Florance please

[Geof Angi]

Evening all

 

As some of you will have seen, Angie and myself are traveling to Italy this July. We have now sort of sorted the lakes and Rome but wish to stay in or around Florance for two nights in between. Can any of you well traveled fellows (sorry, Ladies are included in that statement) suggest a small to medium site.

 

Thanks all of you that have helped so far and all that are willing to make further suggestions of a helpful kind, I get plenty of the others during the course of the week anyway

 

Geof

[juandbri]

Hi Geof

 

We stayed at Camping Il Pogetto. It was a few km's outside of Florence but had a bus stop right outside the gate. The owner was very friendly and helpful and the setting was lovely. Views across the hills. It had a restaurant on site and a shop.

 

We went in April and it seemed quiet but it was about 3 years ago so can't guarantee it won't have got busier.

 

Jules

[Don Madge]

Geof,

 

A site we have used a few times is Camping Michelangelo http://www.ecvacanze.it/new/en/home_michelangelo.htm is situated in an olive grove overlooking the old city of Florence. There are fine views of the city from the site.

 

There is a bus stop outside the site or one can walk to the city in about twenty minutes. It has two shortcomings the price 30 Euro per night and 3 amp electricity.

 

The site is excellent for short stays and the facilities are very good and well maintained. The site does have problems when it's wet. The lower pitches tend to get waterlogged after heavy rain.

 

The site gets very crowded. If you have anything over seven metres arrive on site before midday. The reception staff are very helpful with maps and directions etc.

 

DIRECTIONS

 

Leave Autostrada A1 at Florence Certosa. Follow the Florence signs for about 3 miles then follow Piazzale Michelangelo (Yellow sign) signs. This is a very large viewing area overlooking the city. The site is on the left 200 metres past the viewing point. If approaching from any other direction just follow the signs for Piazzle Michelangelo which is well signed from the city centre.

 

Safe travelling

 

Don

 

[Tony Jones]

We used Il Pogetto too, in 2003. The restaurant was very good indeed - even patronised by some locals, not just site residents. We celebrated our 30th anniversary with a meal there, at an outside table with a lovely view across the valley.

They also sold their own wine to take home, which was excellent.

 

The bus into town was reasonably-priced, on time, and air-conditioned.

We'll certainly stay there again if we're in the area .

[mom]

We have used Camping Michelangelo on many occasions as well. Don is correct (as usual!), the price is high and the electric supply low! But for us the location, both view and walk into town (albeit down a reasonable hill), are worth it as a short stay.

 

I remember one winter there, 3 years ago. We were struggling to keep the heater turning over on 3 amps (some points are more, apparently, but you have to ask), and it snowed and snowed and snowed. The next morning was one of the best ever for us! The olive trees around us were white, the whole of terracotta Florence was white, and no-one could go anywhere in cars or vans. So we spent the day in snow-white Florence. Magnificent!

 

One last suggestion, if you are looking for a perfect little eating place in Florence, one of those tiny little restaurants you see in the movies, where no tourists go, where an old man sits at the front slowly preparing prosciutto while a well rounded lady in an apron cooks the most simple yet succulent meals imaginable, try Vini e Vecchi Sapori. Stand in Piazza della Signoria, looking uphill towards the fountain, walk past the fountain to the top left hand corner of the square, around the corner and along a bit. Very special! Try the herb infused pork!