Feed their minds as well as their bodies

It’s had an eventful history too. Add all these elements together, and it’s no wonder we’re home to so many fascinating museums. They’ll fire the minds of children as well as adults.

There are three essential stops. First is Muse. The state-of-the-art science museum, designed by Renzo Piano, examines the impact of altitude on ecology, from mountain peaks and glaciers (at the top of the building) all the way to the rainforests (on the ground floor). Next is MART, one of Italy’s most important collections of modern art, in Rovereto. Then there’s the Castello del Buonconsiglio in Trento. It’s home not only to Trentino’s main collection of art, but also a busy programme of temporary exhibitions aimed at children.

But there are many more fascinating collections to be sampled. For example, in Trento, the Caproni Museum showcases a famous collection of airplanes, and at at the Museo delle Palafitte you can explore the bronze-age world of Lake Ledro, where the locals built their houses on stilts.