The collection perfectly reflects the soul of the people, as well as being a unique revival of the historic memory and manufacturing culture of the ancient Sardinian agropastoral society. Created out of research conducted in 1993-96 by the middle schools of Ales, the main town in the Marmilla area perched on the slopes of the Monte Arci Park, inaugurated in 2002 and reopened in 2013 after restoration work, the traditional toy museum of Sardinia is unique among the museums in the region. It recreates the old-fashioned toys that our grandparents and parents played with as children, displaying handcrafted toys, made ‘at home’ with skill and care, using whatever materials were available. The museum itself is in Zeppara, a small village about one kilometre from the birthplace of one of the most influential 20th century European intellectuals, Antonio Gramsci - a charming village that has retained its original agropastoral architectural structure and is entirely surrounded by countryside.

Today, the museum preserves a representative and varied collection of toys with a genuine popular character, made with common natural materials.

The collection, organised by themes, accurately reconstructs the toys. Some imitate weapons, such as shotguns and slingshot, others means of transport, such as the ‘classic’ asphodel carriages; then there are dolls made of rags, raffia, pumpkins, toys to use in motion, such as cane horses, or that require throwing skills, such as spinning tops and pinwheels; some can make sounds, whistles and noises, others are used on festive occasions and, last of all, there are traps and other pastimes. They are very original, the result of popular creativity or belonging to an archaic culture: when you visit the museum, you can get a clear idea of how children played in Sardinian agropastoral society. The toys are displayed on natural display stands, built with local materials, such as intertwined reeds, which contribute to creating a magical and original atmosphere. The exhibition is supported by explanatory texts, providing the socio-cultural information about each toy, while a workshop area allows you to try them out.

The museum is a noteworthy cultural resource and a popular field trip for children, especially primary schools. The creation of a future 'Zeppara toyland' is being planned, as a real village-museum. There are numerous other famous museums nearby, with which the structure collaborates: in Ales - perhaps the smallest bishopric in Italy - there is the Treasure Museum of the majestic Cathedral of San Pietro (built in 1686) and the permanent film exhibition; in Pau there is the Obsidian Museum and there are numerous Nuragic remains in Barumini, Morgongiori and Villanovaforru.