Italy – Barberino di Mugello (En)
We were going to Florence, but the motorhome area was full, the campsites were on the outskirts and incredibly expensive, so we decided to go to Barberino di Mugello, a town between Florence and Bologna. When I looked at the town, I saw that it was very old, with a historic centre dating back to the Middle Ages. In the historic centre, you’ll find very old buildings, such as the 15th-century Palazzo Pretorio and the centuries-old parish church of San Silvestro. It’s located next to Lake Bilancino and has a bridge crossing it, offering stunning views. The market held in the main square on Saturdays is a must-see!
Where to stay
We stayed at Camper Bilancino (43.989022, 11.240805 lat, long), a campervan area on Lake Bilancino. The area costs €15 per day, all-inclusive. When I say all-inclusive, I mean it includes electricity, showers, and even a washing machine. The place is great. It has two areas for filling and emptying grey and black water. There are several restrooms with seats and toilet paper. A barbecue area with seating and a place to eat. Showers with hot water and very good pressure. The only drawback is that if several people use the showers at the same time, the water runs cold. There’s a dishwashing area with hot water, and best of all, a free washing machine! The area is huge with plenty of space, very easy to access, and ideal for large campervans. The location is also great, as it’s right next to the highway, easy to get to, next to the lake for walks, and a 10-minute walk from the town centre. The staff are very friendly and give you the door code to enter and exit. I highly recommend it.
What to see
The first thing we did was see Lake Bilancino and the bridge, where we took several photos.
On Saturday, we went to explore the village because there was a market in the square. In the square, you can see a 14th-century loggia. The market is fantastic, and you can find good, inexpensive things. We bought an electric cooktop, summer sweaters for Ben, and a pansy plant. There are also lots of stalls selling typical local food. Mugello produces high-quality milk, excellent pecorino cheese and certified organic meats.
Then we went through the alleyways, where we came out to a park and the town theatre.
On Sunday, when the weather was beautiful, we went for a walk and enjoyed the lake.
Our next stop in Italy is Ravenna, a city with eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, which you can see in the next blog post.
