Mums do travel

Travel with and without teens

  • Home
  • Destination
    • UK
      • London
      • Kent
      • Northern Ireland
      • Wales
      • Elsewhere
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Croatia
      • France
      • Gibraltar
      • Greece
      • Hungary
      • Italy
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Russia
      • Spain
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • USA
      • Canada
      • Carribean
      • Costa Rica
    • Africa
      • South Africa
      • Tunisia
    • Asia
      • Thailand
      • Bali
      • Singapore
    • Australia
  • Inspiration
    • Things to do in…
    • Things to do in London…
    • Where to stay
    • Language learning
    • Family travel interviews
    • The journey
    • Recipes
  • Published in
  • About
  • Contact
  • Travel shop
Home / Type of trip / City / Things to do in Rome with kids

Things to do in Rome with kids

July 7, 2014 by Gretta Schifano 1 Comment

Rome. Image courtesy of Lorenza Bacino

Rome. Image courtesy of Lorenza Bacino

This is a guest post by Lorenza Bacino,  freelance journalist and travel writer. Lorenza’s lived and worked in France, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium and Australia and is now based in London with her family (husband and two kids aged 11 and 8). Lorenza and her family took a trip to Rome recently. Here are some of the things they enjoyed doing there.

Whether it’s beasts, blood or battles that tickle your children’s fancy, Rome has it all in abundance. I certainly wasn’t expecting to see half as much as we did on our recent family trip, but I underestimated how much kids just love gladiators.

Colosseum

Despite the long and somewhat anarchic queuing system to access the Colosseum, once inside it’s still breathtaking to me even though I’d been many times before. But this was the first time with my two children aged seven and nine. They both insisted on getting an audio guide, and this turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it enabled us to jump the queue system and get in relatively quickly. My nine-year-old had just studied the Romans in school and the questions came tripping off his tongue at an alarming rate, especially as I couldn’t necessarily answer them all adequately – at least to him.

Gladiators

But my explanations of where the gladiators would have waited before entering the arena, and the fact that over 5000 animals and as many people were killed at the grand opening in AD 80 and went on for 100 days, was enough to whet the appetite. My son learned from his audio guide that a giant whale was constructed especially for the celebrations and when it opened its mouth hundreds of bears were let loose on the gladiators. I am sure that he will remember this snippet forever more. There are men dressed as gladiators all around the Colosseum, but beware as they do charge for a photo with them.

Roman Forum

I was also advised by trusted friends that the queues are less crazy towards the end of the day and it’s best to get a combined ticket to go with the ‘Fori Imperiali’ (Roman Forum) which you can use till the next day.  We went in one day which was a bit much as it was very hot, but my son showed me the exact spot where Caesar was stabbed 23 times, so it was well worth the effort!

Bones

I was a little apprehensive when we took them to see the crypt in the church of Santa Maria della Concezione on the Via Veneto. The crypt is decorated with the bones of 4000 Capuchin monks who died between 1500 and 1870. Some of the skeletons still wear their habits and look similar to Egyptian mummies. Despite the fantastically ghoulish sight, my daughter thought it was a hoot, sat down in front of display of pelvic bones and whipped out her sketch pad! The sections of the crypt are divided into features made out of skull bones, thigh bones, pelvic bones and vertebrae – so take your pick. It’s only a euro to get in and have a peek and the rest of the church is rather dull in comparison.

Bocca della Verità, Rome. Image courtesy of Lorenza Bacino

Bocca della Verità, Rome. Image courtesy of Lorenza Bacino

Bocca della Verità

Another highlight was the Mouth of Truth, or Bocca della Verità as the Romans call it. Legend has it that the mouth will bite off the hand of anyone who’s telling a lie. Anyone who’s seen ‘Roman Holiday’ with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn will know what I am talking about. My daughter refused to stick her hand in for the obligatory photo, but insisted she was telling the truth when she says she always tells lies! Hmm. It’s a huge tourist attraction which means there’s usually a bit of a queue and you’re only allowed one photo per person.

Villa Borghese

It has to be said that the traffic is appalling so if you want to get away from it all, just head for the Villa Borghese gardens just up from Piazza del Popolo, where you can stroll around under the trees with an ice-cream, rent a bike or better still – a rickshaw, which is huge fun as they’re electric and have a cover to shield you from the sun’s rays.  If you’re really up for it, the Art Gallery is absolutely sumptuous and full of the most breathtaking statues and paintings. Even the children were impressed and managed a whole hour in there! You need to book a few days in advance and you get a maximum of two hours before the next group come in, but it’s well worth it.

Zoo

Just behind the Villa Borghese lies the Zoo where we managed to wile away the best part of a day after a week of unadulterated culture. No people and no queues to contend with and a fabulous bright red crocodile decorated the water on the fountain at the entrance to the Zoo. You can’t miss it.

Trevi Fountain

And if you’re visiting when it’s hot, the city is peppered with glorious fountains where you can replenish those water bottles and have a splash at the same time. The Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona in the centre of the city were appreciated by the children. We dutifully launched a coin with our right hands over our left shoulders into the Trevi Fountain – thus ensuring a speedy return to this magnificent city.

Thanks to Lorenza Bacino for sharing her experience and tips.

Have you ever been to Rome? What was your favourite thing to do there?

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related

Categories: City, Italy, Things to do in...
Tags: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Rome, zoos

About Gretta Schifano

I'm a freelance journalist and blogger specialising in family travel with teenagers, trips when parents manage to travel without their kids, and 50+ travel. I also write about vegetarian travel, parenting teenagers, adoption, SEN, ADHD and anxiety. My work's been published by the Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, National Geographic Traveller, Lonely Planet and others. I've lived and worked in Italy and Spain and am now based in rural south-east England with my husband, adoptive and birth kids and our dog. I previously worked as a social action radio producer for the BBC.

Facebook - Twitter - Google+

Subscribe to posts by email?

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Comments

  1. Actually Mummy says

    July 8, 2014 at 10:10 pm

    I haven’t done Rome sing my early twenties, and the Trevi Fountain was undergoing renovation. I always said I’d go back but never have. I’m guessing it would be a completely different experience with children but I imagine mine would be fascinated.
    Actually Mummy recently posted…A great family break (Sands Resort hotel Cornwall review).My Profile

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Search site

Follow me!

Email: gretta at mumsdotravel dot com
Follow me on FacebookFollow me on Google+Follow me on TwitterFollow me on InstagramFollow me on YouTubeFollow me on PinterestFollow me on Bloglovin

You'd like posts by email?

Booking.com

Most popular posts:

  • How to pack for an 8 kg luggage allowance
    How to pack for an 8 kg luggage allowance
  • Where to find Mary Poppins film locations in London
    Where to find Mary Poppins film locations in London
  • Thailand with teenagers: a two-week summer itinerary
    Thailand with teenagers: a two-week summer itinerary
  • What to do when your teenager doesn't want to go on your family holiday
    What to do when your teenager doesn't want to go on your family holiday
  • 60 free things to do in London with a teenager
    60 free things to do in London with a teenager
  • 5-night itinerary for Northern Tunisia
    5-night itinerary for Northern Tunisia
  • How to visit the places in the Winnie-the-Pooh books
    How to visit the places in the Winnie-the-Pooh books
  • 8 great family holidays for football fans
    8 great family holidays for football fans
  • 17 places to find the world of Harry Potter in London
    17 places to find the world of Harry Potter in London
  • What to wear for a DofE expedition
    What to wear for a DofE expedition

Recent Posts

  • How to apply for Italian citizenship: everything we’ve done so far
  • How to explore London’s top attractions from home
  • Amsterdam virtual museum & gallery tours
  • Introducing Armchair Travels
  • How to explore Florence, Italy, from home

About

  • About
  • Published in
  • Contact

Disclosure

This is a personal blog written and edited by me, Gretta Schifano. Sometimes I’m given products or sent on trips to review, but I always make this clear and give my honest opinion. See my About page for full details.

Copyright © Mums do travel 2019
Header by Suzanne Barton
Website by
Callia Web

Sign up for my free newsletter:
Subscribe to the Mums do travel mailing list... it's FREE!
You'll receive family travel news, offers and competitions. Once you sign up you can download my tips for saving money on family travel.
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.
Sign up for my free newsletter: