The perfect festival for families with a passion for food

Parents with a passion for food can introduce their children to authentic Italian produce at the Gualdo Annual Cheese Festival in the Marche region of Italy taking place on the 17th and 18th of May 2008. This tiny medieval hilltop village hosts cheese, salami and wine producers from all over Italy for a two day ‘slow food’ extravaganza, with a well organised programme of events for children.

Tots to Italy has several nearby family friendly properties that makes visiting the festival easy. “It’s a great way to get a family break while savouring authentic Italian food and teaching children what food is supposed to taste like,” says Wendy Shand, founder of Tots to Travel. “As the Cheese Festival falls the week before the May bank holiday and the start of the summer half term, it also makes a great first week of a two week holiday.”

All the properties listed below are available for the week 17 May to 24 May:

Suggested properties

Casa Adriana: This modern property takes full advantage of its stunning rural location and mountain views. Just 1km from Gualdo, it is possible to walk to the food festival, shops, restaurants and a children’s park. It sleeps eight people in four bedrooms (two doubles both en-suite, one en-suite twin and one room with bunk beds). It has an enclosed shaded play area to keep children away from the swimming pool, which has stunning views over the countryside. English-speaking babysitting is available. Cost is £1350 for the week 17 May – 24 May.

Casa Alexa: This large, secluded property is ideal for two or more families. Sleeping 10, plus babies, it has incredible 360 degree views over the Italian hillside and an enclosed swimming pool. Just 15 minutes drive from the Gualdo Cheese Festival, it makes the perfect base to explore the area. Babysitting, baby packs and home cooked meals and picnics can be provided. Cost is £1625 for the week 17 May – 24 May.

Casa Piccola: This romantic two bedroomed hideaway is perfect for a family with a young baby (not yet crawling) or a family with older children. It’s approximately 20 minutes from the Gualdo Cheese Festival and only 3km from the local village with restaurants and shops. It has its own private pool, offers babysitting and is close to activities like horse-riding, fishing and swimming in nearby Lake Fiastra. Cost is £900 for the week 17 May – 24 May.

Flights from Stansted to Ancona on Ryanair for a family of four costs approximately £250 return including taxes.

All Tots to Italy properties provide the necessities that parents take for granted at home like sterilisers, blenders, booster seats, cots, plastic crockery and cutlery, baby baths, bath mats and potties. The properties also focus on safety, with enclosed swimming pools and stairgates where possible, and baby monitors. The company also provides baby packs on request that include the right size nappies, nappy sacks, wet wipes, jars of baby food and full fat milk. Most properties are about an hour’s drive from an airport so that travel time from the UK is kept to a minimum.

You can search for properties at Totstoitaly.co.uk by size, location or availability. The site also features a video tour of one of the properties so that parents can get a clear picture of what’s available. Tots to Italy was recently featured and recommended on ITV’s This Morning.