9780470519950

Summary

'ˆ— Written specifically for families to help all the family make the most of your vacation. 'ˆ— The best things to do and see for all the family - visited, reviewed and assessed for child-friendliness by our expert writers. 'ˆ— Dozens of the most family friendly hotels and restaurants carefully selected, visited and reviewed - we did the leg work so you don't need to. 'ˆ— Discover a region of incredible art and architecture, impossibly beautiful countryside, mouth watering cuisine, a different pace of life and a huge variety of entertainment for all the family looking for a taste of the Tuscan lifestyle and escape. 'ˆ— Go biking and canoeing at the Parco Regionale della Marema, ride the rapids of the Valnerina, zip slide at the Parco Avventura Fosdinovo and explore the nature reserve at Isolo Polvese. 'ˆ— Go underground Etruscan style at Tomba della Quadriga Infernale, try the Florentine mini-mecca for knights 'n' Castles at Museo Stibbert, explore the hill towns of Assisi, San Gimiganano and Volterra and relax with the perfect crescents and fluorescent waters at Fetovaia and Cavoli. 'ˆ— Uncover the undervisited gems of Pitigliano, growing from volcanic rock and Monteflaco concealing some of the finest wine and Renaissance painting. 'ˆ— Climb Cortona's Fortezza Medicea Girifalco and scramble over medieval walls atr Montalcino's Fortezza. 'ˆ— Take a break at Carapax Turtle Sanctuary and enchant the kids at Pinocchio Park. 'ˆ— Find the best away-from-it-all campsites, country retreats, Tuscan and Umbrian quality cooking and ice cream stops! 'ˆ— Tourism in Tuscany was up 7.6% for the first half of 2006 when compared to the same period the previous year. 'ˆ— The European Travel Commission also reports an increase in travel to European destinations; they estimate that for 2006, Europe could receive more American travelers than the record 13.12 million set in 2000. US arrivals in Europe climbed to 12.6 million in 2005 -- up 4%.

Author Biography

Donald Strachan is a London-based writer, editor and copywriter. He has written about European travel for the Sunday Telegraph, Independent on Sunday, Sydney Morning Herald and Zest magazine, and is co-author of Frommer’s The Balearics With Your Family (2007). He lives in Hackney with his partner and two young daughters.

Stephen Keeling grew up in England, lived briefly in Latvia and spent 12 years as a financial journalist in Asia. Despite attempts to kick his gelato addiction, he has been to Italy many times – an incomparable knowledge of Tuscan Chinese restaurants formed while chaperoning a group of Vietnamese officials in 1994. Stephen has written travel guidebooks on Taiwan, Spain, Mexico and Puerto Rico, and currently lives in New York City.

About the Authors	p. v
An Additional Note	p. vi
Family Highlights of Tuscany & Umbria	p. 1
Best Family Experiences	p. 3
Exploring Together	p. 5
Just for Children	p. 6
Art & Architecture	p. 6
The Best Accommodation	p. 8
The Best Food	p. 8
Planning a Trip to Tuscany & Umbria	p. 11
Visitor & Planning Information	p. 13
Entry Requirements, Customs & Bringing Pets	p. 14
Money	p. 16
When To Go & What To Pack	p. 18
Insurance & Health	p. 21
Travelling Safely with Children	p. 22
The 21st-century Traveller	p. 22
Accommodation	p. 28
Eating & Drinking	p. 31
Getting Children Interested in Tuscany & Umbria	p. 33
Fast Facts: Tuscany & Umbria	p. 35
Florence	p. 37
Essentials	p. 38
Fast Facts: Florence	p. 46
Seeing Florence	p. 48
Entertainment & Activities	p. 62
Shopping	p. 64
Family-friendly Accommodation	p. 65
Family-friendly Dining	p. 71
Siena, Arezzo and the Central Hill-Towns	p. 77
Siena	p. 78
Fast Facts: Siena	p. 80
Seeing Siena	p. 81
San Gimignano	p. 88
Volterra	p. 92
Arezzo	p. 96
Family-friendly Accommodation	p. 100
Family-friendly Dining	p. 102
Pisa, Lucca & Northern Tuscany	p. 107
Pisa	p. 109
Lucca	p. 118
Pistoia & Its Province	p. 122
Viareggio	p. 126
To the Hills! Tuscany's Far North	p. 129
Family-friendly Accommodation	p. 132
Family-friendly Dining	p. 134
The Tuscan Coast: Livorno to Lazio	p. 137
Livorno	p. 139
The Etruscan Coast	p. 143
Elba	p. 147
Massa Marittima	p. 150
Castiglione della Pescaia	p. 153
Parco Regionale della Maremma	p. 154
Monte Argentario	p. 156
Family-friendly Accommodation	p. 158
Family-friendly Dining	p. 160
The Val d'Orcia, Valdichiana & Pitigliano	p. 163
Cortona	p. 165
Montepulciano	p. 167
Pienza	p. 170
Montalcino	p. 174
Chiusi	p. 176
Sarteano	p. 178
Pitigliano & the Deep South	p. 179
Family-friendly Accommodation	p. 182
Family-friendly Dining	p. 185
Perugia, Assisi & Northern Umbria	p. 187
Perugia	p. 189
Lago Trasimeno	p. 196
Assisi	p. 201
Spello	p. 204
The Far North	p. 207
Family-friendly Accommodation	p. 211
Family-friendly Dining	p. 214
Orvieto & Southern Umbria	p. 217
Orvieto	p. 219
Todi	p. 223
Montefalco	p. 225
Spoleto	p. 227
The Far South	p. 230
Family-friendly Accommodation	p. 233
Family-friendly Dining	p. 235
The Insider	p. 237
Some Useful Words & Phrases	p. 238
Italian Tour Operators	p. 244
Index	p. 247
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Supplemental Materials

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.