Hi! We’re Cristina and Francesco, two Italian journalists, parents of twins, and the founders of Viaggiapiccoli.
We’re Italian, we live in Italy, and we’ve spent years exploring our country with our children, Enrico and Giulia.
We lived in Naples for 11 years, the city where Francesco is from, and now we call Turin, in northern Italy, home.
Two very different cities, two different ways of life, and two sides of Italy we know inside and out.
Along the way, we’ve traveled thousands of miles by train, car, and on foot, discovering small villages, world-famous museums, mountains, beaches, historic cities, and places you won’t always find in international travel guides.
That’s how Viaggiapiccoli began: with a love for exploring Italy, discovering the stories behind its places, and sharing those experiences with our kids.
Why Trust Our Italy Travel Tips?
Because Italy isn’t just somewhere we’ve traveled. It’s where we live, work, and raise our children.
We know the famous landmarks that everyone dreams of seeing, but we also know the everyday Italy: local markets, neighborhood parks, small museums, traditional festivals, and the little places that make each region special.
We know that a day in Naples might begin with a freshly baked sfogliatella and end with a walk along the waterfront. That Turin is much more than its elegant streets, with incredible museums and the Alps just a short trip away. And that some of Italy’s most memorable experiences are found just a few miles beyond the usual tourist routes.
We also know what traveling with kids really involves: figuring out transportation, choosing the right accommodations, planning around museum hours, dealing with rainy days, and changing plans when things don’t go as expected.
That’s why, when we write about a place, we always try to answer two simple questions:
Is it really worth visiting with kids? And how can families enjoy it without rushing from one attraction to the next?
Local Families, Local Knowledge
Viaggiapiccoli is more than just our family’s story.
Over the years, we’ve built a network of Italian journalists, writers, and parents living in seven regions: Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Liguria, Tuscany, Lazio, and Campania.
Each contributor brings firsthand knowledge of their region, everyday experiences, and a parent’s perspective.
Our contributors in Rome know which museums, parks, and activities are worth visiting with kids. Families living in Liguria can recommend beaches, coastal villages, and scenic walks. And our local writers in Tuscany know both the famous art cities and the smaller towns that many visitors overlook.
From Lombardy and Veneto to southern Italy, our stories reflect different regions, traditions, and ways of life.
Our guides also take families beyond the regions where our contributors live, with ideas for visiting places such as Bologna and Sicily.
This local knowledge helps us share a different side of Italy, with practical advice, lesser-known places, and family-friendly experiences beyond the typical tourist itinerary.
That’s what makes Viaggiapiccoli different: Italy through the eyes of Italian families who actually live here.
We’re Journalists First
Viaggiapiccoli was founded in 2018 by Cristina Zagaria and Francesco De Rosa.
We’re both professional journalists. Cristina writes for la Repubblica, one of Italy’s leading newspapers, and is also an author of novels and books for young readers.
What began as a family travel project grew into a registered online publication and, in 2022, an independent publishing house.
Today, Viaggiapiccoli brings together travel stories, destination guides, family-friendly itineraries, and practical information to help parents explore Italy with their children.
Our work is grounded in research, fact-checking, reliable sources, and firsthand experiences whenever possible.
For us, a great travel recommendation isn’t just about a beautiful place or the perfect photo. It’s about sharing useful, trustworthy information that helps families make the most of their time together.
Why We Created Viaggiapiccoli in English
If you’re planning a family trip to Italy from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, or anywhere else in the world, you’ll find plenty of information about Rome, Florence, Venice, Naples, and the Amalfi Coast.
But finding out how to actually experience these places with kids can be a little harder.
Which attractions are worth visiting as a family? How many days should you spend in each city? Where can you experience everyday Italian life? Which museums will keep children interested? How do you get around? And what lies beyond the places everyone already knows?
We created the English version of Viaggiapiccoli to share an Italian perspective on traveling in Italy with kids.
Our goal isn’t simply to translate traditional travel guides. We want to share what we’ve learned from living here, raising our children here, and exploring our country as a family.
We’ll help you visit Italy’s most famous destinations, but we’ll also suggest a little detour, a lesser-known museum, a local festival, a charming village, or an experience you might never have found on your own.
Whether you’re exploring Italy’s historic cities, looking for museums to visit with kids, or planning a family vacation by the sea, we want to help you find experiences that make your trip special.
Because visiting Italy is wonderful. But getting to know the country beyond its famous landmarks can make your trip even more memorable.
How We Travel with Kids
When we started traveling with Enrico and Giulia, we quickly realized something: family travel doesn’t have to mean doing less or limiting every experience to activities designed specifically for children.
Kids can enjoy museums, explore historic cities, learn about art, try new foods, and hike through beautiful landscapes.
They just need the right pace, engaging experiences, and the freedom to be curious.
We believe travel helps children ask questions, observe the world, listen to different perspectives, and discover new cultures.
For us, traveling is also a way to help our children grow into curious, open-minded citizens of the world.
And that can happen on a trip halfway around the globe or during a weekend adventure just a few miles from home.
Sometimes that means spending a day exploring nature and the outdoors in Italy. Other times, it’s finding a quiet beach along the coast or discovering a small museum that brings history to life.
We’re not always looking for the most famous attraction or the picture-perfect experience. What matters most to us are the stories, the people we meet, and the memories our children bring home.
Come Explore Our Italy
Whether you’re planning your first family trip to Italy or returning to explore a new region, we hope Viaggiapiccoli becomes a trusted resource for your adventures.
Start with our Italy travel guides for families, find inspiration for beach vacations with kids, or browse our practical travel tips to help plan your trip.
And when it’s time to book your accommodations, take a look at our ideas on where to stay in Italy with kids.
But most importantly, you’ll find Italy through the eyes of Italian families, shared with families from around the world.
Welcome to Italy. And welcome to Viaggiapiccoli!
Cristina, Francesco, Enrico & Giulia
