Exploring Tuscany, you'll be so busy and will have so much to see and do that many people don't take a moment to really sit back and take in her natural beauty. Fewer still take the time to look up at the sky. If you want to really appreciate the region, why not pause, breathe in the fresh air and visit the Planetarium at Casentino for a spot of star-gazing. Spend an evening admiring the clear skies in the area and learning more about the stars above you – it's bound to make for a magical night and memory! Just find a vacation rental in Casentino and make your way to the planetarium one evening.
The Casentino Planetarium is set within the National Park of the Casentino Valley and is a small, but fully functional, structure designed for studying the stars and teaching future generations how to appreciate the night sky. The planetarium facilitates study of the night sky through a recreation in their indoor facility but once you've learned what you're looking for, you can step outside and take the real thing in more expertly. This will be especially rewarding as, due to the location of the planetarium in a national park, there is very little light pollution in the surrounding area and you'll have a clear view of the sky above.
Funded and supported by the Institute and Museum of History and Science in Florence and located in the small town of Stia, the planetarium is a permanent structure equipped with an indoor and outdoor observation area for educational purposes as well as real-time study of the stars. In winter, the planetarium offers classes to students and is an educational resource for those interested or studying the stars. Then, beginning in March, there is a wide range of events in the evenings which are designed to point out the important constellations, planets and stars readily visible with either the naked eye or a telescope to all ages.
Although the presentations are given in Italian, anyone can appreciate the indoor shows or the outdoor observation sessions as the stars themselves are the stars of the show. There is a small fee to enter and reservations must be made but other than that, you need only worry about taking in the view. This is also an ideal activity for all sorts of groups, friends, couples and families so anyone visiting this part of Tuscany should drop by!
Photo credits
Picture 1: ESO/H. Dahle / CC BY 4.0
Picture 1: ESO/H. Dahle / CC BY 4.0
