A beautiful European country has been named the ‘most family-friendly’ for summer holidays – and it’s not France, Spain or Portugal.

Though others may steal the spotlight, Italy has been declared the best place to take children by the Telegraph.

Many hotels have specially designed rooms for those with small children as well as play areas and baby clubs for parents needing a break.

And when children get old enough to go exploring, there is something to see anywhere you go in the country, from Venice’s canals to Rome’s Colosseum. 

Holiday booking companies such as Exodus, Intrepid and Explore have even put together itineraries for family holidays for hassle-free travel in the gem of the Meditterannean.

Italy is also home to many agriturismos (farm stays), where families can get a glimpse into Italian life through cooking with Nonnas in the kitchen and helping out in the olive groves.

The Telegraph suggested Sestri Levante, Lake Maggiore, and Forte Village in Sardinia for under fives; Calabria, Turin, Puglia, and agriturismos in Tuscany for children aged five to eight; and trips along the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany and Venosta Valley for tweens.

Italy can be a little more expensive than Spain or Portugal, even when considering large cities like Rome and Madrid, according to Explore Worldwide.

The country as a whole will be quietest outside of the tourist season. To get the best weather, visitors are recommended to go between April and June or September and October.

Lonely Planet says that Italy is “home to many of the world’s greatest works of art, architecture and gastronomy”, adding that it “elates, inspires and moves like no other”.

It is home to the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites with must-see attractions like St Peter’s Basilica, the Pantheon, the Colosseum, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Grand Canal of Venice and Lake Como.