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The Cascine Park Woods

The Cascine park lies to the west of the historical centre of Florence. This map shows the exact location. For tourists the easiest way to find it is to come out the Uffizi Gallery facing the Arno river and head in the direction of the Ponte Vecchio, at the bridge don’t go over it but continue along the same road that runs following the Arno. At the end of this road is the Cascine Park (about 20 minutes walk).

The Parco delle Cascine is the largest park in Florence and takes about 40 minutes to walk end to end. On Tuesday morning around the Via Della Catena is a weekly market selling everything from clothes to fruit and veg. It’s also the location for various markets and exhibitions throughout the year.

The park is naturally divided into two big fields. During the summer months a horse and cart will take you on a short 25 minute spin around the park, this is a pleasant way to see it. The horses leave from the first big open field you come to when arriving from the Ponte Vecchio.

Trips by horse and carriage during the summer months.

In the third and final field there is an old Roman Ampitheatre. A few years ago this was a fantastic venue that had beer tents and music during the summer months. It seems that now the local council don’t want events to happen here anymore, this is a shame because used to be the most amazing way to spend an evening in the city.

Roman Amphitheatre

Finally a word of caution, the park can be enjoyed during the day but during the night you won’t find many locals heading in there unless they are going to one of the nightclubs that operate only at the start of the road that runs through it. Just as in any city, Florence also has it’s share of alternative nightlife.

During the daytime the park is a place to enjoy a walk and some peace and quiet, while taking in Florence from a distance.

Every year the small village of Pelago takes music very seriously, a 4 day music festival turns this small Tuscan hamlet into a 24 hour party encompassing all genres of music excluding.

Lights up for the big musical event of the days performances.

Campers – who camp for free – start arriving early on in the week and by the start of the festival you’d have to look hard to find anywhere remotely secluded, but then why would you want that? The main centre of Pelago is cordoned off and you have to buy a ticket to enter the town, this year (2004) it cost €8 a day but there are passes available for those that are there for the full duration.

Once you’ve purchased your ticket you’ll be allowed through into the main town where the music takes place and people wander from street to street where bands have setup their systems for the evening.

Hazy Tuscan nights.

It’s not just about music at Pelago, you’ll also find market stalls with world cuisine and artists performing all sorts of acrobatic feats (keep your distances) and shows in the side streets and piazza’s.

In 2004, the “BANDA MUNICIPAL DE SANTIAGO DE CUBA” performed a tribute to Compay Segundo, and was a great opportunity for eveyone to get up and dance to the sounds of Cuba under the Tuscan stars.

For information on the next Pelago on the road visit their website [link]