Camping in Central Tuscany

The best way to see Tuscany is by car - flying into Pisa, we hired a car at the airport costing 100 Euro for the week. The car came with a sat nav and much needed air-conditioning with temperatures reaching 30c in May.

Where to stay

With the heat and so many places to visit, we chose to stay at Norcenni Girasole Village - a central camping village with two pool complexes, restaurants, a grocery shop, and laundry facilities. This meant we had then had the option to stay in the camping village every few days for a break from the heat and the many hours of walking around cities. 

What to do
Tuscany is a beautiful area to drive through, with stunning countryside and lovely, small villages. Picking a central location as a base means Florence, Siena and Pisa can be reached in less than a 2-hours by car.

Florence
Il Grande Museo del Duomo - Florence's most recognisable attraction. Be sure to book tickets to climb up to the top of the Dome in advance.

Ponte Vecchio - the bridge forms part of the pedestrian zone south of Piazza della Republica and gets incredibly busy - try to visit early!

Boboli Gardens - stunning gardens in the centre of Florence offering a break from the crowds and fantastic views across Florence

Siena

Enjoy Gelato - with so many Gelateries offering so many flavours, you need no excuse to grab a gelato to enjoy as you wander Siena's streets.

Torre del Mangia - there is no lift up the tower, so be prepared to climb the many steps to the top - the view over Siena and the Tuscan countryside is definitely worth it.

Duomo de Siena - a stunning Cathedral that is well worth a visit.

Pisa
Leaning Tower of Pisa - the tower gets extremely busy so be sure to book tickets to climb the tower in advance.

Enjoy a coffee and watch the word go by - surrounding the tower there are numerous cafes which offer lovely outdoor seating areas to enjoy a coffee or gelato while watching the crowds trying to hold-up the tower (it has to be done...!).

A Week in Rome

We travelled to Rome the long-way round - flying with Lufthansa to Frankfurt, and then on to Rome. The main reason for this that the flight actually worked out cheaper than a 'budget' airline, plus, with Lufthansa being a national airline, we received full baggage allowance at no extra cost.

From Rome, we then jumped on the train from the airport to a small town just outside Rome where our campsite was located.

Where to Stay:

I Pini Camping is around a 40 minute drive out from the centre of Rome with a daily shuttle bus operating from the campsite. There is a range of 'cabin' style self-catering accommodation and superb facilities, including a pool for those 'days off' from exploring, a shop and restaurant.

Things to do:

There is so much to see & do in Rome that it is worth purchasing a city pass which can be purchased in advance. We opted for the Omnia multi pass which gives two cards -  the Omnia card gives access to Vatican Museums (including fast-track entry) and also covers 72-hours on the hop-on - hop-off bus city bus tour. The second card is the Rome Card which gives free entry to two of the seven main top Rome attractions, plus discounted entry into others and acts as a 72-hour travel card for public transport around Rome.

Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus - this is a great way to see the main sights of Rome and to get an idea of where attractions are located and which you would like to visit. Rome is an extremely walkable city, but some of the sights are quite far apart and it gets extremely hot during the Spring and Summer months!

Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill are all located within the same area, so it may be worth planning to visit these all on the same day. Fast-Track passes are available through Omnia pass. 

Trevi Fountain is tucked away on a side street in central Rome and takes a bit of finding, but there are small signs pointing in the general direction. 

Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica can all be seen in one day and are included i the Omnia pass - just remember to wear suitable clothing.