Ventimiglia, a town in Liguria in northern Italy, offers a great deal of options for Ventimiglia family travel. The town is actually separated into two different sections, as it is bisected by the Roia River. This is actually was the capital of Intemelli, which was the tribe that resisted the Romans for many years until 115 BC.

The Hanbury Botanic Gardens

Giardino Hanbury has the largest and best botanical gardens in the world. It was planted by Sir Thomas Hanbury, a British merchant. This garden is on terraces down to the sea and contains plant species from 5 different continents. Since its inception the terraces have been covered with a dome, though you can still see beautiful views of the sea. The garden is open all year round, but only on specific days. Kids are allowed to play in the garden, which makes this the perfect spot for families. 

Two Ancient Villages: One on the Coast and One Inland

The Balzi Rossi, or Red Rocks, is one of the earliest examples of Palaeolithic cultures found on the cliff. You can tour the caves which have drawings on the walls. The most interesting cave is the Grotto del Cavglione.  The many remains and artifacts found are over 230,000 years old. All artifacts are found in the museum, which is closed on Mondays.

You can also visit Dolceacqua, an inland stone village. Here you can explore the ruins of castles from the 16th century and walk across a medieval bridge. You can walk from the town to Dolceacqua by following the first part of the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri trail. It takes about 3 hours and is 10km long. Although kids may not love to walk that long, they're sure to fall in love with the fascinating stones and bridge once they get there.

The Main Cathedral

The most impressive church in town is the Cattedrale dell’Assunta. The cathedral was built on the site of a cathedral from the Carolingian period. There was once a temple to Juno at this spot. The cathedral was finished sometime in the 12th century. The cathedral was renovated and opened for services in 1970. Inside is a famous painting by Barnaba da Modena, the "Madonna and Child." There is also the "Assumption of the Virgin" by John Carlone. Behind the cathedral is the baptistery built as a polygon. Kids would love to check out the church and play in its surroundings.

The Old Ruins

You can view the remains of the Albintimillium, which is near the Forte dell’Annunziata. There is a town gate and amphitheater to explore. This is found at about 1km from the train station, and on Friday there are food and craft markets that occur here. Children tend to love seeing the various foods and trinkets available in the market.

Traveling to Ventimiglia

It is very easy to reach the town by railway from Italy and France, as there is a large train station found in the newer part of town. Right near the station is the tourist office and nearby a covered flower market. Let you kids enjoy in the flower market and learn about new flowers when you arrive.