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Family Fun for Everyone You may find that identifying individuals’ interests isn’t so straightforward. In this case, try to find ways that each family member can contribute to the trip so they will be happy with the results. Here are a few ways you can incorporate all the generations in the family travel process:
When finalizing trip details, there are a few options that can help guarantee that everyone is happy. Consider these possibilities for catering with multi-generational needs:
FIT Select Italy specializes in customization. If you need help customizing your family group’s travel plans, or identifying multi-generational appealing services, speak to a Select Italy expert at 800-877-1755.
Ferrara for Families More than 750 acres of public parks and tranquil gardens make this one of Italy’s greenest towns. And the historic center is completely encircled by six miles of sturdy brick walls. Originally put up for defense, they now have a purely recreational function. It’s possible to walk, jog or cycle on top of the walls for their entire circumference. The walls merge into a vast green area of meadows and long rows of trees that's shady even during the hottest months of summer, while an offshoot of the Po river, the Po di Volano, flows right outside the wall’s southern flank. From 1208 to 1598 Ferrara was dominated by the tyrannical d’Este family. They ruled with an iron fist but constructed many of the artistic monuments that we see today. It was due to their wealth and vision that Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and Titian came here. The most evident symbol of d’Este power is the massive brick Castello Estense smack in the middle of town. A child with a red crayon would probably draw a castle just like this one: four-square and with towers on all four corners, it has a moat and drawbridges too. Inside are spiral staircases leading to prisons and kitchens and games rooms and a chamber chillingly called the Small Room of Poisons where the court pharmacist devised potions with which to poison the duke’s political rivals. 
Less menacing is another d’Este residence, Palazzo Schifanoia, called "schivar la noia" (escape from boredom) because that’s how this delightful palace was used. Come here to admire the celebrated Sala dei Mesi, painted during the late 15th century for Duke Borso d'Este. This wonderful Renaissance fresco cycle represents the 12 months of the year, although only half (March through September) have survived. Each month is divided into three parts: one for the life at court, one for the sign of the zodiac and one for the divinity that rules each month. Swans, chariots and golden-haired princesses abound in these recently-restored frescoes that are sure to appeal to kids.
Afterwards stop for lunch at the charming little bar-restaurant in the palace garden. It looks like a cottage where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs would feel at home, but serves up grilled sandwiches and tasty homemade pumpkin lasagne. Ferrarese cuisine should please all but the pickiest children: pumpkin-stuffed cappelletti (literally, little hats), the local speciality, salama da sugo – boiled pork sausage served with creamy mashed potatoes – and the funny-looking, knobby bread rolls called ciupeta. Fattening fare but you can work it off by biking over to another d’Este palace, the Palazzo dei Diamanti. Named for the diamonds that stud the façade (a d’Este emblem), there’s no need to go inside unless you’re interested in the current art exhibit. More fun is to set the kids to counting the 8,500 pointed, diamond-shaped stones on the palace's exterior. The little diamonds are not all the same: those on the upper levels point slightly upwards while the lowest point down, in order to reflect as much light as possible. 
A final kid-pleasing event is the city’s annual Palio, the most ancient in the world. The 750th running of this thrilling horse race took place just last month. It’s held the final Sunday in May to honor San Giorgio, Ferrara's patron saint. Four different groups compete for the hotly-contested palii (banners): girls for the green flag dedicated to San Paolo, boys for the red one of San Romano, donkeys for the white flag dedicated to San Maurelio and, last but not least, horses for the golden palio of San Giorgio himself. A month-long schedule of processions in Renaissance costume and colorful competitions of flag-wavers and musicians leads up to the actual race. Spring, summer, fall or winter -- Ferrara is a city for all seasons and it's definitely worth a stop for your clients traveling by train between Florence and Venice.
Hotels of the Month: Located right in front of the massive, red-brick Castello Estense, several of the Hotel Annunziata’s 22 rooms and two suites boast romantic castle views. The décor is that of a classic four-star hotel with independent heating and air conditioning, direct dial telephone, satellite TV, free Wi-Fi and a mini-bar in every room, plus nightly turn down service, 24-hour room service, free Wi-Fi in all public areas and an internet access point with iMac in the lobby. Owners Simona and Zeno Govoni are often on hand to personally serve you a sumptuous American breakfast that includes pastries and fresh breads with Simona’s homemade jam, eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, locally-produced buffalo mozzarella and other cheeses. 
Or if cutting-edge, contemporary design is more your kind of thing you might prefer their sister hotel, the Prisciani Art Suites. Installed in Renaissance palace only 100 yards away, it’s the ideal solution for families who want the independence and extra room offered by a suite or apartment while at the same time receiving all the services of a four-star hotel. Six Italian artists of international repute have created six spacious suites, three of which are bi-level and have fully equipped kitchens with refrigerator, dishwasher and microwave oven. There’s an electronic safe and a coffee maker in every suite, and an American buffet breakfast (included in the price) is served daily in the Hotel Annunziata dining room.
Tip of the Month: 
This select body of about 180 unusually tall men -- the minimum height is 6 feet 2 inches -- are known as the Corazzieri after the metal breastplates (corazze) they wear. They loom even taller in their thigh-high boots and helmets decorated with a long black horse's mane. Military music plays while the soldiers solemnly march around the piazza in a ceremony that lasts about 15 minutes; just long enough to impress without taxing the average kid’s attention span!
Afterwards take the steep flight of steps directly on the left of the Quirnale palace façade to reach the Via del Lavatore on the level below. This street leads to the Via della Panetteria where, at number 42, is Gelateria San Crispino. Considered to be Rome’s best ice cream shop, San Crispino is adored by foodies everywhere. They flock here to taste the handmade, all-natural gelato in healthy and intense flavors like honey or pear. The place looks a little like a science lab: the gelato is stored in stainless steel containers with lids that the servers quickly whisk off to scoop the ice cream into paper cups – they don’t sell cones. But a small cup of gelato is just the thing for the walk back down the Via del Lavatore to the Trevi Fountain. You hear it before you see it –- the sound of gushing water is audible even before you walk into the little piazza where the Trevi Fountain stands. The central feature of this amazing travertine creation is a chariot in the shape of a shell, drawn by sea horses led by Triton. Oceanus stands in the enormous central niche and all around, natural and artificial forms merge together in a highly realistic representation of rocks and petrified vegetation that runs around the borders of the pool, a stand-in for the sea. The legend that anyone who throws a coin in the Trevi Fountain will return to Rome was popularized by a 1954 Hollywood movie. Make sure to have some pocket change handy because the kids will certainly want to join the crowds of tourists happily flinging euros into the basin (the money is collected once a week and donated to charity). 
To the left of the Trevi Fountain is the Via delle Muratte leading to the busy Via del Corso. Cross this street and turn right towards Piazza Colonna with Hadrian’s tall white column in the center and, on the right, the Palazzo Chigi (Chamber of Deputies). The next piazza straight ahead is Piazza Montecitorio; it veers slightly to the left and becomes Via degli Uffici del Vicario. At number 40 on the left side of the street is Gelateria Giolitti. Since the year 1900 this Roman landmark has been serving up sweet treats to tourists and locals alike; try the watermelon ice studded with amusing chocolate "seeds" -- a personal favorite! All the seasonal flavors are on colorful display and Giolitti has child-pleasing ice cream cones, too -- even better when topped with a dollop of real whipped cream.
The last stop on this itinerary is the Pantheon. To get there, continue down the Via degli Uffici del Vicario and turn left on Via della Maddalena. If your clients only have time to see one building in Rome, this is the one to suggest. Dating from 125 AD, the Pantheon is the most complete ancient building in Rome and one of the city's most spectacular sights. It was dedicated to pan theos -- "all the gods" -- and later converted into the church of Santa Maria ad Martyres. The vast dome's central oculus is completely open to the elements; this Great Eye measures almost 30 feet across and is the source of all light in the interior. It also lets in rain water (there’s a drain in the marble floor below the oculus). Rain or shine, this splendid monument is the perfect conclusion to Select Italy's Rome Walking Tour for Families
T4T Like the above itinerary? It's based on Select Italy's T4T database and is just one of the many ways you can use this resource to impress your clients. Pick and choose insider tips to provide them with a fun way to spend the day including restaurants, museums, shops and more. Select your favorite tips from the database, save them in your account and generate a customized itinerary complete with your own agency logo. This is one of many uses for the more than two thousand tips available to you only through this exclusive Select Italy service!
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Summer is the time for family travel. But the term "family" doesn't mean precisely the same thing as it used to -- particularly when the travel destination in question is Europe. If you're like us, you're finding that requests for family groups often include grandparents, teenagers, adult children, extended family groups and more. Multi-generational travel can lead to one major problem: How do you please everyone all the time?
One of Italy's best kept secrets is Ferrara, a Renaissance gem situated on the main Eurostar railway line exactly halfway between Florence and Venice -- an authentic but affordable Italian experience to propose to your clients in search of something a little bit different. Ferrara is especially appealing to families with children because this city of 150,000 friendly souls wears its charms right out in the open.
Is Ferrara the biking capital of Italy, or does it just seem that way because of the sea of bicycles always parked out in front of the train station? The eco-friendly Ferrarese commute to their jobs by bike, their kids use them to get to school and housewives fasten a basket on the front of their bicycles when they ride out to do the grocery shopping. You’ll feel like a real local when you stay at the 
Rome, the Eternal City, is eternally fascinating. Give your clients a taste of Rome with this do-it-yourself walking tour that starts on the Quirinale Hill and winds its way through the center of town to end up inside the Pantheon, the greatest antique building in the world. Along the way are plenty of sights and activities to delight children of all ages (and their parents, too!).
You asked, we listened! We have changed our quarterly commission check policy to a monthly payment: no more waiting 3 months for your earnings. This new policy enables you to receive your commission checks on a monthly basis and in the month after the completion of the purchased service. With Select Italy, your voice is always heard.