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From the Duomo’s dome in Florence to countless belltowers, Tuscany offers dozens of fun scrambles up to dramatic lookout points, many reached via tight, evocatively medieval stairs.

Crawling through the ancient tunnels and tombs left by the Etruscans makes for a slightly spooky Indiana Jones-style adventure. The best are in the Maremma around Sorano, Sovana and Pitigliano, and near Chiusi.

Not a place but a series of daily, rotating workshops at the Palazzo Vecchio, Science Museum (see Florence’s Science Museum) and Museo Stibbert. Children can explore hidden parts of the Palazzo Vecchio, play with Galilean telescopes, and dress up as Medici progeny.

Sit back and relax in a warm sulphur pool while your offspring splash and make Italian friends in this beautiful open-air slice of Paradise. But keep little ones away from the upper parts of the stream where the current is very strong. (see Spas and Resorts, Saturnia)

Tool around the top of the city’s massive 16th-century ramparts shaded by trees, and peek down into elaborate gardens.

The hometown of Pinocchio author Carlo “Collodi” Lorenzini has a small theme park.

The Town of Towers looks as Tolkeinesque as they come, a medieval fairy-tale city full of towers to climb, alleys to explore and a half-ruined fortress to clamber about. The torture museum stuffed with gruesome instruments also appeals to children.

Quirky, private museum of armour. The 16th-century Florentine armour (joined by some Samurai colleagues) is arranged as a mounted army marching through the largest room.

Best suited to toddlers and small children, the courtyards of Europe’s oldest foundling hospital house a selection of toys. An adult must accompany your children.

Odd sculpture garden of giant Tarot card images mosaicked with Gaudí-esque coloured tile chips. Niki de Saint Phalle, the artist, recently passed away, but her work goes on.