The story of a vision.

The experience of a lifetime.

In 1982, the Cardini Vannucchi family from Tuscany had been working in the textile district in Prato for many years. Foreseeing a crisis in the textile industry, they embarked on a new entrepreneurial challenge. As long-time lovers of the outdoors and seasoned campers with their own caravan, the Cardini Vannucchi family decided to explore the world of tourism, with an unusual choice. Instead of focusing on open-air sites by the sea, which at the time were still viewed as low-cost alternatives to hotels, they decided to acquire Il Girasole in Figline Valdarno, a small campsite in the Tuscan hinterland, halfway between Florence, Siena and Arezzo. Starting as a simple campsite with spaces for tents and caravans, the site has been transformed into a modern, welcoming village, with mobile homes surrounded by over 76 acres of greenery. This winning format achieved immediate success and has since become the Group’s hallmark, replicated over the years across all their sites.

The vision is clear.

Welcoming guests and making them feel at home – like one big family. Creating communities to transform a place into a destination filled with connections to be discovered and rediscovered year after year. Building authentic relationships, where contact with nature sits alongside the artistic and cultural heritage of nearby cities – where these destinations can be explored through guided tours, museum visits and immersive experiences. This concept is immediately appealing to guests and inspires the continuous development of the Group’s services. 

Our drive is strong.

To provide hospitality, welcome guests with love and passion, offer them authentic experiences. To create an environment where everyone feels comfortable and included, taking particular care of individuals and providing high-quality services. To enhance local communities through a network that is constantly supported by local organisations and businesses, in an endless virtuous cycle. This is what we have been doing since 1982, with a particular focus on protecting and preserving nature and the environment.

The result is a new type of hospitality.

A new way to welcome guests, a new way to grow. Today, with more than 40 years of experience and thanks to bold investment choices, we have 11 openair sites, with holiday villages and camping in town sites in Tuscany, Veneto, Lazio and Luxembourg. This offering is complemented by our historic Villa Palagina, in the heart of the Tuscan hills, and the PLUS hostel in Florence. Our passion for the beauty and local delicacies of the areas where our sites are located has led us to diversify our business, adding catering services to our accommodation offering and getting involved in developing the innovative Mercato Centrale format.