PIETRASANTA WITH KIDS – A Mom’s Guide to the Artsy Village

Is a visit to Pietrasanta on your wish list, but you’re not sure if there’s enough to do in town with kids?

Maybe you’re already in Pietrasanta and need a little help finding family-friendly things to do.

Either way, don’t worry! There’s plenty to do with kids in Pietransanta. It’s not full of theme parks or the world’s largest playground, but Pietrasanta is the perfect setting for a relaxed ½ day or day visit with kids.

I’m a mamma of three boys and we live close enough to Pietrasanta that we can make a day trip of it. Or, we visit in the evening after a full day at the beach (just a few kilometers away).

Let’s take a look at:

Whether or not a visit is a good idea for your family
The best time to visit Pietrasanta with kids
Family-friendly things to see and do in Pietrasanta
A sample itinerary for exploring Pietrasanta with your children
Family logistics (strollers, parking, snacks, etc)
Where to stay in Pietrasanta with kids
What to see and do nearby with your kids

Andiamo – let’s go!

You may also want to check out my ½ Day Pietrasanta Itinerary

Table of Contents

Why Visit Pietrasanta with Kids?

Colorful umbrellas hang over the pedestrian street in Pietrasanta, Tuscany. The shadows form spots on the ground. People on left sit at an outdoor cafe covered with awnings.

Our family loves Pietrasanta because:

It pairs well with a visit to the beach
The art is accessible (plenty of it outdoors) and I don’t worry about my kids breaking it
There are a lot of pedestrian-only areas
It’s got a ‘Big Bench’ (more on that below)
Kids can see and experience art without being shuffled through big museums
It’s small and very manageable on foot

The Best Time to Visit Pietrasanta with Kids

My favorite time to visit Pietrasanta (with or without kids) is during summer months, in the morning or evening. You can explore the village in the morning and then retreat to the beach for the rest of the day, or come later and have a meal on a side street or the piazza. Kids can play in the piazza while you eat.

Avoid the midday summer heat if possible because there isn’t much shade in the town.

Another good time to visit is for the Carnevale (Carnival) celebration, but note it will be much busier.

Read more about visiting Tuscany in the Spring – Summer – Fall – Winter

What to See & Do in Pietrasanta with Kids

Enormous frame frames a street in Pietrasanta, Italy. There are colorful umbrellas hanging across the street.

Wall of toy shop with shelves full of toys in Pietrasanta, Italy.

Find the sculptures! Look in Piazza del Duomo, but also in other parts of town (make it like a scavenger hunt). Also look for murals and other art.

Visit the Museo dei Bozzetti – Bozzetti are models, as in models that sculptors create for their sculptures. You can see sketches and models and some are unique, fun, and enormous! Head to the back open-air area of the museum (this part is free) and check out the models. Don’t miss this with your kids – it takes 5-10 minutes.

Play at the Playground – Just above the Piazza del Duomo, your kids can play with the locals at the town’s playground. It has a large, grassy area with a merry-go-round, spring toys, and a seesaw. There’s water, but little shade. Just above it is a soccer pitch (but it’s paved, aka skinned-knee heaven) if you have your own ball.

Walk up to La Rocca – Climb the steep hill up to the fortress ruins. Take your time… it’s a steep climb for little legs. It takes about 10 minutes if you don’t stop, but you’ll probably need to take a few breaks. You can’t go into the fortress (it’s just ruins), but you can check out the views and look for the sea.

Sit on the Big Bench – You need to use the stairs to get up to it!

Browse the Toy Shops – There are a couple on Via Mazzini (the main drag) and there’s also a book store just across the street from the parking lot in Piazza Statuto.

You may want to check out
Outdoor Art in Tuscany
70+ Things to Do in Tuscany with Kids
Tuscany Activities for Families
The Tuscan Coast – A Local’s Guide

Basic Pietrasanta Itinerary with Kids (with Map)

Park in the big lot at Piazza Statuto. There’s a paid public toilet in the building at the back end of the piazza. Heads Up: Pietrasanta has its weekly market here on Thursdays, so you’ll need to park elsewhere if you visit then. You could park along the SP8 heading into town or in one of the smaller parcheggi (parking lots) around the outside of the town. Look for the blue sign with a white ‘P,’ or search parcheggio in Google Maps.

Walk down Via Mazzini. Stop to take a photo in the Peace Frame at the beginning of the street. Browse the shops (clothing, swimsuits, home products, art). There are two fun toy stores: Re Artù and L’Isola Che Non C’è (good spot for educational toys). Good To Know: If you visit during July, check out the saldi (sales), which we only have twice per year here in Italy.

Enter Piazza del Duomo and check out the public art. The art/statues rotate, so it will be different from one year to the next. Don’t just look in the piazza… explore the nooks and crannies of the area. For example, the large tooth statue in the photo at the top was found between the church and the bell tower.

Walk up to la rocca and sit on the Big Bench. Enjoy the bench, and if you love it, go to the one near Gaiole in Chianti! Also, heads up that you’ll pass the playground at the beginning of the walk up to la rocca. I prefer to do the uphill walk before the playground so legs are fresh on the way up. If you have small kids who don’t want to hike, you could just stay and play in the playground.

Have a snack up at la rocca or walk back to town for playground time and gelato.

Look at the statue models at the Museo dei Bozzetti. Don’t miss this with kids! You can visit the area with the models in the back of the museum even if it’s not open. In fact, you may want to just check that part out. It’s here.

Walk back to your car via Via Stagio Stagi. Heads up, there’s a piccolo (small) candy shop here called Candy Paradise, and for kids… it really is paradise.

Pietrasanta Family Logistics

Narrow, colorful street in Pietrasanta, Tuscany. Restaurant with outdoor seating on left and it's covered with a green awning.

Parking – The big Piazza Statuto lot is the most convenient (see above).

Water – There’s a water fountain at the end of Piazza del Duomo where the climb up to La Rocca begins.

Diapers – If you need to buy some, you can get them at the Carrefour Express or the pharmacy. Changing is easiest with your own portable changing pad (for example, in the big grassy area where the playground is located).

Heat – There’s not much shade in Pietrasanta during the hot, summer months. Keep cool by visiting in the morning or evening.

Strollers – Pietrasanta is very stroller-friendly, except for the walk up to La Rocca (steep with bumpy cobblestones).

Toilet – At the Piazza Statuto parking lot (paid), inside the Museo dei Bozzetti building (free, before you pay/enter the museum), in restaurants and cafés (free, but a purchase is expected).

Pharmacy – There’s one right across from the main parking lot in Piazza Statuto.

Clothing – If you need basics, there’s an Original Marines in town on the Via Mazzini, or an OVS Kids (like Target) just outside town.

Car-Free Streets – Much of Pietrasanta is pedestrian-only, but know that cars will sometimes drive through (residents, workers, etc).

Eating in Pietrasanta with Kids

An outdoor cafe is full of patrons sitting at tables that are covered with large, cream-colored awnings. There is another outdoor cafe in the back right but with no patrons. This is on the main square of Pietrasanta, Tuscany. — *In Piazza del Duomo*

People sit under black umbrellas at a restaurant on a wide sidewalk in Pietrasanta, Tuscany. There are some planter boxes inbetween the dining area and the street. — *In Piazza del Duomo*

I’m not a big fan of sit-down meals with kids, but Pietrasanta is actually a good spot because you can eat outdoors in pedestrian areas and kids can get up and play if they finish early. Example – Pinocchio, on Via Stagio Stagi.

You can also find pinsa (Roman style pizza, thicker than typical pizza) in Pietrasanta. With older kids, go to La Pinseria 55045 or UNICO Pinseria (both out of the pedestrian area and on a street, so you need to make your kids are old enough to stay seated). You could also get pinsa to go and have a picnic.

For more picnic supplies, there’s a Carrefour Express in town, and you can grab fruit at the fruit stand across from the big parking lot in Piazza Statuto. Have your picnic in the playground above the Piazza del Duomo or up above town by la rocca. Tip: Bring something to sit on like a scarf, towels, or a muslin blanket.

If you’re craving gelato, I recommend Badiani (Florentine chain, one of my favorite gelaterie in Florence).

Where to Stay in Pietrasanta

If you’re planning on sleeping in Pietrasanta, stay in the center. There are plenty of apartments for rent. You can also find a B&B or hotel (all levels).

However, I highly recommend looking into places to stay at the beach, since that’s likely where you’ll be spending more time. We like family-friendly Forte dei Marmi or Marina di Pietrasanta.

You may want to check out Where to Stay in Tuscany with Kids

Family-Friendly Things to Do Near Pietrasanta

Colorful playground on a sunny day in Italy. This is just outside of Pietrasanta. There are a few trees but limited shade. — *Giardino della Lunaca*

Boy walking away from camera at beach in Italy. You can see mountains in the background and a red lifeguard boat in the photo. There are beach tents and lounge chairs set up. — *Giardino della Lunaca*

Bigger Pietrasanta Playground – On the edge of Pietrasanta, you’ll find another playground (Giardino della Lunaca). It has more playground toys than the main one in Pietrasanta, but it’s also not shaded, so avoid it midday. There’s parking directly in front of it. You could also stop at the Conad City on the way to get snacks, water, or picnic supplies.

Marina di Pietrasanta – Pietrasanta’s beach is just a few kilometers away. With older kids, you could reach it by riding on the bike path that parallels the road.

Read my guide to Marina di Pietrasanta

Forte dei Marmi – A seaside town that’s all about luxury, but even if that’s not your think, you may like it because it’s really family friendly. There are pedestrian areas, a kids play area, and it’s just a ‘chill’ place to experience the Italian beach culture.

Pisa – Climb the Leaning Tower or Pisa (kids must turn 8 during the calendar year to climb it) and explore the city.

You may want to read
Climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa with Kids
Pisa with Kids
Things to Do in Pisa
Leaning Tower of Pisa Facts

Lucca – Cycle Lucca’s walls, visit the playgrounds, eat delicious gelato!

Discover My Favorite Things to Do in Lucca with Kids

Carrara Marble Quarries – Take a 4×4 vehicle into the marble quarries for a behind-the-scenes look.

Candice Criscione

Candice, a mamma of three, is an Italy trip planner and travel guide who has been living, traveling, and working in Italy for over two decades. She uses her extensive experience in Italy to help travelers plan their first (or tenth!) trip to bella Italia. She lives in Tuscany with her husband and three boys and when she’s not writing for Mom in Italy or The Tuscan Mom, you can find her cycling the Tuscan hills and exploring Italy with her boys!