Travelling with multi generations of family is the latest trend in vacations: for years, surveys have shown that “multigenerational travel” (trips involving at least three generations) is on the rise. According to a recent AAA poll, 36% of American families planned to take such a trip by mid-2015 and Virtuoso, the most high-end global network of travel advisors and suppliers connected to the travel and leisure industry, has named multigenerational travel the biggest trend for the fourth year in a row. More than 12.5 million people (18 per cent) in Britain have been on a ‘3G’ holiday, a trip consisting of at least three generations, in the last year.

Europe has an abundance of countries oozing in rich culture and family friendly attractions and, of the multigenerational travellers, four in ten had travelled outside their Country and a whole third of the American ones had been to Europe. Multigenerational travellers are planning "Milestone Vacations": more than three-quarters had planned a vacation around a life event such as a birthday (50%), anniversary (40%), family reunion (39%), and wedding (37%). According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Europe was the most frequently visited region in the world in 2013, accounting for over half (52%) of all international tourist arrivals, some 563 million persons. The wealth of European cultures, the variety of its landscapes and the quality of its tourist infrastructure are likely to be among the varied reasons why tourists choose to take their holidays in Europe.

The family travelling vacation formula offers many advantages, amongst which the most important are creating memories together and expanding everybody’s perspective about international culture, especially that of children and teen agers. The youngest generations have the eldest ones around them, looking after them while parents are finally resting and receive the undivided attention of the group when it comes to choosing activities.

Choosing the right location is pivotal to the holiday experience itself: nothing too uptight, large spaces, gated swimming pools, amenities and included children care seem to be a winner. The Luxe Report indicates that Italy continues its reign as the top destination for international travel, followed by South Africa, France and Australia. In 2014 year New Zealand makes an appearance on the list as well. Italy remained the chart-topper for families traveling in 2014, for instance, with England, Hawaii, Costa Rica and Mexico rounding out the list. Italy is a dazzling, mesmerising Country and Tuscany represents its very core when it comes to tourism: more and more foreigners decide to visit this region for holidays – today they represent 53% of the total number of tourists. In 2005 they accounted only for 47.1%

Tuscany is simply the perfect destination for this kind of holidays. Katherine Sarah Klagsbrun, an American living in Rome on Quora, explains this phenomenon with three reasons: there is a main city (Florence) where you can see art, architecture, and the modern way of life in Italy, but then there are smaller, quieter medieval cities such as Siena and Cortona, which are great to spend a day walking around, going into little shops, eating well, et cetera. It's all set in beautiful countryside, so you can stay in a more natural setting, visit vineyards and olive groves, and take in all the amazing scenery Basically, a little bit of everything.

Tuscany seems to be unbeatable when it comes to family vacations, and here’s ten motives why:
1. You don’t need to search for children friendly restaurants: 98% are. You do not even need to ask for a children menu, as Italians know food and the person taking the order will know exactly what to suggest and do.
2. You will discover a world of children running in the piazzas (the squares): every evening during Spring, Summer and early Fall they meet right before dinner and play together, make new friends and are guarded by an entire village, for children are considered holy in this region. So yours will be able to join the fun as well while you will be able to sip your glass of wine and feel they are safe, happy and entertained.
3. The smaller, the merrier: small villages with one bar and one shop are the absolute best for children, as these are the remaining mediaeval developments where old and new generations live, one close to the other, and where meeting people from all over the world is a given daily. Adventure: take the Valleriana in Valdinievole, for example, a stunning conglomerate of ten hamlets, each one with hundreds of inhabitants and tens of children running up and down (it’s impossible or forbidden to access the centre of most villages with a car) playing hide and seek and using an entire village as a playground.
4. Food truly matters in Italy, and there is no such a place like Tuscany where young ones have a chance to discover how to prepare hand made pasta, tomato sauce, all the basics of ‘cucina povera’ taking a class with a cooking mamma or a proper Chef: there is a plethora of experiences organised by hotel, bed and breakfast, agriturismi and villa owners in this area, and they apply to the entire family together.
5. Teen agers are happy in Tuscany: discotheques, beach clubs and bars are all focused on new generations, with great music and the possibility of meeting with locals, always dressed up and elegant.
6. Gelato: the history of gelato, made not only with fruits but also with different creams and flavours, dates back to the 16th century and it’s thought that Bernardo Buontalenti, a native of Florence, delighted the court of Caterina Dei Medici with this creation: you can actually bring your family to Florence and book one tour to learn how to make gelato.
7. Tuscany, and in particular Valdinievole, is the land of Pinocchio and Leonardo Da Vinci, probably the two most evocative figures, together with Dante and his Inferno, in the international perception of the entire Tuscany: visiting the museum of Leonardo is pure fun and for the young at heart, there’s a path called the via della Fiaba, the fairy-tale trail, between Pescia and Collodi in Pinocchio territory. There are hill towns like Montecatini Alto, Uzzano, Buggiano and Massa that you can reach on an energetic hike (or with an easy car ride) through rolling hills and the Fucecchio Marsh, the largest in-land marsh in Italy. Montecatini Terme, fantastically located between Lucca, Pisa, Florence and Cinque Terre, features circa 170 hotels at extraordinary prices and quality, and lies minutes away from everything you need to see in the region; together with its surrounding Valdinievole features up to 20.000 beds.
8. Wine: if not on top of the list, the Tuscans and Super Tuscans will make an appearance in the first ten best wines of the world every given year. The greatest thing about Tuscany is that even vino della casa, house-wine, is absolutely fantastic. And cheap.
9. Tuscany looks fantastic on Instagram, Facebook, MusicLy, Snapchat, anything that involves a camera and your happy face will make your friends at home absolutely envious.

The 1st edition of Open Week Montecatini Terme and Valdinievole takes place from March 26 to April 3, 2016, and it’s an invitation to explore this little known part of Tuscany, which is a heaven for children and their families. A rich calendar of activities and special openings add to the appeal of a visit during this week, to bring your family into a fantastic journey ‘from Leonardo to Pinocchio’.

Sources:
• http://www2.unwto.org/
• http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Tourism_statistics_at_regional_level
• https://www.quora.com/Italy/Why-do-people-love-to-visit-Tuscany-Is-it-especially-popular-with-women
• http://www.tomontecatini.com/en/
• http://2015.top100.winespectator.com/lists/