Camping in Italy
Camping in Italy is more like a cheap all inclusive holiday than a nature loving scout trip. But children love it.
For outdoor types who love tent camping in harmony with nature, Italy can be a test. The ‘primitive’ camp sites offering a grass patch, some shade and a bathroom are few and far between, and you don’t have to stay long to realize that that most of the other holiday makers have not come to listen to birdsong. They want to party. Not in the sense that you are surrounded by loud noise around the clock, because people generally respect rest times in the afternoon and after 1 am at night, but most villaggi offer a tight schedule of entertainment for all ages. In some places you are even equipped with a wristband as proof of your right to participate in the activities on site.
At these villaggi there will be a store, a newsagent, pizzeria, restaurant, bar and penny arcades with pinball machines and table football. They offer free bus rides to the beach where deck chairs and umbrellas await the guests. There are all sorts of sports from tennis to aerobics and football or bocce tournaments. And in the evening there’s a stage where everybody takes turns to perform.
The animazione games are organised by an ‘equipe’ team of enthusiastic young people or drama students who run around among tents, caravans, mobile homes and bungalows trying to persuade people to join in. They arrange playgroups for children of different ages and rehearse sketches, playback competitions, karaoke, limbo dances, discos or outings.
Within a week you’ll be part of tightly knit social unit and have made several new friends. You may not have enjoying a camping holiday with the simple life envisaged beforehand, but you – and especially your children – will have had lots of fun.
More family holiday attractions
I’ve not camped in Italy myself but my Dutch cousins take their kids and go for a month every summer and as you say have loads of fun and make many friends.
Camping in Italy… now there’s a child-friendly idea.
So true, so true! I’ve cycled toured through Italy, with just my bike, panniers & tent and have also spent two months camping our way down from north to south in our old VW Camper. “Real” campsites are indeed few and far between, particularly out of season and away from the coast, but they are there and they are in some stunning spots and well worth tracking down. Wild camping too, although not strictly allowed, will throw up some surprising rewards for the more adventurous. One day I’ll write a book about all these little gems but, in the meantime, I’ve got my own tucked away little gem to get ready for its first season!
I’m glad to hear they can be found, because we must have visited at least 50 Italian camp sites over the years, and they weren’t for nature lovers. Still the children enjoyed every minute.
Just saw JaqsD’s homepage for Kokopelli camping in Abruzzo. Looks like the real deal;)
My first kiss was with an Italian lad on a camping trip!! Wow – memory flashback
I had no idea that the French enjoy camping! I’ve only been camping once — in Spain.
I camped in Lido near Venice once and it was a blast (and cheap!)
This makes me nervous as we’re going camping with friends in July. Hopefully it’s not too rowdy. My friend has promised showers with hot water and clean bathrooms so that’s encouraging at least.