In-natural Land

On arrival here, you'll definitely want to take a closer look at Gubbio (20 minutes' drive) – this small city's mix of 14th-century turrets, historic churches and Renaissance palaces makes for a very interesting day out indeed. If you're pressed for time, you can also take in most of the city's best panoramas by cable car. Other must-see cities include Perugia (40 minutes), a lively and cosmopolitan university town with a gorgeous cathedral and excellent galleries. There's also Assisi (45 minutes) a small and simple spot town that's made a name for itself in terms of art, architecture and for being the birthplace of Saint Francis. All that high culture is fascinating enough, but it may not quite suffice to keep the kids thoroughly entertained. To liven up your trip for the younger members of your party, you might like to pay a visit to Laguna Park (55 minutes), a wet and wild waterpark on the edge of Trasimeno lake. Other sure-fire kid-pleasers in the area include Perugia's reptile zoo (45 minutes) and Maneggio Castiglione Aldobrando (30 minutes), a family-friendly local riding school.