Easter holidays in Tuscany: ideas for the whole family

In Florence, Easter Sunday is marked by the Scoppio del Carro in Piazza del Duomo, the symbolic event of the Florentine Easter and one of the city's most heartfelt popular traditions.

At the centre of the celebration is the brindellone, a large 18th-century cart, which on Easter morning is pulled by oxen from Porta al Prato to the churchyard of Santa Maria del Fiore, accompanied by the Historical Procession of the Florentine Republic. During the solemn mass, a small mechanical dove – the colombina – departs from the main altar of the Cathedral, travels down the central aisle and reaches the chariot, marking the beginning of the fireworks display. The timely return of the dove, according to tradition, is a sign of good luck for the year to come.

The same tradition is also found in Figline Valdarno, where the launch of the float is preceded by a historical parade and followed by flag-waving performances, with the float reproducing the shape of the Palazzo Pretorio.

In Grassina, on Good Friday, the Re-enactment of the Passion of Christ is staged: over five hundred participants cross the village in period costume, bringing to life a choral performance that culminates on Calvary.

In Santa Maria a Monte, Easter Monday is dedicated to the Procession of the Paniere, linked to the cult of the Blessed Diana and the baskets of flowers offered by the districts, while in Radicofani the Holy Week is marked by the Dark Procession, with barefoot hooded figures walking through the streets of the village, and Good Friday celebrations ending in front of the illuminated Calvary.

On Monte Argentario, in Porto Santo Stefano, Easter begins at dawn with the Blessing of the sea: the statue of the risen Christ overlooks the harbour and is raised amid the sirens of the boats.

In Castiglion Fiorentino, on the other hand, Holy Week involves the entire historical centre with the processions of the ancient Confraternities, culminating in the Volata della mezzanotte di Pasqua (Easter Midnight Run) in the Collegiate Church, one of the most popular and symbolic moments of the celebrations.

In Prato, on Easter Sunday, the Ostension of the Holy Belt returns, the city's most precious relic, kept in the chapel of the Cathedral. The girdle, probably once belonging to the Madonna, is displayed to the faithful from the external pulpit, according to a solemn rite that brings together faith, history and popular participation.

Many museums also offer routes designed specifically to be explored with children: the visit becomes a direct experience of curiosity and discovery.

In Florence, the Uffizi Galleries, through Uffizi Kids, offers itineraries dedicated to families, devised to guide adults and children through the collections with tools and activities that make the visit clearer and more engaging.

Also in the city, the Museo Galileo museum allows visitors to approach science through original instruments, telescopes, sundials and rooms devoted to astronomy and the measurement of time, while Palazzo Vecchio opens its doors to children with stories about life at the Medici court, transforming the historic rooms into places of exploration and imagination.

In Vinci – Leonardo's birthplace – the Museo leonardiano di Vinci (Leonardian Museum of Vinci) leads families and young visitors into the world of the genius inventor and engineer, among machines, models and reconstructions that help visitors understand how his inventions worked through play and observation.

In Siena, the Natural History Museum of the Academy of the Fisiocritici fascinates with zoological collections, fossils, minerals and the monumental skeleton of a whale, offering a route that combines nature, science and history.

In Pisa, the Museum of Ancient Ships recounts daily life and travel in the Roman world through original vessels and archaeological finds, sparking curiosity and discovery for both adults and children.

On the Etruscan Coast, the San Silvestro Archaeological Mining Park allows visitors to enter the mines, visit museums, ride the miners' little train and discover work and life in the mining villages.

Finally, in Livorno, the Natural History Museum of the Mediterranean takes families on a journey from human evolution to the seabed, among skeletons, dioramas, reconstructions and spaces dedicated to educational activities.

Walking in the open air is one of the simplest and most engaging ways to experience Tuscany as a family: discovery, movement and landscape are the three ingredients for a memorable spring day outdoors.

In the area around Vinci, an easy nature trail links the historic centre to Leonardo's birthplace in Anchiano: the Strada Verde, also suitable for children, crosses olive groves and hills for around three kilometres in total, turning the walk into an unhurried journey through the places of the genius's childhood.

Further south, the landscape changes but retains the same charm: in Maremma Park you can explore the area by bicycle, cycling through Mediterranean scrub, coastal towers and wild beaches, with close encounters with wildlife and constant views of the sea.

Those seeking an experience from another era can board the Treno Natura (Nature Train), a historic train that takes families and travellers along railway lines now closed to ordinary traffic. The vintage carriages from the 1930s, hauled by steam locomotives or historic railcars, depart from Siena and Grosseto and cross the hills of the Val d'Orcia, the Crete Senesi, the Val d'Arbia and the woods of Monte Amiata.

During the Easter holidays the Treno Natura runs along the historic line from Siena to Buonconvento, crossing the Crete Senesi, the Val d'Orcia Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and the hills of Brunello di Montalcino.