Families with kids find sometimes hard to travel around museums and exhibitions in Venice…we would like to give you some advice to make children appreciate visits to historical places as funny and interesting experiences. During the springtime many activities are organized to acknowledge the kids of Venetian history with funny games.

DUCALE PALACE

Find the assassin at Ducale Palace. A haunting to discover the secrets of a mysterious murder throughout the Palace. Looking for clues, the participants could learn the several phases of the construction of the building, the apartments of the doge, the history of the institutional saloons so to relive a obscure episode happened centuries before today. Sunday 20th March – 3 pm, 8th March – 11 am and 3 pm, 22nd March – 11 am and 3 pm

The fear time. An itinerary in the Prisons of the Ducale Palace to discover histories and memories of the prisoners who were held for an entire life. Sunday April 3rd, May 1st and September 25th at 11 am and 3 pm

MUSEO CORRER

A meter of colored beads. An interesting experience to run over the history of a particular product of the glass art, called “ glass of the conterie”, that are pearls extracted from the glass tube. In labs the participants have the possibility to compose long string of pearls to create framings or necklaces and use their fantasy. Sunday 27th March – 11 am and 3 pm, 17th April – 11 am and 3 pm

CA’ REZZONICO

Sky, clouds, rivers and hills. Oil painting. After a tour of the most important paintings in the museum, the visitors will realize their own painting with oils. Sunday 10th April – 11 am and 3 pm

At the BEST WESTERN PREMIER Sant’Elena families traveling with kids up to 8 years have now aspecial room with special amenities and services…it’s the “kids room”!

Venice is the best city in the world, some say. But do kids like it?

Walking the whole day in the hot sun tires both parents and children. And yet, for those who are able to find the right way, this city has plenty of stories to tell - stories that seem to have been written precisely for kids. That’s how your visit to Venice can turn itself into an exciting game.

Leave the Best Western Hotel Sant’Elena in the morning and make for Piazza San Marco (if you take the Vaporetto it’ll take you 5 mis only). From the square look up at the clock tower. What are those two statues doing up there in the flat roof? Are they striking the right hours? Not at all: the Moor on the right, facing the future, strikes the bell two minutes in advance; the Moor on the left, looking at the past, strikes the bell two minutes after. Does it sound strange? Why not going upstairs and seeing it yourself? If you’re at least 6 years old and don’t fear taking the stairs to the fifth floor, hurry up!

If you make your way through the “Riva degli Schiavoni” towards the Arsenale, your long walk will be repaid by the Venice Naval History Museum (open till 13.30). Cannons of the XIV century, torpedos of the World War two and old boats reconstructions will drive your imagination and take you far away, dreaming to be somewhere in the sea. Or maybe you will dream to be on the Bucintoro, the queen of all boats, chosen by the Dogi of Venice as ceremony boat during the celebration of the Bridal of The Sea festivity.

How not to mention Murano, the well known isle of glass. A glass master at work is a great attraction for every child. The melting glass, blown as a soap bubble, transforms into a wonderful vase. Parents will find plenty of souvenirs and children will make an unforgettable experience (for more info on the furnaces opened to the public visit www.promovetro.com , phone: 0415275074).
Venice, of course, is also a city of art. But will art exhibitions and children ever meet together? At the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, every Sunday afternoon at 15.00 the Kids day begins: a visit to the museum and a workshop organized exactly for children from 4 to 10 years old.

photo credit: rachdavies