Hi slow trav's
so I am currently planning a potential trip to Italy in May 2004 (with poss. delay to late Sept). I am searching for any tips or experiences traveling with toddlers (our just turned 3yr old, friends child just turned 2), but specifically I am wondering if anyone remembers seeings playgrounds! I'd like to possibly stay near a town with one so that our children can play and possibly mingle with local kids. I recall seeing one in Greve in Chianti (I think) back in 2000, but does anyone know of any in the Southern Tuscany or Umbrian areas?

Also feel free to point me towards your trip report if you have been there with your little one (I have read the kid FAQs but no trip reports popped out at me).

Thanks
Brittney

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,

Hi Brittney,

I can definately help you with this since we traveled to Tuscany several times when my daughter was age 1-4. I have fond memories of scouting for playgrounds everywhere we went!!

Montepulciano has a nice playground right outside of the main gates. If I remember correctly, Montalcino has one near the old fortress. Cortona, Monticchiello, Montefollonico, all have playgrounds outside of the walls to the town. Volterra has one inside the walls near the castle. Radicofani also has one inside the walls. Our favorite was the one in Monticchiello. Although it was small, it has a beautiful view of the Val d' Orcia. Also, I remember the playground in Radicofani as being large and very new. It also had stunning views.

I hope this was helpful...

Regards,

Leslie

Lucca is a lovely place for children - but maybe not in the area that you are visiting. There is a beautiful parklike walk along the top of the walls - no motor vehicles - and play equipment in various locations. I have often taken my little grandson there and he loves it. Also, about 1/2 hour from Lucca is Pinocchio Park at Collodi. This is like walking through the Pinocchio story - and is a really beautiful experience for small children - particularly for Italian children as this story is a very basic part of their childhood bed time stories.

"Casa delle Rose" - Beautiful medieval Tuscan village house -3bedrooms/2bathrooms - lovely terrace and garden - Pietrabuona near Pescia email me for details: casadellerose@hotmail.com

We discovered parks all over Italy this spring when traveling with our 5 year old grandson. We stopped at many, many of them for 15-20 minutes respites for him and us. The town walls of Lucca are great but I very much disagree with Anne C. re. Pinochhio Park. Our opinion was that it was one of the major rip-offs in all our travels--world wide. We had really looked forward to it as did our grandson. It was expensive, run-down, very little there, dirty--a place that was but is no more. For our experience with traveling with a small child, you may find some benefit in checking out my trip report Italy 2003 There is one specific section regarding traveling with children, but the truth is almost the entire report revolves around our experiences traveling through the eyes of a 5 year old. It includes a more specific report on our reaction to Pinnochio Park (page 3 of Recommendations section). Hope you find it all useful.

www.janeandken.com
Reports and Photos for Italy 2001 and 2003, Spain, Tanzania, Peru, China

great advice and information! thanks so much, and if anyone has anything more to add go right ahead