Marina Camping Village

Historic Ravenna (15 minutes' drive) is home to bucketloads of Roman art and architecture. With heaps of heritage on your doorstep, you might not know where to start – if pressed for time, head for highlights like the spectacular Basilica di San Vitale or Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo. Culture vultures who have seen Ravenna and are still ravenous for more might want to head inland to Cesena (40 minutes) for gems like the Abbey of St Maria del Monte or the Malatestiana Library (which, according to UNESCO, is the oldest public library in Europe, no less). Kid-pleasing times are also to be had along this stretch of the Italian coast: Mirabilandia, the biggest theme park in Italy, is within easy reach (20 minutes), as is Safari Ravenna (20 minutes), a zoo home to more than 450 creatures great and small. Further afield in Rimini (50 minutes) is Italy in Miniature, a model village where you can snap the wee ones looming large over the Vatican or the Coliseum. If anyone gets too big for their boots, a trip to the giant rides and slides at Fiabilandia (also in Rimini) should do the trick.