… instead … there’s much more!

This article was born from the desire to share with you a perfect itinerary to do with your children, but also simply with your partner, to enjoy a mix of  Nature, Relax and Fun in the name of different experiences from those that usually come proposals in these areas.

Garda Trentino is an extremely heterogeneous territory, dotted with lakes, including the well-known Garda Lake, mountain ranges, characteristic villages and wonders of nature, all to be discovered.

We start our trip around Garda Trentino from Tenno Lake.

The colors of this Lake cannot be explained … you have to see them with your own eyes; the turquoise is so intense that you think it can be fake! It’s a place that reconnects you with nature, that gives you the relax you are looking for, makes you “switch off” and even just strolling along its perimeter admiring the reflections of the light on the water is worth the trip!

Tenno Lake

In recent years even  with the advent of  the social media, Lake of Tenno has been strongly promoted , therefore it’s easy to find it full of people in the height of summer … so my advice is to visit it in the low season (preferably in autumn when the golden leaves of the trees are reflected in its blue waters) or, if you happen to pass by in a crowded period, go there early in the morning as soon, as the sun rises, to enjoy a unique show! (if you have the opportunity to sleep in the area with a tent, camper or similar, I highly recommend it as a night stop!).

After a refreshing break and a nice snack by the lake, we resume the road towards Riva del Garda, but before that there are still a couple of unmissable stops:

We stop in Canale di Tenno, a wonderful medieval village that has become part of the “Borghi più belli d’Italia”  (most beautiful villages in Italy).

Canale di Tenno

Here time seems to have stopped… you can breathe history at every corner! Its narrow and tremendously fascinating stone alleys hide wonderful realities, such as La casa Degli Artisti, a place that hosts painters from all over Europe , looking for artistic inspiration,  since the 1960s.  Then, in winter,  the village comes alive at Christmas time thanks to the Christmas markets …. Although I have never been there during Christmas time, I think it must be something really magical!

The last stop of the day is on purpose to admire the immense power that the Varone Falls emanate, with their 98 meters height !
Inaugurated  on 20th June 1874, Varone Waterfalls Park, is open everyday from 9 AM till 5 PM ( last entrance at 4.30); in Summer is recommended to arrive on time because it’s possible to find the place crowded be obliged to stand in line for several hours.
Another suggestion I would like to give you is :don’t forget the rain cape …. inside the cave of the Waterfall you get wet! For all the other info you can check it here 

For our weekend in Garda Trentino, we choose to stay at the hotel Casa alla Lega Hotel Casa alla Lega in the historic center of the village of Arco, a cozy village surmounted by its imposing Castle. This hotel is housed in an historic building, so much so that the breakfast room, like many other common areas, are adorned with magnificent sixteenth-century frescoes. The rooms are well- finished , the staff is very kind and attentive to the needs of customers (just as examples, every evening they prepare herbal teas and infusions that they leave in flasks at the reception for their guests and via whatsapp they send day by day all the activities scheduled in the surrounding territory for that specific day!).

Marzemino Grapes

The Hotel has even a good Restaurant, named the same,  in which you can delight your palate with the traditional dishes of this area, such as Carne Salada, Horse’s Bresaola, Sarde Ripiene… all combined  with a fine local olive oil  and some native Wines such as Nosiola, Marzemino, or Trentodoc ( or in case a really tasty craft Beer!)

For our second day in Garda Trentino, we choose to do a nice outdoor activity! We rent bikes from Velolake which has a pick-up location in Torbole, with a convenient parking, to leave the car;  we opt for electric bikes  considered our poor training   and we leave to Arco, on the cycle path that runs along the Sarca River! A real ride in the middle of nature!

Starting from the Mouth of the Sarca up to Arco it’s about 7 km, so the round trip (which is mainly flat) is not too long and also suitable for children.

On the way back to Torbole we decide to stop for lunch in a beautiful Farmhouse located along the cycle path.

traditional food of Garda Trentino

It’s called Madonna delle Vittorie and the owners, in addition to offer amazing local dishes in the restaurant,  manage an Oil Mill and a Wineyard from which two of the precious treasures of this territory are born, Olive Oil and Wine.

After returning the bikes, we decide to spend the rest of the day around the cute center of Riva del Garda, which is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful towns in the whole Garda Lake.

For dinner, recommended by locals, we choose an unusual and very particular place called PANEM and it’s the real kingdom of the Italian Panino! here you can order sandwiches with specialties from all Italian regions, all strictly with selected, organic and handcrafted food! I’m not even telling you the goodness !!! you absolutely must try it if you pass by Riva del Garda!

To end the day with a flourish after dinner, take a stroll to the Bastione of Riva del Garda, which can be reached via an inclined panoramic lift that will enchant young and old people.
The lift has a panoramic cabin made entirely of glass: a feature that allows you to admire the panorama of the center and Lake Garda. The route takes up the idea of ​​the chairlift built in the fifties and dismantled in the early eighties, with some changes compared to the original.
The climb has a development of 208 meters for a difference in height of 130 and can be overcome in about three minutes.
Bastione is a Venetian tower which over time has become one of the icons of Riva del Garda.
Built by the Serenissima between 1507 and 1508 to guard the border with the Episcopal Principality of Trento.
For those who love walking, the Bastion is connected to the center by a path that can be covered in about 20 minutes.

Panorama from Bastione

Here below I add some useful information in case you decide to not miss this incredible view :
A Round trip costs € 7.00
Free: children under 120 cm in height, disabled (with paying adult) and the Garda Card owners :
The cash desk does not issue the free ticket: it is necessary to contact the service staff who will issue the document
The maximum capacity for each ride is set at 17 people due to the safety measures related to the pandemic situation.
One wheelchair or stroller is allowed for each trip.
Dogs can travel on the lift only with muzzle and leash (one per cabin, free admission).
Pay attention to the timetables! only on weekends (Fri Sat and Sun) the lift works from 10AM to 11PM, the rest of the week closes at 6PM and the last climb is always 45 minutes before closing!

On the last day we get up early because a super cool activity awaits us! People say that the best way to enjoy the lake is from the water … so how to miss an opportunity like spending half a day on a sailboat? We have relied on Garda See Charter a real guarantee if you are looking for an exclusive experience to live directly on the lake! And a team with professional skippers attentive to customer needs, well prepared and also able to be your tour guide as they accompany you along the Garda Lake’s Shores!

Sailing on Garda Lake

The sailing trip can be booked from early April until the end of October, and there are different types of service that you can choose, with obviously different price ranges. In addition to the trip with the Skipper, if you have a nautical license you can also choose to rent a boat for few hours or for one or more days. If, on the other hand, the world of sailing inspires you but you don’t have any idea about it, GardaSeeCharter offer also sailing school lessons!
If you have children I recommend  this activity only with kids over the age of 5.

Before saying goodbye to Garda Trentino there is one last stop that we just cannot miss … it’s located in the Ledro Valley,  inside the Pur Pine Forest … here the atmosphere is a mix of magic and mistic … where Art blends with Nature giving life to incredible artworks … that will be able to touch you deeply in the heart… we are at LEDRO LAND ART!

The park was born in 2012 as a project for the enhancement of the territory, and over the years it has transformed into a real open-air exhibition for artists from all over the world.

Ledro Land Art Artwork

The Artworks are all made of environmentally friendly materials and have the prerogative of being ephemeral, over time they must be able to blend with nature.
The park is open every day of the year and has a free entrance.
From the Ledro Land Art website, it’s is possible to download the map,  with the exact location in the Park and the own history of every works,  to let you enjoy your visit taking your time, following the path you prefer and to linger as much as you want.

I hope you found this article about Garda Trentino useful and that next time you have a free Weekend with your Family … you can consider spending it in this little corner of paradise … trust me … it won’t disappoint you!

Article in collaboration with #gardatrentino

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It’s the beginning of June 2021, the world has passed one of the most difficult historic period, the uncertanity is still present everywhere… but on the other hand the feeeling of Hope starts to come back all around people and somehow I realized it was the right moment to turn back travel with my family.

Is Friday Afternoon, we are finally ready for a Weekend out-of-town and our first direction is Borghetto sul Mincio.

Borghetto sul Mincio is an old medieval village close to Valeggio sul Mincio, in the province of Verona, which has managed to preserve its appearance of  a fortified station on the river. In fact, in this small reality you feel like you have turned back to the past, since a far-sighted policy of conservation of the ancient buildings has ensured that the unique aspect of the village has not been lost, but that, indeed, the ancient structures have remained in operation.

For almost 1000 years, this small village was a must for those who wanted to move from south to west in the Venetian lands, and over the centuries even great armies such as the French army of Napoleon in 1796, or the Piedmont troops,  during the Second War of Independence in 1859, crossed its fortified bridge.

view of Ponte Visconteo

Once you arrive in Borghetto sul Mincio, you are  immediately attracted by the Visconteo Bridge, also called Pontelungo by the inhabitants of the area, a bridge-dam of 650 meters built in 1395 over the river with the intention of diverting the Mincio from its bed that leads up to Mantua. The construction consists of a long dam and an imposing central fortress where the surveillance garrison resided.

We park our car in the parking immediately out of the old Center of Borghetto sul Mincio ( the major part of the park places are pay and display parking, but we are lucky and we find a free one !
Then, by feet we start to discover this little Venetian pearl!
The village is really small, and in general you would need not more than 1 hour to visit it,  but, due its beauty you are obliged to stop yourself  in every corner to take a pictures and admire what you have in front of your eyes, so you can count not less than 1 hour and half to see it.

During the Venetian domination (1405 – 1796) Borghetto begins to lose its function as a military garrison and to transform itself into a milling center; at that time, in fact, the Mincio Valley was much disputed among the Veronese patrician families, who competed for the hydraulic power of the river, building dozens of wheel mills that are still visible today; three of these mills are in perfect working order and it is possible to visit the inside to see the gears that transfer the strength of the river to the large stone mill.

Mills in Borghetto

Walking through the narrow streets of Borghetto we come to the small Church of San Marco Evangelista (dating back to the 18th century) inside which there is the statue of San Giovanni di Nepumoceno : according to the tradition, this Saint should  protect from drowning, those who fall inside the river.

The awasome houses builded with ancient stones have as background flowerbeds and

Trail that bring you uphill to Castello Scaligero

colored gardens everywhere and there are several Restaurants and Bars in which you can taste the savory specialities of this area.  But we have decided to do something different: immediately out of the old Center of Borghetto, there is a wild uphill trail, that through big steps bring you at the bottom of Castello Scaligero of Valeggio sul Mincio.

Scaligero Castle

We arrive in the center of Valeggio sul Mincio hungry and a bit tired for the walk in the woods… so even it’s around 7 Pm… we decide that it’s time for dinner !
In Valeggio the Restaurants are cheaper than in Borghetto, but nice anyway.
We discovered ” il Re del Tortellino” where we had the chance to taste the famous Tortellini di Valeggio. https://www.alredeltortellino.it/

Entrance of Restaurant “Il Re Del Tortellino”

This traditional Pasta is so famous that every year, on the third Tuesday of June in Borghetto sul Mincio, along the Ponte Visconteo,  takes place the Festa Del nodo d’Amore.

In this incredible evening, more than 3.300 people have a dinner together, sitting at a table more than 1 km long to celebrate the Knot of Love, the real Tortellino from Valeggio sul Mincio.

Now in its 24th edition, the record dinner is inspired by the story of the contrasted love between the nymph Silvia and Captain Malco, whose passion is symbolized by a lovingly knotted yellow silk cloth. And this love knot is inspired by the 13 quintals of tortellini, strictly handmade, which are served during dinner.
To take part at this event is required to book in advance: the ticket can be bought at the Touris’t office of Valeggio sul Mincio, costs around 120€ pro person and includes: the Aperitif on the square, the entrance to the party and a small traditional souvenir. In case of Bad weather the party is developed inside the several restaurants present in Borghetto.
You can find all the updated information at the official website: https://festanododamore.it/ 

Borghetto and Valeggio sul Mincio are the perfect stop If you are directed to Garda Lake, but are as well a strategic point to stay if you plan to visit the Middle-North Area of Italy between Mantova and Verona.

If you like to ride a bike, I suggest you to traverse the Ciclovia del Mincio that pass from Borghetto : is a 45 km trail that connect Mantova to Peschiera del Garda in a green and beautiful landscape. http://www.parcodelmincio.it/itinerari-dettaglio.php?id_iti=3139

Another unmissable location in this area is Parco Giardino Sigurtà https://www.sigurta.it/ which extends for about 50 hectares at the back of Villa Maffei. The park can be visited by foot or by bicycle, along a route of 7 km, among meadows, woods and lakes, in an enchanting botanical and landscape setting.

Last but not least… despite the extremely romantic atmosphere, Borghetto sul Mincio is not really economic … for that reason we preferred to stay in a farm holiday, 3 m far from Borghetto, where we had a really nice time with a competitive price: Its name is Corte Morandini https://www.cortemorandini.com/eng/index.php?lng=en_ENI suggest it very much!

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Sicily is one of the favorite Italian Regions for the foreign tourist’s holidays, thanks to its plenty offer of natural beauty, art, culture, enchanting beaches, delicious food and much more! Every side of the Region is completely different from the others and has its own traditions and features.

The place I’m going to talk you about is located on the south-east of Sicily in the province of, Siracusa in near to the Towns of Noto (the “capital of the Baroque” since 2002 its historic center has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO) and Avola (where is produced one of the most famous Italian wine: The Nero d’Avola).

As the major part of the tourists who visit Sicily, I was there during a scorching summer in one July of some years ago. It was one of the best holiday I could ever had, but the hot weather was really a challenging aspect of the tour. So, when my local Friend Gaetano suggested to me and the other friends with me, an unconventional trekking, inside a canyon … I was a bit scared and worried for the upcoming fatigue. He assured us that the tiredness would have been compensated with a fresh, uncontaminated and wild bath in one of the most beautiful place of Sicily, still unknown to the mass tourism. How I could ever had refused? :)We were ready for the trekking to The Cassibile lakes of Cava Grande famous also as Avola’s Lakes.

The Lakes are located along the karst massif of the Iblei Mountains, where the Cassibile river flows, which over the millennia has created a series of deep canyons 10 kilometers long and, in the valley floor, small waterfalls and wonderful natural bathing reservoirs.

The trails that allow you to go down to the Avola’s  lakes are more than one: the best known and probably the shortest ( around 30 min)  is the so called “Scala Cruci “, an ancient and suggestive staircase, unfortunately now degraded by time so a bit dangerous!
How you can reach this trail? From Avola, take the provincial 4 Avola-Manghisi and follow the signs for Cavagrande del Cassibile in the direction of Avola Antica. Here you reach the junction that leads to Scala dei Cruci. At this point, if you and continue about a km and then you turn right to a sort of mule track,  you would find the Carrubella trail, longer but easier, that takes you directly to  one of the smaller lakes called “timpa ca tona” (ringing stone).

Due the fact that many trails are become very inaccessible in consequence of several fires,If you want to adventure yourself to the Avola’s Lakes I recommend you to contact the local Forest Rangers to have updated information on the status of the trails. Furthermore I recommend to:

• Don’t forget water, sun cream and beach towel
• Wear appropriate shoes (with sea-slipper is possible to slide!)
• Bring your own packet –lunch (but please don’t leave there any rubbish!)
• Be careful on the way! Cell phones don’t work due the canyon!

From the lakes you can also see the grotto of the brigands, which is a set of small cavities dug into the rock and communicating with each other. It takes this name from the Sicilian brigands who took refuge there at the end of the 19th century. Grotta dei Briganti is also called Grotta Cunziria (tannery): this cavern is a part of an entire village carved into the rock made up of 140 rooms that extend for more than a kilometer along the rocky ridge and connected to each other at various levels by tunnels, fireplaces and stairways, also dug into the rock, called Dieri. The presence in the vicinity of the water source is evidence that Cavagrande del Cassibile was inhabited since ancient times, presumably between the 11th and 9th centuries BC, a time when some Sicilian tribe settled there after having built the village. The rooms were then reused by the Byzantines, who modified them by building monasteries and underground churches, and later by the Arabs for the tanning of the skins.

The Dieri (the term derives from the Arabic diyar which means house, dwelling) constitute the largest rock settlement of Cavagrande del Cassibile and more than a village they suggest a sort of castle, or even better, a fortified settlement. , not built, but dug into the rocks: it is as if the people who lived there needed to hide as well as to defend themselves, in any case to escape the rest of civilization.

When I reached the marvelous of Avola’s lakes I wasn’t yet a mum, but I can assure you that this incredible place will amuse and amaze your children, because is an adventurous journey inside the wild Nature that replaces whatever videogames in the market! Furthermore, even the American Television CNN has included this location in the Top 20 places in the world where it is worth taking a dip! https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/worlds-best-swimming-places/index.html

Are you enough convinced now? 

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I had the chance to visit it couple of years ago with my family and even Arianna, my daughter that was just a little baby, remained impressed of this uncommon park!
The nickname Monster’s park is due to the presence of grotesque sculptures scattered in a surreal landscape. It was built by architect Pirro Ligorio commissioned by Prince Pier Francesco Orsini (known as Vicino), in 1547.
It consist of natural park of about 3 hectares, which houses original basalt sculptures that, apparently, have no connection between them, in a sort of mysterious labyrinth: can you imagine a better place for a child to live his own personal adventure?

Called also Sacro Bosco, this is an enigmatic park that don’t follow the architectural customs of the time, and inserts the various sculptures without any perspective scheme and without respecting proportions. Despite several studies, the purpose for its construction,is not certain, most probably was only a way of the owner (Orsini) to confuse and amaze the visitors…
On the death of Vicino Orsini, the park was abandoned and was restored only in the second half of the twentieth century.
This park of wonders was rediscovered and re-evaluated over time thanks to the interest of many artists, including Salvador Dalì.

At the entrance of the Park you receive the relative Map, but in my opinion is much more interesting to wander around the park freely: you can better feel the mysterious atmosphere! Even for kids, if you let them free to discover by themselves they will be more engaged: they will live a legendary adventure, with monsters, dragons, mythological characters, exotic animals, alternating with caves, fountains and even an leaning house!

The Map of the Park counts 36 point of interest, but in my opnion, If you travel with children you can select at least these 10 here below:

• The creepy Orc with his mouth wide open, which has become the symbol of the park
• The monstrous head of Proteo-Glauco
• The sphinxes at the entrance of the park
• The sculptural group of the Turtle
• The statue of Neptune
• The Dragon. It is a frightening monster with the appearance of a reptile.
• The Fountain of Pegasus
• The Temple ( is located in a perfect area for a bag lunch)
• The group of the Elephant with the tower, the guide and the legionary
• Last but not least…. ( for us was the best one) The Leaning House. This small house built on an inclined boulder and therefore deliberately leaning will drive the kids crazy!

Is not necessary to make a reservation to access to the Park, and for the children under 4 years old there is free entry. For all the informations such as the opening hours, price of tickets but also all the rules that must be respected visiting this magic location we suggest you to visit the website https://www.sacrobosco.it/enter.php?lang=eng

We have included the visit to Bomarzo’s Monster Park during a 3 days-trip around the Bolsena’s Lake: click here to be inspired about this tour!

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Our intention was to visit the area of Bolsena Lake; for this reason, we chose an accommodation almost in the middle of all the places we were supposed to visit. We found a nice Bed & Breakfast http://www.labaiadellago.it/ in Marta, a picturesque small and silent village on the Lake of Bolsena’s shores where we arrived in the late afternoon of one Thursday. At the sunset the walking along the lake shores has been a perfect way to relax us from the long travel from Romagna and to get tired our daughter in order to have a full night of sleep.

1° Day: Viterbo

Our first stop was Viterbo where we arrived in the middle of the San Pellegrino flower’s festival
(I assure you that I still can smell the scent of those marvelous flowers!).

Viterbo is around 80 km far from Rome but in our case, was just 20 minutes far from our B&B in Marta. Is the major Town of the Tuscia Area, and is famous as the City of the Popes, in memory of the period in which the papal seat was moved here. With Etruscan origin and great historical traditions, it preserves one of the most important monumental structures in Lazio. It is surrounded by medieval crenellated walls and massive towers (built from 1095 to 1268), still almost intact today, and even If few people are aware of that, is recognized as the biggest Medieval historic center in Europe!

Unfortunately we had just one day to spend there so we concentrated us to see the some of the Best sight-seeing in Viterbo:
• Palace of the Popes
• The Cathedral
• The Medieval district of San Pellegrino
• Priori’s Palace
• Thermal baths of the Popes : there are several baths around Viterbo; we chose the Bullicame thermal pool that we highly recommend If you travel with children, because is one of the few locations where “ get dirty” is the main purpose

2° Day: Bomarzo and Civita di Bagnoregio

We spent the morning of our 2°day’s tour visiting the Monster’s park of Bomarzo.
You can find here the report of our “frightful” experience!

We had a very quick a typical lunch in the old center of Bomarzo at Tutto ‘nartro magna, https://www.facebook.com/TUTTO-Nartro-Magna-285946728509669/ a butcher who serves as well as trattoria, in which we delighted our self with typical homemade Tuscia’s dishes.

After lunch we drove to the magic and surreal Civita di Bagnoregio known as “the dying City”: this nickname is due to the constant erosion of the tuff rocks on which it is located.

Civita has Etruscan and medieval origins and is reachable only through a narrow uphill pedestrian bridge 300 meters long. Walking till there makes you out of breath, but the Panorama and the atmosphere you get there are unique.
Our impression was to be jumped into a movie set! The village was seemed suspended in time and space. (We was it in a sunshine day but they told us that with a foggy day is much more evocative!)
We had a guide with indications of “what to see”, but we preferred to wander around the village joying it freely.

3° Day: Bolsena – Orvieto – Pitigliano

On the last day of our tour we started with a relaxing morning in Bolsena, visiting the historic center and having a restful walking among the shore of the lake ( the lake’s water was pretty cold, but we couldn’t avoid to try it and splatter a bit our daddy! )

After a tasty fish lunch, we left the Lazio region to start a slowly back-home travel.
However we had 2 more stops in plan: one of this was Orvieto in the Umbria region.
Orvieto is a charming city, with almost three thousand years of history. Is a sort of open-air museum, has eno-gastronomic and artisan traditions and is famous for important events such as Umbria Jazz Winter or the Christian festival of Corpus Domini.

We parked in the railway station surroundings and we chose the cableway solution to reach the historical center that is set on an uphill tuff Rock.
We had just a couple of hours to spend there, so we chose to see the 2 major attractions: the wonderful Cathedral and the Pozzo di San Patrizio.
The “Duomo” is one of the most beautiful Cathedrals in the world, with its original golden decorations. Its majesty is without any doubt the first feature that attract tourist’s eyes. Inside, in the Cappella del Corporale is housed the relic of Corpus Domini.

Another unmissable attraction in Orvieto is the Pozzo di San Patrizio that with its 54 meters deep and 248 stairs to reach the bottom, offers a memorable experience, especially to Kids!
Orvieto has always had the problem of water supply, and that’s the main reason for the building of an incredible quantity of wells about 3,000 years ago by the Etruscans. This one in specific has been ordered by Pope Clement VII in 1527. The reason why the Well took the name of Saint Patrick is because this was one of the favorite place of the Saint for his meditation and atonement for sins.
It is developed with a helical system, designed by Antonio da Sangallo, who ensures to never meet those who go down with those who go up the stairs of the Well.
For me the climb back up was very strenuous because I had my daughter in my arms all the time…(she was just 8 months at that time) despite this, I remember the Well’s experience as one of the best of our tour.

It was around 5 PM and our travel to home was still long, so we decided to pass through Pitigliano just for a quick visit (it would have been a pity to lose it).

With the arrival in Pitigliano we added another Italian region to our tour: we were in Tuscany!
Pitigliano is recognized as one of the most beautiful village in Italy, and is nicknamed The Little Jerusalem, because starting from the sixteenth century it hosted a large Jewish community within its walls. As Civita di Bagnoregio, also Pitigliano is perched on a tuff cliff and the idea to do another climb to visit the historic center has discouraged us mainly for the limited time… but to be honest also for the fact that we were supposed to carry uphill our little daughter Arianna So we just had a look at it from the valley, dreaming to come back as soon as possible!

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Origins of Carnevale are attributable to pagan festivals that during the centuries have had the chance to be included also into the Catholic rituals.

Actually, Carnevale is a single date, called Martedì Grasso or Fat Tuesday that is the day before Ash Wednesday. However, in Italy, like elsewhere, the celebrations and parties often begin a couple of weeks before and in particular, the weekend before Fat Tuesday is usually the most popular for events and parties related to this tradition.

Italy hosts since years some of the most famous Carnival Celebrations in the World: think about Venice’s Carnival,  the Carnevale d’Europa of Cento the Viareggio Carnival.
However all over the Italian country, the period of Carnevale is full of traditional Celebrations, marked by parades, masks, and streamers and confetti throw out by the children, all over! (In certain villages, you can even have to dodge flour and raw eggs!).

As usual, I like to find something uncommon…, and speaking about Carnival,I want to tell you about the Carnival Festival of Comacchio, in my opinion one of the most scenographic and suggestive (even is not yet so well-known by the foreign tourists).

Comacchio is a small village located on the Delta of Po’s River, in the Region of Emilia Romagna, around 50 km far from Ferrara and around 40 km from Ravenna.

The Carnival of Comacchio was born only in 2012, so is pretty new, compared to the other festivals. Thanks to the shape and the architecture of the small Village of Comacchio, the Carnival event takes place mainly along its canals, so much that the event is now known as the Comacchio Water Carnival.

The carnival floats here are set up on the traditional boats of the canals, called Batana in the local dialect, that are completely transformed into real allegorical boats.
The small boats, transfigured by papier-mâché and pelouches, parade placidly on the waters of the lagoon, each telling their theme, under the amused gazes of the crowd thronging on the quays. Every year the imagination of the local artisans, who work hard to decorate the boats, truly amazes the audience of the participants.
The uniqueness of the Comacchio Carnival is due to the mixture of imaginative magic of the town, with the creativity of all the people involved into the organization of the festival that identify the true soul of the event.

The Carnival in Comacchio takes place usually for 2 or 3 Sundays before the Mardi Gras.
The “party” begins on Sunday morning with masks parades and here the real protagonists of the festival are the children that can experience the soul of the carnival with animations, entertainment, workshops and embark on a boat for a mini adventure in the company of characters from the world of fairy tales.

In the Afternoon, the heart of the event comes to life, with the Parade of Allegoric Boats along the canals.

A jury made up of different local personalities, each year proclaims the winners of the Carnival on Water. The trophy is crafted each year with skill and originality by the local artists of Comacchio and is called The “Forcola; it consists of  a wooden tool, symbol of lagoon navigation, used as a lever that allows driving in shallow waters that identifies the symbol of the Carnival on the Water.

Participating to the Carnival on Water is also an opportunity to delight the palate with the typical dishes of the Comacchio culinary tradition: one above all is the marinated Eel.

If you are planning to visit Italy during Carnival’s time you Can’t miss the one of Comacchio! You can find here all the info: https://www.carnevalecomacchio.it/
In addition, remember…  “A Carnevale ogni scherzo vale,” which means, “anything goes at Carnevale”
…so prepare yourself and don’t be too serious!

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In every season, here you can find all the sort of activities, leisure, sports and relax suggestions for every age.

In summer time the best thing you can do in Val di Fassa, as all other valleys is go trekking in the wonderful trails that offer you unique landscapes… but, we know, when we travel with children…is not always easy to convince them to walk for hours, maybe through uphill trails… you have always to find something to amuse them, something that is not boring and too strenuous.

It was more or less with the above premises that I discovered this unmissable location in the heart of Val di Fassa, maybe a bit hide compared to the more famous attractions.

This is Giro d’Ali.

The Giro d’Ali is an open-air park, located in Bellamonte, just 12 minutes by car from Predazzo.
The park is set in a particular sunny area, with an enchanting view of the Paneveggio Natural Park, the unspoiled Lagorai Chain and the majestic Pale di San Martino part of Dolomites Unesco group.
The exact location of the Park is in Le Fassane, at an altitude of 1750 Mt, easily reachable with the Bellamonte Cable car and don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled: If you pay attention to the special cable car number 73, called “Nidoplano”, equipped with a transparent floor, you will have the chance to observe the underlying panorama, from the top, as only the Birds are able to do!

Giro D’Ali is without doubts the ideal solution for families with children to enjoying relax and fun, but what are you going to find exactly there? (Open the Map of the Park)

You will find an animated Creek with exciting interactive play stations, in which the children can learn to maintain the balance during the raft crossing on the lake, they can have the possibility find out how to escape to the mischievous water-spitting birds, they will hone their intuition in the adventurous search for gold with the sieves, and again, they will have to strive to manage the water flows of the mill and the locks.

Now probably, you, as Parent, you can ask me: “Meantime that our children amuse them self, what we are supposed to do?” The Park is not just for the children! Adults can enjoy the sun bathing in fantastic big size sun loungers, prepare the lunch in the wooden gazebos as DIY Pic-nic, can try the regenerating Kneipp path and the foot massage station: in simple words, a little spa, for body and mind inside the green of the mountains!

INDICATIONS AND ANSWERS TO EVENTUAL DOUBTS:

• Are Dogs allowed?

Yes, Dogs can access for free to the park and in the cableway, but in the cable way they are supposed to wear a muzzle

• Is necessary to book the entrance to the Park?
  No, the access to the Park is without a Reservation, but I suggest you to contact the structure to know all the restrictions related with the new Corona Virus.
• Where I can find more info about the Park like the open hours, the ticket price and so on?
  Please click on the following link: https://www.alpelusia.it/it/estate/giro-ali

SPECIAL RECOMMENDATION! Don’t forget to bring your bathing suit, sun cream and a couple of changes for the children: they will get wet for sure! Even if is not a seaside place, If you choose an hot day you will not notice such a difference!

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