Out with children: from Pisa to the beach

Are art and culture child-friendly? Of course! In this itinerary from Pisa to the sea, you can find ideas and tips to spend time with your children while taking in history, art, and science and visiting interactive and unusual museums where you can learn while having fun.

Botanical garden

The first stop on the itinerary can only be Pisa, known throughout the world for the Leaning Tower and the wonderful Piazza dei Miracoli. Not far from here is an oasis of peace and tranquility: it is the Botanical Garden of the University of Pisa, the oldest university botanical garden in the world which offers activities such as interactive experiences for children and families where you can learn the secrets of plants by playing and having fun.

“Ludoteca scientifica”

Moving on to the nearby beautiful Lungarni area we find the Museum of Computing Machinery which is also home to the “Ludoteca Scientifica”. The latter boasts a collection of games and tools created to reproduce, in the spirit of Galileo Galilei, the experiments that have made the history of science and scientists. This is a place where children, teenagers, and even adults learn science thanks to games and experiments that introduce the most compelling aspects of classical and modern physics, from Galileo to Einstein, all the way to 21st-century innovations.

Museum of Ancient Ships

Museo delle Navi Antiche

The beautiful exhibition of the Museum of Ancient Ships of Pisa is suitable also for children and teenagers thanks to the work of expert guides who will reveal the wonderful stories of the museum’s finds in a simple way, easy to understand and enjoy. Indeed, the exhibition takes on a form designed to stimulate children’s curiosity, allowing them to become familiar with the great Roman ships first as they travel on the path of the history of Pisa and its most origins. A different workshop is organized every week for a maximum of 7 children in turn, with the mandatory presence of at least one adult

“Museo della Grafica”, Museum of Graphics

A stop on the other side of the river is that of the artistic-creative workshops of the “Museo della Grafica” (Museum of Graphics), aimed at young people and adults interested in experimenting new learning paths and sharing artistic and cultural experiences. The Museum organizes educational workshops focused on the works preserved there as well as others inspired by current exhibitions, all with the experimentation of the expressive potential of visual language in mind. The workshops are characterized by a predefined theme and aim at introducing aspects relating to the arts and their history. In addition to these workshops, there are further educational proposals inspired by temporary exhibitions.

Tenuta di San Rossore

Parco di San Rossore – ©Massimo Lenzo

A completely different stage is the one at the Tenuta di San Rossore, green lung between the city and the sea. Always a favorite place for Pisans for picnics, the estate offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in luscious nature.

Access is free only in some areas such as that of Cascine Vecchie, where the Visitor Center is located, organizing guided excursions on foot, by bike, on horseback, and by eco-friendly train or minibus to take visitors along some white roads such as the Via del Gombo, leading to the sea. During the excursions you can see live deer, wild boars, horses and other animals raised here, including dromedaries.

Carriage rides are also possible from the Casale della Sterpaia, along beautiful tree-lined avenues to the hidden paths up to the apiaries, with guided tours and tastings of the typical Park honey. Last but not least is the boat tour to Pisa or to the mouth of the River Arno.

Marina di Pisa

Tirrenia

But we couldn’t forget a water park, for the delight of young and old alike. The Sunlight Water Park is located a short distance from the center of Tirrenia and within the borders of the San Rossore Migliarino Massaciuccoli Nature Park. It features a playground area with swimming pools for adults (toboggans, water cannons) and a relaxation area with a solarium, café, and restaurant. It is also suitable for children, who can have fun on the castle in the shallow water pool, on the inflatable games, and on the trampolines.