The Fine Art of Florence With Kids
If you are a museum lover, you probably should stop reading this post right here, because I am about to make a confession which may sound like blasphemy to you. Our family went to Florence last year and we did not visit the Uffizi or the Accademia. In fact, our one and only museum stop in Florence was a tiny little storefront operation so tucked away on a side street that we very nearly missed it entirely.
I have learned the hard way that dragging my family, husband included, to a city’s great sights can sometimes be counterproductive. I’m all for pushing my kids (and their father) out of their comfort zone a bit, but the whining, foot-dragging, and frequent snack requests that are likely to ensue if I push the issue too hard are enough to make me choose my battles carefully.
I’m not such a fine art fan that I absolutely had to visit either of Florence’s famous museums. And so I quietly passed them both up and escorted my family instead to this out of the way place that my daughter thought sounded neat.
It turned out to be one of the coolest things we did during our entire trip to Italy.
The Leonardo Da Vinci Museum is a small hands-on museum designed to educated visitors about Da Vinci’s inventions. Large wooden models of his machines give younger children a tactile understanding of Da Vinci’s theories and discoveries, while written explanations posted alongside the models provide a more in-depth explanation for older visitors. The models, rendered in beautifully crafted stained wood, are works of art in and of themselves; the lines of the machines are impressive in their design even before you stop to consider the genius behind th
eir creation.
My children were fascinated by the mechanics of the machines and developed a surprisingly strong grasp of some pretty advanced physics concepts playing with the gears and mechanisms. I must admit, my husband and I were equally entranced. From the simple ball bearings and pulley systems to the more elaborate bicycles and revolving crane (a personal favorite!), each model provided an opportunity to study Da Vinci’s handiwork in a uniquely interactive way. We spent far longer than we’d planned in this little two room museum, touching and pushing and pulling and learning.
I didn’t see Michelangeo’s original David in Florence. I never laid eyes on a single Botticelli. And yet somehow, I left feeling like I’d experienced Italy’s finest art all the same.
October 22nd, 2008 | by Rebecca Tompkins 14 comments
1. Michelle D on October 22nd, 2008
Simply amazing. We too, visited Florence this year and also didn’t visit a single gallery. It was too darn hot and the lines (even for prepaid entrance) were too long.
What’s even more amazing? We visited the same Leonardo exhibit, except we stumbled on it in Rome – maybe it’s traveling? Anyway, we spent hours at the same little exhibit, also touching, trying, experimenting. My kids were utterly fascinated.
2. Meg (B2B) on October 23rd, 2008
Cool. With the Euro dropping, Italy is back on our radar for next year. If we make it, I am definitely taking Boo to this museum.
3. Shelly Rivoli on October 23rd, 2008
Rebecca, I salute you! One of the great things about traveling with kids IMHO, particularly the young ones, is that they get you off the beaten path and show you the world through their own eyes. Who’s to say the most-visited sites with the longest lines are always the best? For many travelers, the best moments are found in unexpected stops along the way, and kids are great for leading you to these. The museum sounds like a fun stop for sure. Thanks for the tip.
4. Veronica on October 23rd, 2008
What a great post, thanks! We’re headed to Florence next spring (without kids, actually – second honeymoon!) but we’ll definitely put this museum on our list.
5. jessiev on October 23rd, 2008
Brava!! I say, anything that you all have fun with is a perfect choice. Now, we need to get there!
6. Caitlin on October 23rd, 2008
I am so incredibly sad for you. If your husband is a Philistine and your kids are kids, then why oh why didn’t you leave the kids with said hubby and go on your own? If not the Uffizi then at least Michelangelo’s David. I know you’ve seen pictures but nothing, BUT NOTHING, prepared me for seeing the real thing. His eyes follow you, his expression changes depending on where you stand, and he even seems to have his leg veins in the right place, even though that’s just natural variation in the marble. I was totally blown away and two and a bit years later it is still one of my most treasured memories from Italy. I didn’t expect that but it was.
We pre-booked all our tickets and the queues were not so bad in most places, especially if you planned ahead and went early.
To be honest, Florence was so crammed with tourists, that if you are not interested in the art, I would actually recommend you don’t bother spending any time there at all. You would probably get more out of going somewhere less touristy and more authentically Italian like Bologna or getting out into the countryside.
7. Jane Rytina on October 23rd, 2008
Oh my god! My husband and I went to Florence (before kids) and did all the usual tourist stuff. Fabulous city, no doubt. But we, by chance, read about this VERY museum and went to it. It was AWESOME. Small but very very interesting. Leonardo was SUCH an important person. Politically and scientifically. We felt so lucky to have found the museum, it is just in a little street. And told everyone we met about it. And now I read about it here. What a coincidence.
You can go back and visit the art another time. This is JUST as an important part of Italian and World history as any art piece.
8. Kayt Sukel on October 23rd, 2008
I didn’t even know that this existed. How cool! Definitely putting it on the list for my next trip to Florence.
9. MudslideMama on October 23rd, 2008
Well, I can’t imagine NOT stopping at the Uffizi, but – Wow. You really gave your kids a great experience at that little museum. That makes for a better memory than standing on line for 2 hours, I’m sure!
10. Linda (minnemom) on October 24th, 2008
This sounds like exactly what I would do (and enjoy). I’ve never been known to go somewhere just because someone told me I should. You (and your entire family) enjoyed this, and that’s what’s important.
11. Carolina on October 26th, 2008
Cool spot, will check it out when I get the chance to visit Italy. I’m a big supporter of the little places…they usually do more for the communities they are in.
12. soultravelers3 on October 29th, 2008
We loved this little museum too when we were in Florence last fall with our 6 year old!! It had special meaning to us as DaVinci is one of our heroes and the one my husband took for his pseudonym as we travel the world.
That said we also so LOTS of museums and art and all of us looooved them including our 6yo and there was no dragging anyone. She had a blast at all of them and her little book filled with her drawings and thoughts about it all will be a keepsake she will treasure forever.
She loved taking it in to show all her friends in school in Spain when we returned to our village for the winter. I think museums and kids can be a great match if you do all of them in a kid friendly way.
We also watched a fantastic PBS special on dvd while there that added so much to our visit and we spent almost 2 weeks so had lots of leisure time there along with the museums,friends and yummy food.
13. Carnival of Cities KIDS CHILDREN BABY on November 8th, 2008
[...] goes to Florence and skips the Uffizi? A mom, that’s who. Jamie Pearson presents The Fine Art of Florence With Kids posted at Family Friendly Hotel, Resort, Suite Reviews: Travel Savvy [...]
14. Carnival of Cities | Mother of all Trips on June 4th, 2009
[...] goes to Florence and skips the Uffizi? A mom, that’s who. Jamie Pearson presents The Fine Art of Florence With Kids posted at Family Friendly Hotel, Resort, Suite Reviews: Travel Savvy [...]
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