LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
Pian di Cascina / UmbriaWithKids.net has been specifically designed for families with children and there are plenty of ACTIVITIES to keep everyone entertained in or around our 20 acres of unspoilt, private land. However, if you decide to venture out, here are some of the attractions that will appeal to children young and old within striking distance of Pian di Cascina:
UMBRIACTIVITY PARK
Around an hour’s drive from Pian di Cascina, UmbriActivity Park / Parco Avventura a Scheggino is a large park with a wide range of outdoor activities for an energetic and exciting family day out! Get kids active during the holiday at this natural theme park. The park offers two kinds of tickets: one for ground-based activities, and one for areas of the park requiring ropes and harnesses. There’s something for kids of all ages; even teenagers will enjoy the zip lines.
A spacious nature park dedicated to outdoor activities with rafting, safaris, canopy tours (monkey style), children’s play areas, go carts, tots area, cafes, car free bike routes, tubing, mini marines, climbing, archery and more. There is a basic entrance fee starts, with optional extra activities for additional costs.
See website for prices, opening times & availability: UmbriActivity Park – Parco Avventura a Scheggino
FLEX VILLAGE WATER PARK
A great family day out – and not just for kids! Just 45 minutes drive from Pian di Cascina, it’s a fab fun place to spend the day with children of all ages. The park has a toddler pool, main swimming pool with spring diving board, 3 larger slides with inflatable rides, 1 fast body slide and several fun smaller body slides, volley ball, padel, football, gym snack bar & bar. The park is set out like a beach area with sun loungers and umbrellas and it is a fantastic, fun family day out.
You can take your own picnic if you want and the bar sells cold beer, coffees, ice creams and lollies. Usually open mid June to September. For current costs, opening times and other details, visit their website: www.flexbeach.it
PERUGINA CHOCOLATE FACTORY
A fun family day out for chocolate lovers of all ages. CASA DEL CIOCCOLATO PERUGINA is located about 40 minute’s drive from Pian di Cascina at Via San Sisto 42, San Sisto on the outskirts of Perugia, This factory is where the famous ‘Baci’ chocolates are produced, the chocolate kisses with love messages inside. There is a museum and gift shop and a chocolate school. Free guided visits last about one hour, tel. 075 5276796 for bookings. There are usually 2 guided visits in English per day. At the end, you will actually be walking on a glass passage way and observing under you the production line of the Baci.
To be sure to see the factory you must visit between Monday and Friday (on Sat the factory may be closed). For the chocolate school telephone 800 800907: 3-hour workshops on chocolate making are available for an additional cost. For opening times, costs and other details, visit the website: www.perugina.it
CITTÀ DELLA DOMENICA
Città della Domenica in Perugia (40 minutes drive from Pian di Cascina) has a special place in Umbrian history. The park was created in the 1960s by Mario Spagnoli, founder of the Perugina chocolate factory, so his employees and their families could enjoy time together on Sundays. Set in woodland overlooking Perugia, it was Italy’s first true family leisure park and has delighted generations of children. For a period, the park gained a reputation for feeling a little neglected but the last decade has seen a major programme of renovation. Rides are now properly inspected & maintained, animal enclosures have been modernised, and facilities such as toilets, signage and seating have also been upgraded.
Today, Città della Domenica combines classic family fun with gentle adventure, offering animals, fairy-tale villages, themed areas and a charming vintage train, all in a park that has been lovingly updated to modern standards without losing its unique, nostalgic character. www.cittadelladomenica.it
CASTLES AND HILL FORTS
Be a King for a day! Umbria is full of hilltop castles, and there’s no better way to get your children interested in history than a game of damsels and dragons at a real-life castle. Clambering around in ruins is not only great fun, but also an easy way to engage younger children in culture without resorting to museums or cathedral tours. Carsulae (Loc. Carsoli, 05029 San Gemini, Terni) – https://carsulae.info/ – the remains of a Roman settlement, is a must-see and entrance is only €5.
Also, one of the best castle in Umbria for kids to conquer is the Rocca Maggiore in Assisi – https://www.umbriatourism.it/en/-/the-rocca-maggiore-fortress-in-assisi. Only partly restored, this stone fortress has tunnels, towers, and turrets galore. Assisi is an ideal family day out, as there is plenty more to do beside visiting the castle. Less rustic, but still fun to visit, are the Castello del Leone in Castiglione del Lago and the Rocca Albornoziana in Spoleto.
AQUAFAN
For those families willing to travel further afield, Aquafan (around 1 hour 45 minutes’ drive from Pian di Cascina) is one of Italy’s biggest and best-known water parks, making for a fun, full-day adventure.
Located near the Adriatic coast near Riccione, Aquafan offers a huge mix of adrenaline water slides for daredevil parents and teens, along gentler options with and dedicated areas for younger kids and those who prefer less challenging, more relaxing options, including wave pools and lazy rivers. There are plenty of shaded spots to relax between rides and various options for food and drinks on site. Usually open from early June to mid-September, see the website for full details: www.aquafan.it
UCI CINEMA PERUGIA
There is a UCI cinema in Perugia, which shows some films in English and other languages, alongside Italian versions.
It is a large, modern, multiscreen complex, with plenty of parking and a popular American-style burger bar next door. see on line for details: https://ucicinemas.it/cinema/uci-cinemas-perugia
PARCO ACQUAROSSA
Is a relatively small activity park with several things to do about an hour’s drive from Pian di Cascina. There is a tractor pulled ‘train’ called the Sagrantino which stops at a few wine producers in the area (weekends only).
There is a 250 meter long 4m heigh zip-line and a lake where you can play with radio controlled boats, planes and cars, a playground for young children, a special 4×4 road where you can drive a quad bike, plus sport fishing and a petting farm. https://www.facebook.com/parcoacquarossa1/?locale=it_IT
INDOOR 10-PIN BOWLING
10-pin bowling is a great option for a relaxed family outing near Pian di Cascina, especially on hot afternoons or for a change from outdoor activities. The best choice is Sala Giochi Antares (approx. 40 minutes’ drive), located inside the Gherlinda Shopping Centre in Corciano, just outside Perugia. It offers modern 10-pin bowling lanes alongside arcade games, simulators and amusements, with cafés and shops close by, making it easy to combine bowling with food or shopping.
There is also Bowling Perugia (approx. 45 minutes’ drive), a long-established city bowling alley offering classic 10-pin bowling as an alternative option.
LOCAL PARKS
Casacastalda
In the village centre – Gated play area with slides, picnic benches, climbing frames.
Gubbio
Next to the Amphitheatre – decent adventure playground, with zip slide, picnic tables, lawn and cafe. Park in the amphitheatre car park.