Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sicily for Kids
It's a safe bet that in Sicily you and your kids will be met with a friendly, accommodating
and relaxed attitude. Eating out should be a breeze, even for the fussiest of kids - you can
choose from the basics like pizza and pasta with a tomato sauce - while the more adventur-
ous eaters will be able to 'expand' their palate with varied seafood, fish, meat and a variety
of vegetables and fruit.
Gelati
(ice cream),
granite
(crushed ice with various flavours), and
the many fantastic Sicilian
dolci
(desserts) will be fought over by the entire family.
The entire island, and the smaller islands off Sicily, have something engaging for the
family, be it the mix of history and nature at the Valley of the Temples (
Click here
) in Agri-
gento, the beaches at the many natural reserves, vibrant street markets at Palermo and
Catania, or a simple
passegiata
(evening stroll) with the locals, ice cream in hand. Teen-
agers will be able to break up lazy days with the parents with some swimming off organ-
ised boat trips, while families who are activity seekers have two volcanoes to climb, many
mountain-biking trips to take and lots of snorkelling and diving options. Norman castles are
scattered around the island and are ripe for exploration.
Away from the beaches, smaller kids can be kept entertained at the local main square -
the piazzas are usually equipped with fun rides and, well, other kids! Traditional puppet
shows are a great way to introduce your children to local culture - it helps if they're into
battles!
Babies will be cooed over, and breast feeding is common and attitudes are relaxed.
While it's generally safe for kids to run around small town squares, keep an eye on the
scooters that sometimes zip in and out - pedestrian areas are something of a relative
concept in Sicily.
ACCOMMODATION
Generally, apartment rental is easy to find and works best for families who want to self-cater. Many hotels/
pen-
sioni
(guesthouses) offer reduced rates for children or will add an extra bed or cot on request (usually for an extra
30% or so).
Agriturismi
(farmstays) are excellent for children because they're always in a natural setting, with big
gardens and fields around them, and usually have an animal or two on site.
