Boccaccio and Certaldo: A Family Day Trip
Certaldo is one of the most intact medieval villages in Tuscany. It is the hometown of Giovanni Boccaccio, the author of the Decameron. The town is split into two parts: Certaldo Basso (the modern lower town) and Certaldo Alto (the medieval village on top of the hill).
For families with children who are curious about medieval history and literature, it is an ideal destination. It sits about 35 km from Florence.
Boccaccio and Certaldo: the story for families
Giovanni Boccaccio was probably born in Certaldo around 1313, though some sources point to Florence as his birthplace. He spent much of his life in Naples and Florence, but returned to Certaldo in his later years and died there in 1375.
He is best known for the Decameron, a collection of 100 stories written between 1349 and 1353. The tales are told by a group of ten young people who take refuge in a villa outside Florence during the Black Death of 1348.
For children aged 12 and over, the Decameron can be read in simplified editions. For younger children, Boccaccio’s story works better as a medieval adventure: a young writer traveling between Naples and Florence, befriending Petrarch, living through an era of great upheaval.
Who was Boccaccio: explaining it to children
Explaining Boccaccio to a child requires a different approach than a school textbook.
Start with the era. Boccaccio lived in the 1300s, a century after Dante. Italy was not yet unified: city-states were constantly at war. The Black Death arrived in 1347-48 and killed a third of Europe’s population.
Then introduce the character. Boccaccio was neither a nobleman nor a priest: he was the son of a Florentine banker. He traveled widely, met all kinds of people, and read everything he could find. And he wrote stories: 100 stories about human behavior, love, intelligence, and folly.
You can describe him as “Italy’s first storyteller”: someone who understood that stories about ordinary people can be just as beautiful and important as stories about kings and saints.
Visiting Certaldo Alto
Certaldo Alto is the medieval village at the top of the hill. You can reach it on foot along Via Boccaccio (about 20 minutes uphill) or by funicular, which departs from Certaldo Basso near the train station. The funicular runs every day and costs about 1 euro each way.
The village is small and compact. The houses are all in red brick, the streets are narrow, the medieval towers are still standing. It is like stepping onto a medieval film set.
Things to see inside the village:
Casa del Boccaccio: the house where Boccaccio lived, now a museum. He wrote part of the Decameron here and died here. Entrance about 5 euros. For children aged 10 and over, the visit makes sense when accompanied by some explanation.
Palazzo Pretorio: the 13th-century medieval town hall. The facade is covered with terracotta and marble coats of arms. Inside there are frescoed rooms open to visitors. Ticket about 5 euros.
Medieval tower: you can climb it for a view over the Val d’Elsa.
The museum dedicated to Boccaccio
The Casa del Boccaccio in Certaldo Alto is the main museum dedicated to the author.
It holds ancient editions of the Decameron and other works, historical documents, and period objects. It is not an interactive museum designed for young children. For teenagers aged 12 and over who are studying Italian literature, it is a useful complement to the school curriculum.
If you are visiting with younger children, use the Casa del Boccaccio as a starting point: look at the medieval rooms, peer at the old books behind glass, and tell the story of the author in a simple way. Then head outside to explore the village.
Opening hours: from April to October, open every day from 10am to 7pm. From November to March, open on weekends and public holidays. Check the updated hours on the Certaldo Municipal website before you go.
How to get there from Florence
By train: from Santa Maria Novella station there are regional trains to Certaldo on the Florence-Siena line. The journey takes about 45-50 minutes. The ticket costs about 6-7 euros per adult each way. From Certaldo Basso station to the funicular for Certaldo Alto is about a 5-minute walk.
By car: take the Florence-Siena dual carriageway and exit at Poggibonsi Nord. From there follow signs to Certaldo. Total distance about 35 km, journey time about 40-45 minutes.
Parking: in Certaldo Basso there is free parking near the station and the funicular.
Recommended combination: Certaldo pairs well with San Gimignano (12 km away) for a full day trip from Florence. Morning in Certaldo, afternoon in San Gimignano.
Where to stay
If you are exploring medieval Tuscany with your family, Florence is the ideal base. Charlotte is the bed and breakfast in the historic center of Florence designed for families.
From Florence you can organize day trips to Certaldo, San Gimignano, and the Sienese hills with ease, by train or by car.
Find out more about Charlotte and book your stay in Florence.
