It is no coincidence that they call it the “Riviera of Parks”. The coast and hinterland of Romagna are dotted with amusement parks, both theme and water ones, that will undoubtedly meet the expectations of the youngest (and not only). If Mirabilandia – Italy’s largest amusement park – needs no introduction, perhaps not everyone is familiar with the Casa delle Farfalle (House of Butterflies) in Cervia, which is home to a large tropical greenhouse inhabited by hundreds of colourful butterflies.

But the opportunities to admire the animal world up close are not limited to this. Just a stone’s throw from Mirabilandia there’s Safari Ravenna, a wildlife park whose objective is the protection and wellbeing of its animals – including lions, giraffes, zebras and baboons – to be observed from the comfort of your own car. If you prefer the call of the dolphins to the roar of the lion, you cannot but visit the Cattolica Aquarium, a special place for lovers of the sea and its inhabitants, who can be seen here in 3,000 specimens of more than 400 different species.

Nature is the protagonist of the Oltremare park in Riccione: here adults and children alike can see dolphins swimming in their lagoon, admire the flight of parrots and much more.

Among the most iconic parks are Italia in Miniatura and Fiabilandia, both in the Rimini area. Last but not least, the Rimini Giant Ferris Wheel offers the possibility of admiring the Romagna Riviera and its hinterland from a 55-metre height.

If the weather forecasts high temperatures or you simply fancy a day soaking in pools and playing with water games, it might be a good idea to visit one of Emilia Romagna’s water parks. Starting with the renowned Aquafan in Riccione, more than 90,000 m² featuring slides, games, and pools of all kinds, including a huge wave pool and an area dedicated precisely to children.

In Cesenatico we can find Atlantica, which immediately captivates visitors with its large circular wave pool and its wide range of water slides. Ravenna, too, has its water parks: Mirabeach is the beach of Mirabilandia featuring many adrenalin-pumping attractions, while in the green countryside of Ravenna stands Acquajoss, the water park of Conselice.

Set in the hills of Bologna, the Villaggio della Salute Più is a spa surrounded by nature that also boasts a large water park with numerous pools, caves and water slides for all ages.

Emilia Romagna is not just a paradise for theme parks. Our region also has plenty of adventure parks, the perfect place for little explorers who love being in contact with nature and generally for a summer outing with the whole family.

From the mountains of the Apennines to the pine forests of the Riviera, you will be spoilt for choice. A few examples? With its 27 courses and more than 220 games in the middle of the luxuriant landscape of the Reggio Emilia Apennines, Cerwood is the largest adventure park in Italy. Other “high altitude” parks include the Cimone Adventure Park, a short distance from Mount Cimone and the marvellous Lake Ninfa (Modena), and the Saltapicchio Adventure Park, on the shores of Lake Suviana (Bologna). Another attraction is Triton’s Park Adventure, with the longest and highest tyrolean in the region, as well as the numerous parks scattered along the coast, from Ferrara to Rimini.

Open all year round, the castles of Emilia Romagna offer an interesting programme of events for children that continues into the summer months.

At the Rocca di Riolo Terme, in the hills of Ravenna, you can take part in a guided tour led by the character of Caterina Sforza (1463-1509), lady of Romagna, as well as test yourself with a themed escape room.

Besides concealing a sleeping dragon within its walls, the Rocca di Dozza – not far from Bologna – offers a series of themed workshops and other events for children. Moving on to Salsomaggiore Terme (Parma), the Contignaco Castle organises various events for families and children including guided tours, falconry shows and fun treasure hunts.

Finally, we head up the Via Emilia to Piacenza to visit Gropparello Castle and its Fairy Tale Park (Parco delle Fiabe), Italy’s first “emotional park”: a true immersion in the world of the Middle Ages led by guides in period costumes which will introduce children to knights, fairies, ogres and witches in the woods surrounding the ancient manor.

To stay up-to-date on the events scheduled in the castles of Emilia Romagna you can visit the specific portal as well as the events section of the Castelli del Ducato website.

Summer stands for the outdoors, nature and the desire for new experiences. If you haven’t tried it yet (or even if you are a seasoned jockey), a great idea for your family holiday is to take part in a horse riding tour.

As for the destination, you’ll be spoilt for choice! Starting from the Apennine mountains and its bridleways, to the various regional parks such as the Cento Laghi park and the National Park of the Casentinesi Forests, Monte Falterona and Campigna, which organise horseback riding tours even for the youngest riders. If horseback riding surrounded by nature is exactly your thing, then you can also opt for an trip to the hills around Bologna or Rimini.

If, on the other hand, you wish to stay close to the seaside, you can take part in one of the Camargue horse rides organised in the Po Delta Park.

In addition to horseback riding, the Po Delta Park offers many opportunities to spend time with your family. There are two salt pans within the park, one in Comacchio and the other in Cervia, which bear witness to the ancient tradition of salt harvesting.

Visiting the salt pans of Emilia Romagna – both still operating – gives the opportunity to discover all the secrets of salt production and to spot the animals that live there such as the amazing pink flamingos.

The Comacchio Salt Pan can be explored on foot with an organised excursion or on board a small train, with many dates available during the summer. The Cervia Salt Pans can also be visited on board a small train or alternatively on foot, by boat, by bicycle and even by canoe!, and at different times of the day, from dawn until evening.

Located within the Casentino Forest Park, the Ridracoli Dam is an artificial structure built in the 1980s to supply water to the municipalities of Romagna. Over time, it has also become a destination for hikers and visitors who can admire its wonderful natural landscapes.

At the dam, everything is about water. First of all, Idro, the Ridracoli Water Ecomuseum, and then the breathtaking activities organised there: we are talking about the electric boat and canoe tours on the lake, two exciting experiences also suitable for children that will take you to the most hidden corners of the basin.

Traversing the paths of a labyrinth involves the use of all of your skills, cunning and memory. If you want to put yourself to the test, just visit one of the three labyrinths in Emilia Romagna.

The northernmost one is the Labyrinth of the Masone, also known as the Labyrinth of Franco Maria Ricci after the name of the famous Parma publisher who created it. We are in Fontanellato, in the province of Parma, and this is the largest bamboo maze in the world, with a path of over 3 kilometres bordered by tall hedges of the well-known Asian plant. Once you have solved the riddle and reached the exit, you can also visit Franco Maria Ricci’s art collection.

If your holiday destination is Romagna, you should know that in the countryside of Ravenna there are no less than two labyrinths. The Labirinto Dedalo is located in Savio and features a network of lanes set in an 8-hectare cornfield, as well as a path dedicated exclusively to children. Dedalo also offers the opportunity to grab a bite at the on-site food trucks and picnic areas.

The second labyrinth in Romagna is located in Alfonsine, and it was created in a maize field just like the Dedalo one. What makes the Labirinto Effimero special is that it changes shape every year, each time being inspired by a different theme; here we can also find a Suspended Labyrinth, built with recycled and biodegradable materials.