THE LITTLE MASTER GARDENER

KIDS WORKSHOP in CASCINE PARK by RACHEL

PATH

The Cascine Park is the largest public park in the city of Florence with about 160 hectares which runs parallel along the Arno River. It’s characterized by lush vegetation, by vast lawns, walkways and Historical Monuments, it is the ideal place, especially in spring, to make a long walk. Come and play with me to this special workshop for children!!!

Educational Goals: The teaching proposal aims formative knowledge of Cascine Park though the observation of Natural and Artistic subjects. The Kids will approach through the game to the great natural wealth and the Florentine tradition. The Kids will image to be The Little Master Gardener at the end of the eighteen century. Birdwatching is becoming popular here in Florence, there are many species of birds that inhabit the park: in addition to the most common sparrows, swallows, chickadees, starlings, blackbirds, robins, parrots , etc. you can also see herons and egrets.

Path: The Little Master Gardener Path in Cascine Park opens from the Piazza Vittorio Veneto to get to the Piazzale delle Cascine and Palazzina Reale. Vittorio Veneto square, historically the main entrance to the Cascine Park, shows the monumental bronze Equestrian Statue of King Vittorio Emanuele II, once located in the middle of the Republic Square. Left the Piazzale Vittorio Veneto we take the magnificent Viale degli Olmi, it’s definitely a spectacular impact, you enter the heart of the Park, where you see on the left the Garden of the Chain and the Cave of the Monk. Continuing, the second monument of cultural interest is the Fountain of Narcissus, remembering the English poet Percy B. Shelley, who was here inspired to compose the “Ode to the West Wind”. Giuseppe Manetti built the famous “Pyramid” in the Park, originally used as Grand Duke’s Ice house. We skirt the eclectic monument and reach the “Pavoniere”, these were two large cages in Neoclassical style. You cross the Prato della Tinaia that crowns the end of the Viale degli Olmi and arrive at Piazzale Kennedy, here you will see the monument dedicated to George Washington. Visitors will stop next to the fountain, where I will talk about the Piazzale delle Cascine and Palazzina Reale.

Content and Methodologies: During the workshop will be told episodes of Florentine Tradition, the historical events from The Medici family to the Lorraine and the main monuments in the path. It will be used teaching tools of animated reading and workshop for image education both. The kids will make drawings and written on the Diary of The Little Master Gardener.

Instructions for the Little Master Gardener Path: Duration is about 2 hours in the open air. It’s recommended therefore sneakers and hat, binoculars for Birdwatching and a bottle of water. The Kids will bring home an old diary (or notebook) where they write their comments, colored pencils (or markers) to draw the flora and fauna. It will optional to bring Binoculars for Birdwatching, a canvas bag to collect leaves .

Age: Primary School, Kids and Family groups.

HOW TO GET TO THE MEETING POINT

1. The Tram = It’s easy to reach from Santa Maria Novella. From Fermata Stazione Alamanni direction Cascine: T1 Villa Costanza. T1 Villa Costanza – Fermata | Stop – Cascine Olmi\Carlo Monni .
2. Bus – C2 and C3 - Fermata | Stop – Porta a Prato .

INIZIO DEL PERCORSO E VISITA AL PARCO DELLE CASCINE

Meeting Point: Equestrian Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II in Vittorio Veneto Square.

Day and Time: Every Morning 10 - 12; Saturday Afternoon 15-17 (on request also other days).

Pricing = Workshop 70 € (Max 25 kids); Family Group 20 € Each (Minimum 4 Families to start the workshop).

Contact me for your private tour – Francesca Rachel Valle

Florence Guide

• Mobile Phone: +39380 73 85 327
• e- mail: francesca.valle@yahoo.it
• FB: Rachel Valle - [email protected]
• Web – http://fra ncescarachelvalle.wordpress.com