Everybody talks about excellent pasta, risotto, wine, art and museums… but what if you are traveling with children? What can you do with your kids in Tuscany? We selected a top 5 suggestions for your family: you will find a list of good typical Tuscan places, where the local people brings their children on vacation. I am sure it is going to be a great experience but I also ask for your feedback. Mommies and daddies, please help other travelers like you: What do you do with your children in Tuscany? Let’s create a big community here at AroundTuscany. I am waiting for your comment!
1 – Pinocchio Park – Collodi
Most people don’t know that the inventor of Pinocchio was not Disney, but a Tuscan writer called Carlo Collodi. It was 1883 when the The Adventures of Pinocchio was released and from that date until now there are many adaptations in dozens of languages. The small village where the author of Pinocchio lived in Tuscany is now called Collodi, where there is a park with activities like literary itinerary, buildings and sculptures set amidst the greenery, exhibitions of art and illustrations, puppet-making workshops and more. Attention: it’s not a Disney World park, it’s more a cultural and natural park, very Italian style.
Timetable: Everyday from 10 am to 6.30 pm
Prices 2010:
- Adults: Pinocchio Park – Euro 11,00 ; Gazoni Garden and Butterfly House – Euro 13,00; All inclusive: Euro 20,00
- Kids from 3 up to 14 years or people older than 65 : Pinocchio Park – Euro 8,00 ; Gazoni Garden and Butterfly House – Euro 10,00; All inclusive: Euro 16,00
- Groups: for 20 people or more: Pinocchio Park Euro 8,00; Garzoni Garden and Butterfly House Euro 10,00; All inclusive: Euro 16,00
- Special off season prices: from November 2nd 2010 to Dicember 31st 2010 (check out here, obs: the prices on their website are related to 2009 but I called the tourist office and I was informed that prices remain the same also for 2010!)
Further info:
- website: www.pinocchio.it
- address: Via S. Gennaro, 3 – 51014 Collodi Pescia (PT)
- phone: (+39) 0572.49.09.19
2 – Pistoia Zoo
This is a private zoo located in the hills near the city of Pistoia and it is certainly one of the most popular in Tuscany (there are other like Parco Poppi in Arezzo for European animals). It houses about 400 animals of 100 different species and the interesting part is that this zoo has also cooperated with some Italian Universities to carry out research projects in order to contribute to their preservation in the wild. What animals are you going to see there? Check out the online photogallery.
Timetable: from Monday to Friday: 9.30am – 6.00pm; Saturday, Sunday, holidays: 9.00-7.00pm (last admission is 1 hour before the closing time)
Prices 2010:
- Adults: Euro 12,50
- Kids from 3 up to 10 years: Euro 9,50
- Groups: for 20 people or more: adult Euro 9,50; children aged 3-14 years: Euro 7,00; free entry for 1 tour leader (or 1 teacher every 10 students).
Further info:
- website: www.zoodipistoia.it
- address: Via Pieve a Celle 160/a – 51100 – Pistoia
- phone: (+39) 0573.911219
- fax: (+39) 0573.910343
- e-mail: info@zoodipistoia.it
3 – Acqua Village
If you are traveling along the Tuscan Coast it might be a good idea to spend the whole day in a waterpark. Kids are normally crazy about pools and slides and in Tuscany there is also music and entertainers for kids and teenagers (check out the video).
In Tuscany there are two water parks, both called “Acqua Village” : one in Follonica – near Grosseto – the other in Cecina – near Livorno. They are normally open during the warm season: from June to September .
Timetable: from June 12th – everyday from 10 am to 6 pm
Prices 2010:
- Adults: Holiday- Euro 20,00 ; Working Day- Euro 18,00; Afternoon from 3pm – Euro 14,00
- Kids from 3 up to 11 years: Holiday or Working Day – Euro 14,00; Afternoon from 3pm – Euro 10,00
- Kids from 0 up to 3 years: free
- Parking: free
- Groups: there is special price for groups (more than 20 people) if you book at least 3 days before. You need to download a form here and send it with your details by fax.
Further info:
- website: www.acquavillage.it
- CECINA address: Via Tevere 25 – 57023 Cecina Mare (LI)phone/fax: (+39) 0586.622539
- FOLLONICA address: Via Sanzio – Zona Capannino – 58022 (GR)phone/fax: (+39) 0566.263735
4 – Cavallino Matto
Cavallino Matto is the most popular theme park of Tuscany with russian mountains coasters, pirate ships, shows, 4D Movie Theatre and more. You can have a partial view of the attractions in the video:
Timetable: Cavallino Matto has a really complex timetable – generally they are open from 10 am to 6 pm, but sometimes they close at 7pm, 8 pm or are completely closed so you’d better check the timetable at their website (here)
Prices 2010:
- Adults: Euro 20,00
- Kids up to 10 years and adults over 65: Euro 16,00
- Kids under 90cm in height: free
- For Group offers: read here
Further info:
- website: www.cavallinomatto.it
- address: Via Pò, 1 – 57024 – Marina di Castagneto (LI)
- phone: (+39) 0565.745720
- fax: (+39) 0565.746770
- e-mail: cetus@supereva.it
5 – See the dolphins in Viareggio
Many people don’t know that in the Versilia waters live a big school of dolphins (bottlenose dolphins).
That area is protected from the Pelagos Sanctuary, an international agreement between Italy, France and Principato Monaco. The Tuscany Region Administration, for the importance of the survival of dolphins and whales has created the Observatory Tuscany of Cetaceans.(O.T.C.) were the associations and the university work in meeting for the cetaceans studies.
The OTC office in Viareggio is promoted from the CE.TU.S. Center were marine biologists, naturalists and engineers they involve students in the projects of promotion.
Tour with kids
It’s possible to spend the day with the dolphins. The tour starts at 09.30am and lasts normally until 4.30 pm on a catamaran called “KRILL” for a max. of 9 people. It leaves from the Viareggio harbour (called “Madonnina”) and during a pleasant navigation in the Versilia waters a Marine Biologist will explain the world of the cetacean and how to know the different kind of dolphins. Booking is obligatory. Durign the trip there will be the possibility to have a swim in the open sea.
Prices 2010:
- Adults: Euro 60,00 – daily trip
- Kids: Euro 30,00 – daily trip
- For Group offers: contact for special prices
Further info:
- website: www.cetusresearch.org
- address: Porto della Madonnina – Viareggio (where the catamaran “Krill” is located)
- cell phone: (+39) 335.6564469 or (+39) 347.6551419
- fax: (+39) 0584.49067
- e-mail: cetus@supereva.it
Visualizza Top 5 things to do with kids in Tuscany in una mappa di dimensioni maggiori
Read also:
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Pictures credit:
Pinocchio by Marco Campigli
Pistoia Zoo by erast-photographer
Dolphins by CE.TU.S
