Italy: Kid-friendly family tour includes gelato, gladiator school

What kid (or even a parent or grandparent) wouldn’t want to attend gladiator school, learn how to make gelato and craft their own Carnival mask?

All these activities and more are part of an 11-day family adventure, designed for children ages 8 and older, offered by Perillo’s Learning Journeys and Smithsonian Journeys.

The tour begins with an exploration of Venice and a glass-making factory on the island of Murano. Then it’s on to Modena and the new museum dedicated to Enzo Ferrari, and to Maranello, home of the Galleria Ferrari museum, Ferrari factory and test track.

Other highlights include two days in Florence as well as visits to the fortified hill towns of San Gimignano and Volterra, an Etruscan city that served as inspiration for Stephenie Meyer’s “New Moon.” Next up is Oriveto and a tour of its ancient system of labyrinths, passageways, rooms and cisterns dug deep into the hillsides.

The adventure concludes with two days in Rome, plenty of time to check out the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and Vatican City.

As a fitting finale, there’s a session at a gladiator school, where kids can learn more ancient Roman history and some hands-on techniques of these warriors.

Dates: June 21-July 1 or July 19-29.
Price: From $4,999 per adult, $4,499 per child. Includes accommodations, based on double occupancy, meals as listed, tour guides and activities. International airfare is not included.
Info: Perillo’s Learning Journeys and Smithsonian Journeys, (855) 330-1542.

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