Tuscany family activity holiday
| country: | Italy |
| location: | Tuscany |
| departures: | 2008: 18 Oct |
| price: | From £750 - £1020 (8 days) inc flights from the UK, depending on departure & activities, based on 2 adults sharing. Deduct £60 per child (under 15 yrs) sharing with 2 adults. Min age 9 yrs (min age for canyoning is 12 yrs or subject to instructor’s discretion) |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
This gentle activity week is based in traditional Tuscan apartments situated just 700 metres from the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci.
As well as the activities, we couldn’t ignore Tuscany’s fabulous cultural and gastronomic heritage and have incorporated all these elements. So, from cycling along gently undulating back roads to creating and baking your own pizza, you'll get a genuine taste of Tuscan life.
Our base for this holiday is a converted 13th century farmhouse set in the hills above the lovely town of Vinci and just 700m from Leonardo da Vinci’s birthplace. This family holiday combines great activities with plenty of time for relaxation at our stunning accommodation - perfect!
The farmhouse has been lovingly transformed into apartments as part of an agriturismo project whilst still retaining a genuine Tuscan feel. Each apartment has a fully equipped kitchen with lounge/dining area, a shower and WC room and one or two bedrooms (some with additional sofa beds if required).
Best of all perhaps is the area around the swimming pool which offers unforgettable views towards Pisa and the coast. In the evening you can prepare dinner on one of the barbeques. Surrounded by the thousands of olive and chestnut trees which line the hills, we think you will agree that this is a wonderful place for a holiday.
As well as the activities, we couldn’t ignore Tuscany’s fabulous cultural and gastronomic heritage and have incorporated all these elements. So, from cycling along gently undulating back roads to creating and baking your own pizza, you'll get a genuine taste of Tuscan life.
Our base for this holiday is a converted 13th century farmhouse set in the hills above the lovely town of Vinci and just 700m from Leonardo da Vinci’s birthplace. This family holiday combines great activities with plenty of time for relaxation at our stunning accommodation - perfect!
The farmhouse has been lovingly transformed into apartments as part of an agriturismo project whilst still retaining a genuine Tuscan feel. Each apartment has a fully equipped kitchen with lounge/dining area, a shower and WC room and one or two bedrooms (some with additional sofa beds if required).
Best of all perhaps is the area around the swimming pool which offers unforgettable views towards Pisa and the coast. In the evening you can prepare dinner on one of the barbeques. Surrounded by the thousands of olive and chestnut trees which line the hills, we think you will agree that this is a wonderful place for a holiday.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Flights, Arrival and Welcome. On arrival at Bologna, you will collect your car and drive to your accommodation. This evening’s introductory meal in a hilltop restaurant is the perfect start to your holiday. NB: If you want to make your own travel arrangements then a flight/car-exclusive discount applies. |
| Day 2: | Treasure hunt & Italian cookery. Our group will be split into teams and set various tasks to complete during a treasure hunt which is set in the 60 acres of grounds surrounding our accommodation. This evening we have included an Italian cookery lesson. The lesson entirely optional but we all have to eat the finished product so we recommend taking part! Buon appetito! |
| Day 3: | Rock climbing. Today you drive towards the beautiful town of Volterra and stop en-route at an excellent rock face where our instructors provide all the climbing equipment and tuition required. After scaling the wall the afternoon is yours to further explore Volterra and the surrounding area. |
| Day 4: | Leonardo and Tuscan Cuisine. Our morning walk includes Leonardo’s birthplace and the da Vinci museum. Pay attention because later in the week we have to build one of Leonardo’s bridges. All this thinking is rewarded with the less arduous task of sampling local wines, olive oils and a delicious lunch. To round the day off we sample some of the world’s finest ice cream. Another hard day in rural Tuscany!! |
| Day 5: | Free day. Today is free for you to explore the region in your hire car (there simply isn’t enough room to list all the places you could visit), try out the local market in Vinci or simply relax by the idyllic pool - the choice is yours! |
| Day 6: | Canyoning. Today we head north east towards Barga to a family friendly canyon where we laugh and leap away the time! We have a great Italian lunch before returning to Vinci. |
| Day 7: | Cycling and The Last Supper. This morning we will explore the stunning countryside by bike during our gentle cycle before recreating one of Leonardo’s bridges. This evening, a chef will demonstrate bread and pizza making before everybody tries their hand at creating their own. |
| Day 8: | Depart or extend your stay. You will head back to the aiport for your return flights or we can arrange for you to extend your stay. |
travellers' tales
It was all that you imagine Tuscany to be - a converted farmhouse set in stunning countryside with a view of the surrounding Tuscan countryside that had to be seen to be believed and which afforded the sight of the most wonderful sunsets. (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
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Our base for this wonderful family activity holiday in Tuscany steeped in local traditions, cultures and is just 700m from the birth place of Leonardo Da Vinci and the stunning town of Vinci.
The 13th century farmhouse we use as our accommodation has been lovingly transformed into apartments as part of an agri-turismo project whilst still retaining a genuine Tuscan 'feel'. Accommodation is strictly limited in the area which allows careful management of tourism in terms of numbers.  Our local partner Simone is pioneering the development of the local economy through tourism and by only working with companies who share his policies on the environment and cultural preservation. Throughout the week guests are encouraged to try the local flavours. Through pizza making lessons, olive oil tasting and Italian cookery lessons families will learn about the fantastic local dishes and help to preserve the traditional recipes. Guests are encouraged to interact with the local community and use the local shops to purchase produce throughout the week. The purchasing of local products spreads the benefits of tourism throughout the wider community. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |