Your road trip in northern Italy begins in Milan, Italy’s fashion and finance capital. The city has a reputation for being rather serious but from a tour of the San Siro football stadium to a children’s show at the Teatro alla Scala, it’s easy to discover Milan’s fun side.

The city is also effortlessly stylish, so to teach your children a little something of “la moda italiana”, a visit to the Design Museum should definitely be on the cards.

First up is the mighty Gothic Duomo, with plenty of gargoyles to tempt the kids. Then hop on a tram in one of the traditional 1920s cars.

Next, there’s the Science and Technology Museum, dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci, whose legendary Last Supper can be seen in the Santa Maria delle Grazie — just make sure to book your tickets in advance. Or wander through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the oldest shopping arcade in the world, and try the gelato at nearby Cioccolati Italiani — without it, this trip from Milan to Venice wouldn’t be complete.

Lake Como, an iconic symbol of glamour and luxury. But you don’t have to be George Clooney to stay here (although he does own a place nearby). Families can also enjoy the delights of this tranquil waterside paradise.

Wooded hills, snow-capped Alps and a winding shoreline of historic villages, elegant villas and paradise gardens, Lake Como’s glorious scenery and equally glorious cuisine are next on your Milan-to-Venice road-trip itinerary.

First things first: take your campervan on the ferry around the lake. Or perhaps try some canoeing or waterskiing? For more beach-based fun, head to Lido di Lenno, the perfect spot for soaking up the sun where you can relax in Como’s warm waters and the children can play in the sand.

Why not try a pizza or gelato-making course? Or, depending on the age of your children, take the Greenway walk into the hills around the lake for spectacular views.

The next stop on your Milan to Venice road trip through Lombardy and Veneto is UNESCO-listed Brescia, sitting at the foot of the Alps and brimming with historic and cultural attractions. Off the main tourist trail, the city escapes the crowds that flock to the better-known Venice and Verona.

Brescia is home to Roman ruins, a hilltop castle, striking religious artwork, as well as the Mille Miglia, a vintage car race held every May.

Head first to the Foro, where you’ll see a temple dating from AD 73–74, a theatre seating up to 15,000, and the dungeons of Palazzo Martinengo. Then there are the gardens of the Santa Giulia Museum, ideal for relaxing. Brescia Castle, with its secret passages, drawbridges and towers, is a hit with young and old. For amazing views, head up Maddalena mountain for vistas of Lake Garda, the Apennines and Monte Rosa — great for a hike or a barbecue.

"Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene…” Your kids are probably fed up with you quoting this well-known line from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. But it’s thanks to the iconic romance that Verona is now the fourth most-visited city in Italy.

Visitors flock here in search of the star-crossed lovers, and on arrival they'll find a city of picturesque piazzas, winding lanes, bell towers and an enormous 1st-century amphitheatre where the annual summer opera festival is held.

Lovesick teenagers might enjoy a visit to the House of Juliet, thought to have once belonged to the Capuleti family. Climb the Torre dei Lamberti for breathtaking views over the city’s terracotta roofs.

Explore mazes, fountains, gargoyles and grottoes in the Giardino Giusti. Cross the River Adige on the city’s oldest bridge, the Ponte Pietra. And a visit to the Gardello Tower, a former prison, is best combined with a stop at the popular ice-cream parlour, Pretto.

With Venice stealing the limelight, Padua is the place to head for peace and quiet. With its canals, arcaded streets, churches and markets, the city has an authentic buzz.

Home to a university since the 13th century, its students — who whizz around on Vespas and bicycles — lend Padua a youthful energy. And of course, the beautiful Basilica of St Anthony of Padua, which attracts visitors from around the world, also makes Padua a great stop on your road-trip itinerary.

On your road trip from Milan to Venice, tour the city’s university, Italy’s second-oldest, and give your kids a taste of what learning used to be like. Highlights include the 16th-century anatomy theatre, where students watched bodies being dissected to the sound of lute music to calm the squeamish among them.

Culture vultures will love Giotto’s frescoes or Titian’s St Anthony in the Scaletta del Santo. Pick up bargains at the Saturday market in the Prato della Valle, or relax in Europe’s oldest botanical garden.

Last but certainly not least on your Milan to Venice road trip is one of Italy’s leading stars, Venice is built on more than 100 tiny islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. Given this feat of engineering and architecture, it’s no wonder the city has a magical feel.

And, indeed, Venice is more beguiling and bewitching than any photo can suggest. The whole family will find themselves entranced by what is basically a historic theme park with an extra dash of culture.

Tick off some of the main sights: Piazza San Marco, St Mark’s Basilica, the Campanile bell tower, and the Palazzo Ducale. Wander alleyways where getting lost is the goal. The Guggenheim Collection is great for children and adults alike.

Enjoy an array of treats with a traditional Venetian cicchetti. Then a gondola ride is a must, before, perhaps, a ghost walk full of gory tales about the city. Because, Venice, while beautiful, can also be wonderfully creepy.