Tuscany | PlanningaTour.com

European Family Vacations – What to do in Italy

This article was written by: Ireland Flights.

Besides the book fairs, museums, art galleries, and festivities that Italy boasts of, there are lots of activities that you and your family members can engage yourselves into. You will never find a dull moment in Italy because of the list of adventures that you may love and die to try. Take a quick look at the following list for a much enjoyable Europe family holiday.

Hiking or climbing. The Italian official hiking season begins by June 20 towards September 20. The trails and hiking paths are totally marked for the individuals’ guidance. Trek guides may also be arranged for should you want to try out this adventure sport. For sure you know of the Alps which is held to be the most challenging and difficult to surpass hiking treks. The other less challenging trails are those found in Tuscany and Umbria. You may also try the climbing and hiking routes of Capri, Sicily, and Sardinia.

Skiing. There is a myriad of skiing locations which await you in this nation. You can take a choice from doing a country skiing or the downhill skiing. You should however be careful with the spots that you choose because some terrains may be quite hard to take. Experts in skiing will have plenty of choices when it comes to the skiing spots.

Diving and snorkeling. These are among the overly popular water sports in Sicily. The best spots to do snorkeling and diving are in Sardinia, Ustica, and in the Tremiti Islands. Diving courses are also offered by the diving schools in really cheap fees.

Swimming. In the heights of the summer months, the mainland beaches may be really crowded yet you can always opt for other beaches around Italy.

Sailing. The sailing maps can be purchased from the tourist offices all over Italy. For the beginners in the field of sailing, you can always figure out your skills in the Archipelago della Magdalena. Windsurfing is typical in Iseo Lugano, Lake Garda, Maggiore, and Lake Como.

Fishing. The sea waters are exceptional in Sardinia and Sicily. Umbria and Tuscany offer the best spots for fishing. Fishing boats may be rented out too.

Cycling. Bicycles are usually available for rent so that the visiting tourists can easily find their way in the city.

Golfing. For the golf enthusiasts, there are plenty of golf courses all over Trentino, Sardinia, Lombardy, Lazio, Tuscany, and Calabria.

Camping. The presence of campsites is among the attractions. The camping sessions are usually held in the holiday parks of Italy.

Canoeing or river rafting. The Alps in the northern hemisphere are best for the canoeing and rafting rides.

Cooking, arts, and Italian language courses are also offered in the Italian institutes. Thus, if you want to maximize your stay and create a remarkable experience for everyone of you, you can try enrolling in these classes.

A European family trip in Italy is indeed an adventure of a lifetime that you must never afford to miss. Tour packages for trips such as these are given in discounted rates especially that you are traveling in groups. It is now or never.

Check out a travel agent nearest your place and inquire on the cheap rates that you can grab. Usually, booking in groups will allow you to get the last ticket for free. Also, don’t forget to ask about free online term life insurance quote.

For additional info on traveling please visit: Havana Holidays.

Tuscany, The Soul of an Actor at Dynamo Camp

It was September 27, 2008, 1:44 pm. At the Dynamo Camp, the thatre was full up for the open-day party. Enzo Manes, Chairman of the Dynamo Foundation, was about to conclude his presentation to the attentive gathering when he said, ” I had prepared a different speech for this occasion. I wanted to thank the wonderful man who gave us the idea of setting up this camp but this morning at 7:30 I received a mail from the States saying that that man is no longer among us,” There was no need to spell out the name and surname of the person he was referring to – we all understood he was talking of Paul Newman.
The emotion stirred all the assembled guests who spontaneously stood and applauded.
Dynamo Camp is a totally free summer camp, located in the hilss of Pistoia, an hour’s drive grom Lucca and 25 min. from Florence. It is open to children aged between 7 and 16, who live in Italy and are affected by serious and chronic pathologies, currently undergoing treatment or in post-hospitalization convalescence. Here they spend 7-10 days, without their parents, lovingly looked after by specialized doctors, qualified health personnel and volunteers, whose main concern is to let the children experience a special holiday in the countryside, mixing with children with similar illnesses.
There are plans to open the camp to children coming from other European countries as well.
The idea of creating this sort of camp, called ” A Hole in the Wall “, came to Paul in 1998 and he started one just next to his house in Connecticut.
He eventually opened twenty of these camps around the world in which he invested all the million dollars gained from his food business. This one, located in the middle of Tuscany, inside a 20-hectare WWF oasis, is the only one in Italy.
When the children arrive at the camp, after long periods of boredom and surrering in hospital, they’ re quite indifferent to the beautiful place.
But within a day or two, they discard their hospital clothes in favour of Sioux costumes and get involved in the activities that have been carefully planned for them. The goal of the camp is to give them a week of fun and laughter, so once their morning treatments are over, they have a full day of games ahead. They recover energy and sef-confidence, they smile again and they want to try everything, from performing on stage, to climbing and playing Indians in a camp.
The friendly arms of the volunteers allow them to quit their wheelchairs and even ride on a horse.
Feeling safe in their protective embrace, they forget their hardships and squeals of excitement testify to their enjoyment, later reported in the daily diary they keep.
Money is the ” mother’s milk ” of any voluntary association. So we can be mothers to any of these camps but also contribute in many other different ways.
This year 230 children have been hosted in Dynamo Camp and 7 million euros were raised. The foundation’s goal for 2009 goal is to host 400 children.
Paul Newman visited the camp in May 2006 and said, ” It’s a magic place. ” He too was a magic person, not just for his aura of charm and seduction but also for the beauty of his soul. Thank you, Paul, for having started all this.

To find more about Dynamo Camp, www.dynamocamp.org. For horse riding and guided tour inside the WWF oasis, email oasi.ilcestodellupo@kme.com.

Wine Trails of Tuscany

The “Wine Trails of Tuscany” run through magnificent wine-growing areas which, apart from the obvious vineyards and wineries, offer an integrated tourist package of cultural, historical and natural attractions.

These trails are also a means of fostering rural development and of promoting so-called “Enotourism”, that is, setting wine production in a cultural, environmental, historical and social context.

Lucca comics & games 2008

Comics & Games Lucca

Lucca Comics & Games 2008 is a great cultural event which attracts each year thousands of visitors from all over the world. From a couple of years, the event is more interesting and suggestive as it takes place within the city walls of Lucca. In 2007 about four hundred exhibitors from all over the world tooks part in Lucca Comics and Games, on over 16,000 square metres with over 100,000 visitors. During these days (from the middle of October to the 4th of November) Lucca also organizes forums and cinema and comics exhibitions.

Comics & Games Edition 2008 – Program

30 october – 02 november
» MARKET SHOW

18 october – 02 november
» EXPO

Competition Comics and Games for Lucca Junior 2008

Dedicated to Giacomo Puccini: Princesses, Emperors and Mandarins The competition for Lucca Junior 2008 of comics and games of this year is dedicated to Giacomo Puccini, the title is: Princesses, emperors and mandarins. The illustrators and cartoonists can download on-line the competition notice in PDF format dedicated to Princess Turandot.
[file PDF 892,32 KB]

Lucca Games 2008 – Competition for the best unpublished game

Lucca Games, the section dedicated to the smart games and to the fantasy of Lucca Comics & Games, and DaVinci Publishing propose also this year the Competion for the best unpublished game… read more

Puccini and Lucca by the international exhibition of games in Norimberga Lucca Games and DaVinci Publishing present the competitio for the best UNPUBLISHED GAME 2008!… read more

Lucca Cosplay 2008

Lucca Cosplay 2008 is the exhibition of Comics and Games of Lucca that offer the chance to the partecipants to simulate in the appeareance, with the costumes, in the make-up, often in avery detailed way their favourite comics characters. Every partecipant or group on a stage from 1 to 8 minutes (according to the n° of people). The winners will be rewarded the last day of comics and games. Every partecipant has to sign up and respect all the rules. You can find more info on the official web site of Lucca Cosplay.

September the month of the Vendemia: Grape harvest in Tuscany

September: The grape harvest in Tuscany

September: The grape harvest in Tuscany Here we’re talking about wine, because September is the month of the grape harvest and of the celebrations dedicated to it.

In some areas of the south, grapes are ready for harvesting in August, and towards the more Northern regions, it can take up until November for the grapes to be ready – it all comes down to ripening of the grape, it must have the right level of sweetness. In Tuscany, the grape harvest happens in September, and is therefore big on the agenda for a region to which wine is very important.

It’s not just about Chianti, a wine which everyone knows, but least we forget about the fantastic wines from Montepulciano; Brunello di Montalcino, Carmignano, and Morellino di Scansano, to name but a few. Being such an important part of life, there are many celebrations and festivities dedicated to the grape, and of course its final product.

The first organised celebration started in 1926 in a town named Impruneta, in the Chianti area. It was during the Fascist period, a time when the Government wanted to celebrate local traditions and products with fairs, and most of these have been maintained to the present day. The celebrations in Impruneta are on the last Sunday of September (the 24th, this year) but the town is busy beforehand, buzzing with the preparations for the parade which goes through Piazza Buondelmonti. There is a competition between the four districts of the area, to see who can create the most beautiful carnival float. The parade is accompanied by dancing and music and it’s a lively affair.

Siena also has its own Festa dell’uva from September 20 through 24 in Castelnuovo Berardenga. There are also events in Gaiole, Chianti from the 16th to the 18th of September, and in Panzano, with its Vino al Vino celebration at the end of the third week of September (15th, to the 17th during 2006).

In Rufina, on the northern border of the Chianti area, there will be a series of fairs and festivals called the Bacco Artigiano. Concerts, wine tasting, and products made by local artisans will enliven the magnificent Medicean villas and village squares of Rufina and Pomino from September 28th to October 1st.

The celebrations move to Florence on the 30th of September, wine is blessed and offered to the Lordship of Florence, in a ritual which started in the 13th century when the consul of Arte dei Vinattieri – the wine maker’s guild, offered the wine to the seat of government – the Palazzo della Signoria for use in the refectory.

For more than twenty years this tradition has been revived, celebrating the ancient ties between the city and the countryside. The Matto float gets blessed in the churchyard of Piazza del Duomo. A large float made from a mountain of Fiaschi wine, and then, the historical parade of the Republic of Florence and the Countrymen of Rufina march toward Piazza della Signoria, where a whirl of music and flag bearers bring an end to the party.

The island of Elba, where the Moscato and Aleatico varieties are produced, also has its own grape festivities on September 25th in Capoliveri. Named the “the island of many wines” by the Greeks and the Romans, today Elba produces seven DOC wines exclusive to the area. Moving inland the area of Scansano in Grossetto opens its wine cellars to showcase the excellent local red wine Morellino di Scansano, and other delicious local products in the Morellino e Sapori DOC festival. People dress for the events in medieval costume and the events include archery. If you’re really enthusiastic about learning more with regards to the history of wine, then for a small fee you can go to the Museum of Wine, in Carmignano, where you can learn everything from the harvesting of the grape, to the final production stages of making the wine.

Museum of Grape and Wine
P.za Vittorio Emanuele, 2 – Carmignano
Tel: 055 8712468 – 055 8750265

Hours:
From October 1 – March 31
Tues – Sun 9.30-12.00, 15-17.30 and the first Sunday of each month the museum is open all afternoon

From April 1 to May 14 & from August 1 – September 30:
Tues – Sun 9.30-12.00, 16.00-18.30.

From May 15 to July 31:
Tues-Sun 9.30-12.30, 16.00-19.00