Enjoying (surviving) the Tuscan Summer

If you like the heat, and I mean really love a hot summer, then August is a great time to visit Florence! Mainly because most of the Florentines have left the city and the roads are very peaceful. You can find a carpark nearly everywhere and as a lot of tourists also avoid the city during this period, the lines for the galleries and museums are virtually non-existant. If you are in the city though, and the incessant heat gets a bit too much, why not take a lovely half hour drive into the Chianti for a dip in the local pool?
Last weekend we went for a beautiful 30 minute drive to the local pool in Greve in Chianti. You couldn’t ask for a more authentic Tuscan setting! With surrounding views of the vineyards and olive groves, it is one of the nicest public pool I have been to here. There are four pools, one outdoor 25 meter lap pool with a kids pool attached complete with a ‘fungo’/mushroom fountain. Indoor there are another two pools, one 25 meter lap pool and a smaller pool for children’s swimming lessons. If you want to use the indoor pool, a swimming cap is compulsory. Entry costs just €7.00 per adult and €5.00 for children 5yrs and up. If you want a sun-bed then they cost an extra €3 each but you can lay on your towel under any of the umbrellas on the lawn for no extra cost. The pools are very clean and judging by Matteo’s happy face today, we will be back again very soon.