A Wonderful Family Stay in the Heart of Tuscany

16 July 2026 at 09:58:43
Our family absolutely loved our stay at hu Norcenni Girasole Village in Tuscany
We flew from Shannon to Rome Ciampino, although Pisa and Bologna are also options. We hired a car from Sixt and drove about 2 hours 45 minutes to the campsite. The final part of the journey was in darkness and Italian merging... took some getting used to! Late check-in at around 11 p.m. was simple and stress-free.
We booked directly with hu and stayed in a hu stay Smart. It was compact but cleverly laid out, spotlessly clean and completely adequate for our family. The air-conditioning was excellent, linen and towels were included, and the beds were made for our arrival, which was wonderful after such a late journey. The covered deck became one of our favourite spaces for meals, relaxing and nightly Uno tournaments. There was no welcome pack with washing-up liquid or a sponge, so bring a few basics.
The campsite has two main villages, one at the top of the hill and one at the bottom, each with pools, restaurants, bars and a supermarket. It is walkable between them, and we managed easily with children aged 6 and 10, but the hill could be challenging with toddlers or buggies. There is also a little campsite train.
Our children preferred the upper pool complex. The lagoon suited our less-confident swimmer, while both children adored the long “lazy river” slide, which they insist was not lazy at all! They made friends and played happily for hours. Loungers and umbrellas were free and usually available, even though we were not early risers. Weekends were busier because day passes are sold. The lifeguards were attentive and reassuring.
There were reasonably priced supermarkets in both villages, with the lower one larger and better stocked. We also did a big Lidl shop in Figline Valdarno for about €100 and got our breakfast and lunch basics, snacks, household items, beer and wine.
We did not have a bad meal. Buzzicona served tasty pizzas and pasta, while Il Vecchio was a highlight. The sharing steak cooked over the flame grill was spectacular, the staff were excellent, and I tasted the nicest Pinot Grigio I have ever had. Belvedere Sant’Andrea was also lovely, especially the seafood platter. Our children love pizza and pasta, so everyone ate happily every night.
One of my favourite evenings was walking up a cypress-lined avenue to Sting and Trudie’s pizzeria, where we enjoyed a fabulous charcuterie board under a canopy of vines while the children played on hay bales and live music drifted through the evening. It felt like a perfect Tuscan memory
The children also enjoyed the Tree Experience and mini golf, although we found the activities expensive compared with other parks. There were kids’ clubs and organised activities, but ours were far too happy in the pools to leave them. The lower village was livelier at night, with market stalls and live music. We enjoyed a Pink Floyd tribute band, although entertainment generally started quite late, around 9 p.m.
The weather at the end of June was very hot, around 35–38°C, but the pools and breeze in the hills made it manageable. We loved watching dramatic thunderstorms roll down from the mountains in the evenings. Despite the heat and moisture, I saw surprisingly few insects and escaped without a single mosquito bite, which was a major win!
The location is beautiful but quite remote. Airport transfers and taxis appeared expensive, the shuttle timetable was limited, and parking could be tight. Having a car gave us much more freedom. Florence and Pisa are easy day trips, and there is a direct train from Figline Valdarno to Florence.
Overall, the whole family had a fantastic holiday. We loved the pools, food, atmosphere, views and relaxed Tuscan setting, and we would happily return.
5 stars
9/10, with one point deducted only for the remote location and airport access.
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