Museums for children in Tuscany

In addition to its enchanting landscapes and splendid architecture, Tuscany is also, and above all, famous for its countless museums that cover a little bit of all interests. Among these, many are child-friendly. In fact, most Tuscan museums offer educational activities (workshops, guided tours, themed itineraries, interactive activities, etc.) dedicated to the youngest visitors, with the aim of stimulating their curiosity and encouraging them to have an experience inside the museum.

Here is a selection of museums in Tuscany where children can learn while having fun.

The Uffizi Galleries in Florence

The Uffizi Galleries are a Florentine museum complex that includes the Uffizi, the Vasari Corridor, Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens. The complex offers a programme entirely dedicated to families, UffiziKids, which brings together all the activities and proposals for very young visitors. With UffiziKids you will find a dedicated staff in the Uffizi Galleries’ museums who will help you by providing information on independent tours, initiatives promoted for families and the museum in general. To ensure a wider availability of the initiatives, we recommend using the Passepartout Family card, the annual subscription card (with entry priority) valid for two adults, together with an unlimited number of children.

The Museo Galileo in Florence

A museum that your little ones will certainly enjoy is the Museo Galileo in Florence. Located in the medieval Palazzo Castellani (next to the Uffizi Gallery), it houses one of the most important collections of scientific instruments in the world. The exhibition revolves around the figure of Galileo Galilei, the father of modern science, whose revolutionary discoveries prompted man to question the universe and its mysteries. Among the museum’s most precious treasures are the two telescopes and the lens of the telescope with which Galileo observed Jupiter’s satellites. The museum offers fun and stimulating educational activities that encourage learning for younger visitors.

The Leonardo Museum in Vinci

Another museum that will undoubtedly fascinate your children is the Leonardo Museum located in the historic centre of Vinci, a small medieval town famous for being the birthplace of the revolutionary Renaissance genius. The museum, housed in the Palazzina Uzielli and the Conti Guidi Castle, contains the oldest collection of Leonardo models entirely dedicated to the work of Leonardo the scientist, technologist and engineer. The visit is completed by the house where he was born in Anchiano and the Leonardo and Painting section at the Villa del Ferrale. It offers workshops, guided tours and family activities. Also on sale at the ticket office is the ‘giocaMuseo’, the interactive book to explore the museum … like real, little geniuses!

The Siena Children’s Art Museum

In Siena there is the Children’s Art Museum, whose mission is to open art and artistic culture to children. The museum is set up in the San Leopoldo Hall of the Santa Maria della Scala complex, the ancient hospital that once welcomed pilgrims traveling along the Via Francigena. It offers a cultural offering rich in artistic events and related training activities dedicated to the world of children. The collection brings together works aimed, by the artists’ intent, at childhood, ranging from ancient to contemporary. The museum’s proposals are divided into two phases: one of visit and the other of laboratory and practice.

The Museum of Ancient Ships in Pisa

A museum that your children will be happy to visit is the Museum of Ancient Ships of Pisa, housed in the majestic halls and bays of the Medici Arsenals, on the Lungarno Ranieri Simonelli. Inside there are boats from the Roman era in an exceptional state of conservation, dating back to the 3rd century BC. and the 7th century AD, and an incredible series of finds found in the San Rossore construction site. The museum is spread over approximately 5,000 m2 of exhibition space and is divided into eight thematic sections. It offers activities designed to provide children with an experiential journey, which include tours and workshops led by archaeologists.

Museum of Natural History of the Mediterranean in Livorno

And finally, you cannot miss a visit to the Museum of Natural History of the Mediterranean in Livorno. Established in 1929, it is based in the historic Villa Henderson, built at the end of the 18th century. In over 7,000 m2 of exhibition space it traces the history of man and human evolution, both from an anatomical and cultural point of view. Don’t miss the spectacular Sala del Mare, dedicated to the biology and evolution of cetaceans. For families it offers multifunctional spaces equipped with scientific laboratories, equipped classrooms and large green spaces for play and outdoor educational activities.

Photo Gallery © The Uffizi Galleries | Children’s Art Museum – Santa Maria della Scala | Museum of Ancient Ships of Pisa