If you happen to be in the area with your family, the Museum of Volterra’s Saltworks is worth visiting. But it’s not for everyone (more on that below).
At the museum, get some background on one of the area’s historic saltworks, and your bambini will be thrilled atthe chance to see the enormous salt mountain and the salt ‘waterfall’!
I recently visited the Museo delle Saline di Volterra with kids (my 4-year-old and 7-year-old). While it was definitely a memorable visit (my kids are still talking about it), it’s not for every child/family, and there are a few things to keep in mind for any family planning a visit.
Take a look at my quick guide to the Museum of Volterra’s Saltworks for:
- Who should visit the Saline di Volterra, and who should skip it
- What the visit’s like and how to make it work with little kids
- How to reserve your visit, in English
- Where exactly you need to go, and where to park
- The stop at the shop at the end of the tour
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Table of Contents
Who Will Love the Saline di Volterra
The Volterra Saltworks are perfect for families who:
- Are looking for a short activity or stop while they’re in the area (staying in a nearby agriturismo or visiting towns like Volterra)
- Have older kids or adults who are interested in salt and how it’s processed
- Have an adult in the group who can watch little kids during the short film
- Enjoy off-the-beaten-path activities
- Can organize a visit in advance (you can’t just walk in)
Who Should Skip the Museum of the Volterra Saltworks
You may want to put the Volterra Saltworks on your ‘next time’ list if:
- You’re traveling with one adult and multiple small kids. There are exhibits without barriers and breakable objects, plus a 15-minute film.
- You have no interest in salt. Yes, you could stop in to see the salt mountain, but it’s at the end of the visit (about 45 minutes in).
- You can’t make it to one of the English tours.
- You’re debating between doing this and another kid-friendly activity like truffle-hunting or exploring a medieval village.
What the Visit’s Like
The visit takes about one hour.
- Enter the Museum a few minutes before the designated start time. Your tour will start at the time given. There’s a toilet inside (ask where it is, no diaper changing facilities).
- Enter the small cinema for a 15-minute film about the history of the Volterra saltworks and how the salt is extracted and processed. This is not a kid-friendly video, but I was able to keep my boys quiet and contained. My 7-year-old watched part of it.
- Next, the guide explains the scale models in the lobby area and the artifacts on the wall.
- About 30 minutes into the visit, you leave the museum and walk outside to the saltworks. You’ll see some of the processing areas and pass by photos of past theatre performances in the saltworks (very cool!).
- About 45 minutes into the visit, you enter the building with the salt mountain and its waterfall! You’ll have time to take photos, touch the salt (it’s not used in the food industry), and even taste it in the air.
- After 60 minutes, the tour is finished, and you head to the shop. Inside, you’ll find salt (of course!), food products like grissini and salted chocolate, and funky products like salted beer (for aperitivo when the kids are asleep). There’s also a small tasting room
Fun Fact: Salt used to be a state monopoly and the sale of it was controlled by the government, along with the sale of tobacco. You could buy salt in the shops with the ‘T’ sign out front – tabacchi e sale (tobacco and salt). Only in 1974 was the state monopoly on salt abolished.
How to Make the Saline di Volterra Visit Work with Small Children
If you’re visiting with little kids or babies, they won’t enjoy the 15-minute video. If you’ve got two adults, I recommend having one wait outside with the little ones (if it’s not too hot) or sitting in the lobby area and doing a quiet activity (like coloring or looking at a book).
The next part of the visit is also not enthralling to little kids, although my 4- and 7-year-olds did enjoy looking at the scale models, the huge salt crystal, and the salt art.
The second half of the tour (from about 30 minutes) is the most interactive and interesting for kids. You’re walking around outside, checking out the processing, holding salt tablets, and checking out the salt mountain. If you can entertain little ones for the first 30 minutes, the last 30 minutes are fantastic and fun!
How to Reserve a Visit to the Museum of the Volterra Saltworks
Email, call, or fill out the contact form on the official website. The site also has up-to-date hours and prices. Make sure you let them know you’re English speakers.
Payment is made at the end of the tour when you’re in the shop (cash or credit card).
How to Get to the Volterra Salt Mines & Where to Park
You’ll need your own car to get to the saltworks and museum.
It’s a 15-minute drive from Volterra, 50 minutes from San Gimignano, and 30 minutes from Bolgheri and Super Tuscan wine country.
Above you can see where to park (in the small, paved lot in front of the museum).
Read about Tuscany Car Rental
Family Logistics for Visiting the Saltworks of Volterra
Strollers – You can bring your stroller. There are a couple of steps, but nothing major.
Shoes – Closed toed shoes are strongly recommended. I had to call to check because I was wearing Birkenstocks, and was told ‘no problem.’ Still, I’d try to wear sneakers if you have them.
Rain – If it’s rainy outside, the tour goes on. Bring an umbrella, even if you’re not outside for very long.
Snacks & Water – Besides the shop at the end of the visit, there’s nothing to eat or drink on site. Have a snack before you go, and bring some water with you.
Sun – If you’re visiting in the summer, you may want to bring a hat and sunscreen for the short period of time you’re outside.
Walking – You’ll walk about 200-300 meters total during the visit.
