My husband will be working in Florence for 3 weeks in late June and early July. My 3 year old daughter and I plan to join him. We will be living near Piazza San Marco. I am trying to find pre-school age activities for a very active little girl. I have read about the Ludoteca but don't know much about it. Any other ideas?

Alyson will have the lowdown . Hopefully she'll pop in later.

My ears must have been burning!!

Unfortunately there won't be much going on as the schools close end of June - I don't go to the Ludoteca anymore as my daughter is at school, but I have a feeling their hours will change to accomodate the bigger kids who will be at a loose end.

Your best bet will be to go to the Ludoteca in S.S. Annuziata where the Ospedale Innocenti is. There is a Bottega di Raggazi there which is a large Ludoteca and around the corner from San Marco. They were definitely open last summer but I think you need to book your child in as it gets quite busy.

I spent the first year here with my daughter while she was still 2 1/2. We made a few friends through a toddler group but that has stopped until September. I would visit your local playgrounds, go over to Mondo Bimbo, near Piazza Liberta and if you can get over try both the Cascine and Villa Vogel, which is in Isolotto but a lovely park with lots of activities for kids. HTH

I was in Florence the last two July's and heard kids singing and playing in the school building just past the leather school. Facing Santa Croce walk down the road on the left of the church and on the right side of that street you will find the leather school and then the public school. Also, on the left side of that street you will find Baldovino a real good place to eat.