Museo del Giocattolo Tradizionale della Sardegna
Museum in Zeppara (Ales), in the former primary school, with traditional Sardinian toys rebuilt in themed sections, workshops and guided tours.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum originated in a 1993 initiative by Nando Cossu, a humanities teacher at the local lower secondary school, who with a class of twenty-two pupils and their families, often elderly volunteers, researched and rebuilt traditional folk toys. The first exhibition was set up at the Istituto Tecnico Industriale in Ales, with support from teachers of the Università di Cagliari, and in May 1996 it moved to Cagliari.
After about three years in the school, the collection passed to the Comune di Ales, which set up the museum; it opened on 14 December 2002. It is housed in the old primary school building of Zeppara, a hamlet of Ales, with six rooms on a single floor covering about 600 square metres.
The collections, representative of the whole island, recreate the original toys in themed sections: sound toys, festive toys, imitations of means of transport and weapons, pastimes, dolls (pipias de zappu) and movement games. Among the objects displayed are the spinning top sa badrunfula, the hoop su xriccu, the skittles is birillias and the cane gun. The museum aims to be an active, participatory space for children and adults.
Highlights
- Traditional Sardinian folk toys rebuilt in themed sections
- Pipias de zappu dolls
- Spinning tops, hoops, skittles and sound toys
- Housed in the former primary school of Zeppara
- Educational workshops and virtual reality
Permanent exhibition
- Giocattoli tradizionali della Sardegna – Collection of traditional Sardinian folk toys, rebuilt and divided into six themed sections across six rooms.
- Founded
- 2002
- Operated by
- Comune di Ales
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2groups of at least 20 people, ticket holders of certain partner venues and customers of a partner agriturismo |
The standard ticket includes admission and the guided tour. Tickets can also be bought online. Reductions for children and families are available on request, to be agreed when stating age and number of participants.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The Sardegna Cultura portal indicates easier physical access for visitors with specific needs.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
Creative workshops for children aged 4 to 10, such as building traditional toys, and taking part in the national family days at museums; the museum also offers virtual reality experiences.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is among the services listed by the Sardegna Cultura portal.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The guided tour is included in the standard ticket. Classroom and workshops must be booked in advance. |