of Sicily. International tourism discovered it many years ago, making it one of the typical stops of the ‘Grand Tour’ and the town still now attracts visitors from over the world, coming to it by land and sea. Tourism is often a mixed blessing and we could argue about how authentic Taormina feels nowadays. However, I feel the town’s position and cultural heritage makes it…
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Tre Cime di Lavaredo with kids: how to enjoy the Dolomite Three Peaks as a family
All you need to know to enjoy the Tre Cime di Lavaredo with kids: practical family guides to easy hikes and the best viewpoints on the Three Peaks, Dolomites, Italy. Le Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Drei Zinnen, in German, Three Peaks of Lavaredo, in English) are the most iconis site on the Dolomites, Italy. Three solitary mountains peaks, they shoot up towards the sky with beautiful rock faces with distinctive pink hues. They are a favorite spot for climbers, one of the most photographed spots in Dolomites and the symbol of this area. Tre Cime di Lavaredo are one of the most beautiful spots on the Dolomites and you don’t…
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Lago di Braies (Lake Braies): how to visit the most photographed mountain lake in Italy
All you need to know to plan a visit to Lago di Braies (Lake Braies, Pragser Wildsee), the most photographed Alpine lake in Italy. Lake Braies is a beautiful Alpine lake nestled among stunning peaks in the Dolomites, in the northeast of Italy. It is one of the most photographed mountain lakes and a favorite subject for Instagrammers, who are drawn here but its pristine clean waters that reflect mountain peaks like a natural mirror. I have been coming to Lake Braies for many years: my family and I have been vacationing in the area for over 20 years and the walk around lake Braies has always featured among our favorite…
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Lake Dobbiaco with kids: all you need to know for a perfect family day on this stunning alpine lake
All you need to know to plan a visit to Lake Dobbiaco/ Lago di Dobbiaco with kids. How to get there, best things to do, what to pack, tips. One of my favorite places to visit on the Dolomites with kids is stunning Lake Dobbiaco (Lago di Dobbiaco) Lake Dobbiaco is a small and pretty alpine lake close to the town of Dobbiaco/Toblach, in Alto Adige. It is nestled among beautiful mountains, framed by thick forest and it is easy to reach. Unlike many other lakes in the area, Lake Dobbiaco doesn’t require any hiking. This ease of access plus the many fun things you can do on its shores…
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12 Wonderful family hikes in the Dolomites you’ll love
A selection of wonderful family friendly hikes in the Dolomites perfect for an active summer in the mountains with kids! There are so many beautiful family hikes in the Dolomites that writing a comprehensive list of all of them is an impossible task. I know, because I tried! I have been vacationing on the Dolomites all my life and I have gone on uncountable hikes, both when I was a child myself and now with my kids. There are many more hikes for me to take and even more buggy-friendly walks that are not hikes as such but allow families to see beautiful mountain scenery with little ones. So in…
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Fun and interesting facts about The Three Peaks of Lavaredo + tips for visiting
All you need to know to plan a hiking trip to the stunning Three Peaks of Lavaredo with kids + fun facts about the peaks The Three Peaks of Lavaredo (Tre Cime di Lavaredo / Drei Zinnen) are three alpine peaks in the Italian Alps and one of the most recognisable mountainous landscapes in Italy. They stand at the border between the regions of Veneto and Alto Adige and they are a paradise for climbers and hikers alike, even those with little hiking experience and those, like us, who hike with primary school age kids. I have been going to the Three Peaks of Lavaredo all my life, when I…
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One day in Genoa, Italy’s beautiful port city
One day in Genoa Italy: detailed itinerary to see Genoa’s main attractions in one day and practical travel tips for your visit. Genova is a beautiful city in the North West of Italy and a place that surprises many. In a beautiful position between the sea and the mountains, Genoa is mostly famous for its port and its Aquarium however, it also has a wonderful city center and many attractions worth seeing, including interesting UNESCO World Heritage Sites and an atmospheric historical city center. A very close friend of mine is from Genova and I was lucky enough to have her guide me around the city the last time I…
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Beautiful small towns in Italy and small cities in Italy you will love
Handpicked selection of beautiful small towns in Italy and small cities in Italy you will love plus the tips you need to add them to your Italy itinerary. These are so many beautiful small towns in Italy, making a list of all of them would be an impossible task and maybe not even the most useful to help you plan your Italy itinerary. If you are planning to visit italy from abroad, more useful is a list of small towns in Italy that are so beautiful and outstanding, they will make your tips one to remember. The small towns in this list are all over the Italian peninsula and they…
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The best things to do in Orvieto Italy, the beautiful hilltop town you’ll love
How to visit Orvieto Italy: the best things to do in Orvieto, how to get there, what to buy, how to organise your day. Orvieto is one of the most beautiful towns in Italy and one of the most peculiar. It is nestled on top of a tufa hill in the middle of the Umbrian countryside and the first time you catch a glimpse of it, it looks like a mirage and you will find yourself blinking try to adjust your vision! The skyline of Orvieto emerges from the tops of the hill it looks one with it: the sight is wonderful and things only get better once you get…
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Italy with a baby or toddler: all you need to know for a first trip to Italy with baby – by an Italian mom!
All you need to know to plan a trip to Italy with a baby: best places to visit in Italy with baby, where to buy baby gear in Italy and practical tips for a baby friendly Italy vacation. Italy is a wonderful destination for a young family. The country is famous for having a family first approach and indeed, moms and babies in Italy are treated like royalty, people falling over themselves to accommodate you. I have witness this several times myself. I am Italian, but I live in Ireland now and visited Italy as a tourist when my first born was just 6 weeks old and then again when…
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Saturnia hot springs: how to visit Tuscany’s most famous hot springs
How to visit Saturnia hot springs, the most famous free hot springs in Tuscany and the nearby thermal baths. Saturnia is a small locality in the South of Tuscany, famous for its natural hot springs and free scenic thermal baths. The locality has been known for its free hot waters for decades and I can still remember the evening drive here, when I was a kid, for evening dip when I was a kid! However, it is only in recent years that the hot springs have reached worldwide notoriety and have started attracted visitors also from faraway places as one of the best hot springs of Tuscany. The reason for…
