Divertimento d’estate nel sole!

By Melissa Cannavo-Marino and Sara

L’estate è arrivata and many of you will be planning trips to parchi di divertimento (amusement parks) to cool off and enjoy exciting rides! If you live in Italy, there are several spots per gli italiani (for Italians) to enjoy on the peninsula. Of course, I can’t visit them, but Mamma visited two of them with amici (friends) and told me she had
a great time.

The first one is Gardaland. This was one of the first amusement parks in Europe, and has a Legoland water park, un aquario (an aquarium) and all types of exciting rides set against the backdrop of Lago di Garda (Lake Garda). Two of the rides, Flying Island and the Monorotaia, give a great view of the lake and the layout of the park.
Children can enjoy exploring Prezzemolo Land (a medieval area with lots of great games) or take the Ortobruco Tour (a small roller coaster) through a magical garden.

Adults can choose between several world-class montagne russe (roller coasters) such as the Raptor or the vertical drop Oblivion. When it’s time to cool off mamma told me the Jungle Rapids and the Fuga da Atlantide were both exciting splash rides.

Mirabilandia, built near Ravenna in Emilia-Romagna, is another theme park
in northern Italy. It has many of the same exciting rides and a water park as Gardaland, but also has a themed area called Ducati World which offers rides featuring i famosi (the famous) Italian Ducati motorbikes including an exciting simulated ride.

In Sicily, Etnaland is enjoyed by families and visitors alike. Mamma has been here several times with her cugini (cousins) Built at the foot of Mount Etna, the park has just a few roller coasters, but it does have a huge water park.
The water park has a huge piscina con le onde (wave pool), lots of water slides and a fiume pigro (lazy river). Another favorite area for children and adults is the prehistoric park and botanical gardens and zoo! Mamma always had fun in the sun here!

Another great water park for those who live in central Italy is Haway Park in Cassino in the province of Frosinone. The park opened in 1985 near the historic Abbey of Montecassino (which I have visited and will tell you about another time) Il parco offre (the park offers) more than 14 water attractions, campi di calcio (soccer fields) and places to picnic.

I hope you enjoyed learning about some of the places Italian families enjoy in the summer (and some new Italian words!) and I hope you get to enjoy your favorite parco di divertimento as well!