10 things to do with the kids - near Villa Borghetti

Italy must be the most child-friendly country in the world, and you and your kids are certain of a warm welcome in Le Marche. Here are ten suggestions to keep them entertained during your stay at Villa Borghetti:

1.      Sarnano
The local town of Sarnano has loads to offer for children of all ages. The historic centre, with its narrow streets and tall buildings, is a great place for firing young imaginations. And if you think museums are boring, think again, because there are some pretty scary looking weapons in the Museo delle Armi. At Bambinopoli, you can try your hand at crazy golf as well as the adventure playground, with tennis courts nearby.

2.      Castle adventures
There are lots of exciting castles near Villa Borghetti and, unlike their British counterparts, most are still intact. One of our favourites is the Castello della Rancia near Tolentino, clearly visible from the SS77 on the way from Ancona airport. Built in the 14th century on the site of a former granary, this castle features a six-storey keep, underground storage rooms and an archaeological museum containing not only Roman remains but also the well-preserved contents of a necropolis dating from the sixth century B.C.

3.      Frasassi caves
The Grotte di Frasassi, an hour or so from Villa Borghetti, are one of Italy’s largest and most spectacular cave complexes. 1.5km of the estimated 35km of limestone caverns are open to the public, including some of the most impressive stalagmites you’re ever likely to see and the jaw-dropping Grotta Grande del Vento, Europe’s largest single cavern. Cheddar will never seem the same again! If you’ve got time, you can also visit the nearby Parco Dinosauri, where nine giant dinosaur fossils were unearthed.

4.      Lago di Fiastra
The spectacular drive to Lake Fiastra, at the heart of the Sibillini mountains, is an absolute must for anyone staying at Villa Borghetti. And when you get out of the car, there is still so much to do. For instance, you could take a dip in the lake or lie on the beach, hire canoes or quad bikes, or take one of the many recommended walks to discover ruined monasteries, spectacular rock formations, vertiginous gorges and remote hermitages.

5.      Gola dell’Infernaccio
The awe-inspiring ‘Hell’s Gorge’ near Montefortino was carved by the River Tenna. It is a paradise for long-distance walkers and lovers of wildlife.  Alternatively, you could just do what we did: take the short walk from the road and dare each other to step across the ice-cold stream!

6.      A day at the seaside
The Adriatic coast is just three-quarters of an hour away at Civitanova Marche. From there you can head north to the pretty beaches of Monte Conero or south to one of many pleasant resorts heading to San Benedetto del Tronto and beyond. The coastline is very safe and remarkably clean. In 2008, a record 15 resorts in Le Marche were awarded the Blue Flag, the important eco-label given to beaches that meet strict criteria including water quality, safety and environmental management.

7.      Going swimmingly
If you don’t fancy driving to the coast or Lake Fiastra, there are two excellent piscine comunali, or public pools, nearby. Sarnano’s large indoor pool is ideal for lane swimming, while there is also a separate paddling pool for the bambini. Just up the road at San Ginesio there is a fantastic outdoor pool, open from early June to late September.

8.      Festivals and events
Look out for posters for the many hundreds of sagre which take place in Le Marche every year. A sagra is a festival devoted to the local food speciality, such as olive oil, pecorino cheese or chestnuts, and typically involves lots of eating, drinking and entertainment of all kinds.

      The Marchigiani are also keen to preserve their rich cultural heritage, stemming from three thousand years of history. Some of the most historic towns stage an annual rievocazione, or ‘re-evocation’, of an important period in their development.

      The origins of Sarnano’s Palio del Serafino date back to the early decades of the 13th century, when the five ancient districts - Brunforte, Castelvecchio, Poggio, Bisio and Piobbico - got together to form a new community or comunanza in opposition to the ruling aristocracy. The name of the event is inspired by Sarnano’s coat of arms, based on a seraph with six wings and said to have been designed by Saint Francis of Assisi himself.