Archive for 'Activities'

There is nothing else quite like a night at the ballet during the winter months. It is an absolutely lovely way to spend a cold evening: dressed elegantly but wrapped up warm, watching a stunning work of art unfold before your eyes, in a gorgeous and, probably, historic building and grabbing a drink and chatting with your party and other patrons during the interval.

Just find a luxury villa in Florence this winter and, between festive shopping trips, ice-skating, visits to Santa and coffee runs, squeeze in a night at the ballet.

It will be a memory that you will be able to treasure forever and is also sure to help get you in the mood for the holiday season!

Our last few articles have discussed activities in Tuscany that go beyond the usual trips to palaces, churches, museums, galleries and other cultural institutions. Instead, we focused on activities that you might not have thought of before and that will keep the entire family happy, not just the adults. This article also gathers together some child-friendly activities for you and yours to enjoy once you have found the perfect holiday rental in Tuscany.

If you are getting familiar with the city of Florence, for example, there are plenty of different sorts of tours that you can try, both conventional and more interesting and unique varieties. However, one of the most unique ways to see the city is probably by going on the water bike tour. While it may not be suitable for young kids and ten is the minimum age allowed, it's definitely something that older children and teenagers would enjoy and gets the whole family out and about together for an adventure. The bicycles are standard mountain-bikes which have been transformed into proper water-bikes. Tours depart at either 7pm or 9pm and last for a duration of two hours and an informative, friendly and professional guide takes small groups out, allowing for lots of attention and personalisation.

In our previous article, we discussed some activities that are more child-friendly in Tuscany and, as it can sometimes be easy to spend holidays there just visiting museums, cultural attractions, wandering around and eating, it is always good to hear about activities that will be enjoyable for the children in the group as well.

One example of an activity that kids are sure to enjoy is a visit to Canyon Park, a recently opened adventure park in Bagni di Lucca. Located in Scesta, near Cocciglia, on the Brennero road towards Abetone, it is the first adventure park developed in a canyon in Italy and enables visitors to go rafting on the river, zoom down a zip line and clamber over the wire suspension bridge across the canyon, among other things. It is the perfect place to visit with the children once you have found a luxury villa in Lucca.

One of the most internationally famous and beloved of all Italian characters ever created has to be Pinocchio. Created by author Carlo Collodi and featured in the 1883 book, “The Adventures of Pinocchio”, he was propelled into the spotlight on a global scale when his tale was adapted for the big screen by Disney in 1940. However, Carlo Collodi wasn’t the author’s real name but rather a nom de plume taken from his home village of Collodi in the Tuscan hills, not far from Florence.

Today, the town has been clever enough to embrace this beloved character and is dedicated to all things Pinocchio. A giant statue of the puppet-boy is visible throughout the town, little Pinocchio toys are available all over so you can bring him home with you and there is even a theme park, Pinocchio Park, dedicated to him.

If you are travelling Tuscany with kids or have nostalgic fondness for the story, just find a luxury villa in Collodi and spend a day exploring the park and town.

The Parco Nazionale delle Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona and Campigna is a national park in in the Apennine region of Tuscany and Romagna that was established in 1993 and preserves over 365 square kilometers of Italian flora and fauna.

Divided between the provinces of Florence, Arezzo and Forli-Cesena, it is made up of the best preserved and largest forest in Italy and takes in mountains, valleys, springs and over ten villages. It is an area of uncompromising natural beauty and tranquility and is the perfect place for a whole host of outdoor pursuits including biking, horse-riding, hiking, bird-watching and orienteering.

Just find a luxury villa in Florence or a luxury villa in Arezzo and you can head out on daytrips to the park, reconnect with nature, relax, breathe in some fresh air, take in the beautiful views and get away from it all.