La Dolce Vita for Families

Blessed with peaceful beaches, quiet ruins and a temperate climate that promises an Indian Summer, our beautiful Italian destinations will delight your family, young or young at heart, on an October half term adventure.

Searching for sports camps in Sicily or prefer a spin around Rome in a sidecar? With in-house babysitting and relaxing spas, parents can welcome a well-earned holiday too.

Sports and serenity in southern Sicily

Best for: active kids

Sporting Italian stars Gregorio Rebecchini and Gianluca Zambrotta lead the way on the rugby and football fields at Verdura Resort while British tennis ace Jeremy Bates joins the coaches on court. Families staying at Rocco Forte Private Villas can get in the swing of things with our Green to Tee coaching or practice flying yoga poses at an AcroYoga class designed for parents and kids.

Reconnecting with the magic of your childhood, enjoy a nostalgic family day out at Sciacca’s playful Toy Museum, half an hour by car from Verdura Resort, where early computer games and vintage toys will spark fond sepia-toned memories.

Culinary contest and creatures in Palermo

Best for: multi-generational families

Gather the whole family together for a week at Villa Igiea, a stunning retreat on Sicily’s northern coast in the lively city of Palermo. With grandparents enjoying precious time with the little ones, you can relax at Irene Forte Spa or enjoy a glamorous date night at Florio where botanical greens and chandeliers add to the room’s elegant, romantic interiors.

From the centre of Palermo, young detectives aged five and above can battle for the hunting trophy on a four-hour urban safari. Starting at Piazza Marina, they’ll solve clues and riddles to track down animals as they explore.

Rome-ing the Eternal City

Best for: families with teens

Give your hard-working teenagers a break from studying and take a trip to Rome – visiting the seat of civilisation is an education in itself. Why not add an element of fun and whizz around the city on three wheels, in the sidecar of a scooter?

Opt for October half term in Rome and from Hotel de Russie or Hotel de la Ville you can uncover the spooky underworld of the catacombs at Halloween or order the popcorn for the Rome Film Festival, from 13th to 23rd October 2022, with the accompanying Alice nella città film festival for younger audiences.

Rewilding wildlife in Puglia 

Best for: outdoorsy families 

Autumn in southern Puglia is harvest time, the signal for olives surrounding our 16th century farmhouse at Masseria Torre Maizza to be gathered and pressed. Rebalance among the trees with yoga or rewild as a family in the Pianelle Forest, 50 minutes’ drive from the hotel.

Clement October temperatures are an invitation to spend time at Lido Bambù our partner beach club which welcomes family gatherings and is easily reached via our free shuttle bus or on a 15-minute cycle through olive groves from our hotel.

Foodies and wellness in Florence

Best for: gourmet families

After the summer crowds have dispersed, October is the perfect time to stay at Hotel Savoy in the heart of Florence. Keep your mini gourmets busy with a baking masterclass or mocktail making. Once the kids are safely tucked in, parents can add a grown up zing to their own cocktail experience.

By day, discover Italy’s largest botanical garden. From our Florentine hotel it’s a 20-minute drive passed cypress trees and olive groves to the rural idyll of Fattoria di Maiano. Sharing this bucolic corner of Tuscan countryside are fruit orchards, laden with fresh produce in autumn, and a menagerie of free-roaming animals waiting to meet you on the farm.

Our dedicated Concierge teams can book these activities and more on your behalf, so all you need to do is cherish your family bonding time and make a half term home for yourself at one of Rocco Forte's Italian hotels.