As a family of six, finding a family-friendly campsite in Tuscany that didn’t require a car was essential when planning our summer trip to Italy.
We stayed at Hu Norcenni Girasole Village, set in the rolling Chianti hills, as part of our wider Italy by train 16 day adventure. It turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip, combining a proper resort-style holiday with easy rail access to Florence, Pisa and other Tuscan cities.
In this review, I’ll share exactly what it’s like staying at Hu Norcenni Girasole Village with kids, including accommodation options, pools and entertainment, food, transport links, and whether it’s a good base for exploring Tuscany without driving.
Best for: Families wanting a resort-style stay in Tuscany
Location: Chianti Hills, Tuscany
Nearest station: Figline Valdarno
Nearest airport: Florence / Pisa
Car needed: No (but planning needed)
On-site highlights: Huge pool complex, slides, kids clubs, restaurants
Recommended stay: 4–7 nights
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When planning our Italy trip, we wanted at least one base where the kids could switch off from sightseeing, swim all day, and just enjoy being on holiday.
Hu Norcenni Girasole Village offered exactly that, a large, lively campsite with multiple pool areas, restaurants, and entertainment, but still within easy reach of Florence by train.
It was the perfect mid-point between Rome and Lake Garda and gave us a much-needed balance between travel days and downtime.
Accommodation at Hu Norcenni Girasole Village: For our stay, we booked a 3-bedroom static caravan with air conditioning and a large deck, staying for 5 nights.
Cost: £846 total (£141 per person)
Sleeps: Up to 6
Included: Kitchen, fridge-freezer, bathroom, outdoor seating
The accommodation was clean, modern, and well spaced from neighbouring units. The deck area was ideal for evenings once the kids were asleep, and the air conditioning was essential in the Tuscan heat.
Static caravans
Glamping tents
Camping pitches
Larger premium lodges
There’s something here for most budgets, especially if booked outside peak summer dates.
This is where Hu Norcenni really shines.
Pool Complex
There are multiple pool areas spread across the site, including:
Large family pools
Waterslides
Shallow splash zones
Sun terraces with views over the Chianti hills
Unlike many Italian pools, swim hats weren’t enforced, and the atmosphere felt relaxed and family-focused rather than overly strict. There's an upper and lower site with pools at both - we preferred the upper area as it seemed newer with the best choice of pools. The two areas are connected by free land train.
Age-based kids' clubs (seasonal)
Mini discos and evening shows
Sports courts and playgrounds
Our kids spent most days moving between the pools, slides and snack bars, exactly what we wanted from this part of the trip.
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You won’t go hungry here.
On-Site Options Include:
Large supermarket (ideal for self-catering)
Pool bars serving pizzas, burgers, salads and ice creams
Sit-down restaurants for evenings
Takeaway options for easy nights in
We mixed eating out with cooking at the caravan, which kept costs down and gave us flexibility after busy days out.
This is one of the most common questions and yes, it’s doable but requires some planning as mentioned below.
Step-by-Step
High-speed train from Rome to Florence (around 1.5 hours)
Regional train from Florence to Figline Valdarno (around 50 minutes)
Taxi from Figline Valdarno station to the campsite (around 15 minutes)
The train from Rome was a doddle. It was the taxi ride that proved less straightforward. We were told there would be a taxi rank at the station, and there wasn't. A local gave us a lift in the end for €50 which wasn't ideal, but with luggage and no taxis available we didn't have much choice. If arriving by train, I would advise you arrange a taxi directly with the site. Even better, hire a car.
We travelled here as part of our Italy Train Travel with Kids: 16 Day Route, using high-speed and regional trains between each base.
One of the biggest advantages of this site is its rail location. You just have to be organised if travelling without a car. There is a pre-bookable shuttle from the site, down to the train station (and reverse). This can be booked at the tourist info point in the centre. I'd advise you to book at least a day in advance, as spaces do fill up quickly and there is a limited number of services per day.
The bus costs around £1.50 for over 12s. Under 12s were free (this may have increased for 2026).
They also have their own private taxi option which we used twice costing around £25.
Easy Day Trips Include:
Florence – direct train, under 1 hour
Pisa – around 1 hour 45 minutes via Florence
Siena – possible with a train + bus combination
Lucca – doable as a longer day trip
We visited Florence and Pisa during our stay and found it manageable without feeling rushed, especially when balanced with pool days back at the campsite.
Florence Airport (FLR) is the closest airport to Hu Norcenni Girasole Village and the most straightforward if you’re travelling without a car.
Step-by-step route:
From Florence Airport, take the Tram T2 directly into the city
Journey time: ~20 minutes
Stops at Firenze Santa Maria Novella (SMN) station
From Firenze SMN, take a regional train to Figline Valdarno
Journey time: ~50 minutes
Trains run frequently throughout the day
From Figline Valdarno station, travel to the campsite by:
Pre-booked campsite shuttle
Taxi arranged by the campsite
Local taxi (if available)
Top tip:
If arriving late in the day or with luggage, arrange transport with the campsite in advance. We found local taxis unreliable without pre-booking.
Pisa Airport (PSA) is a popular arrival point, especially for budget flights, and is still very doable without hiring a car.
Step-by-step route:
From Pisa Airport, take the PisaMover to Pisa Centrale
Journey time: ~5 minutes
From Pisa Centrale, take a train to Firenze SMN
Journey time: ~1 hour
High-speed or regional trains available
From Florence SMN, continue to Figline Valdarno
Regional train
Journey time: ~50 minutes
Final leg from Figline Valdarno → campsite via shuttle or taxi
This route works well if you’re flying into Pisa and travelling onward by train as part of a wider Italy itinerary.
Yes- but with planning.
While you won’t be popping out to nearby villages on a whim, the combination of trains and shuttle from the campsite, means you don’t feel stuck. In fact, for families who prefer not to drive in Italy, this setup removes a lot of stress.
Florence was our easiest and most relaxed day trip from Hu Norcenni Girasole.
Step-by-step:
Travel from campsite to Figline Valdarno station
Shuttle bus (pre-booked)
Or campsite taxi
Take a regional train to Firenze Santa Maria Novella (SMN)
Journey time: ~50 minutes
No seat reservations required
Florence SMN station is centrally located, meaning:
You can walk straight into the historic centre
The Duomo, markets, museums and river are all within easy reach
We found Florence ideal for a full day out without feeling rushed, especially when balanced with quieter pool days back at the campsite.
Pisa is a longer day but still very manageable by train.
Step-by-step:
Campsite → Figline Valdarno station
Regional train to Florence SMN
Change at Florence for a train to Pisa Centrale
Total journey time: ~1 hour 45 minutes each way
From Pisa Centrale, it’s around a 20-minute walk to the Leaning Tower, passing shops, cafés and gelato spots along the way.
We combined Pisa with an early start and a relaxed afternoon back at the campsite, which worked well with kids.
Compared to Camping Village Fabulous (Rome):
More resort-like
Bigger pool complex
Less city-focused
Compared to Butterfly Camping (Lake Garda):
Larger and busier
Less walkable location
More “all-in-one resort” feel
Each worked perfectly for its place in our itinerary, and Hu Norcenni was ideal as the relaxation-heavy middle stop.
👍 What We Loved
Huge pool areas
Excellent facilities for kids
Easy Florence access by train
Great balance of relaxation and sightseeing
👎 Things to Consider
Large site (lots of walking)
Busy in peak summer
Taxi required from the station
Absolutely - especially for families wanting a proper Tuscan resort experience without hiring a car.
If you’re planning a multi-stop Italy trip and want a break from constant travel days, Hu Norcenni Girasole Village is an excellent base. It gave our kids space to relax, while still allowing us to explore Tuscany by train.
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