Rome is the perfect destination to turn a family holiday into an incredible history lesson: the Colosseum and its gladiators; the Roman Forum; its emperors; the Zona di Largo Argentina and its cat sanctuary… Rome is open book full of intriguing tales that will spark the curiosity and imagination of the whole family. It is quite impossible to not be captivated by this city’s awesome history. A visit to ancient Roman ruins can quickly become an incredible adventure and there is no better way to top off a day of exploring than with an authentic pizza and gelato.
Planning a trip to Rome with children
A trip to Rome may lead to your children falling in love with history. The best way to build hype around a trip to the Eternal City is to start by reading them illustrated books or watching cartoons about Rome’s history. If your teenagers haven’t seen Gladiator yet, get them to watch it. Make sure to include a fun balance of cultural sights and entertainment when you plan your itinerary – it’s the best way to keep them engaged when exploring the city. And, of course a little planning ahead of time will head off any unnecessary whining when queuing up to visit the city’s top attractions.
Not much is needed to grab the attention of your little ones while at The Colosseum, the catacombs, the Markets of Trajan or the Roman Forum. Each landmark has its own wealth of epic tales about revered emperors and the intrigues surrounding them. Let your imagination run wild as you retell the story of the Roman Empire to your children – wide eyes and jaw dropping are guaranteed!
Rome lets you travel back in time without having to give up the pleasures of modern times. There isn’t a nook and cranny in the city that doesn’t hide some sort of ancient mystery or rite. This includes: tossing a coin over your shoulder the Fontana de Trevi to ensure you return to Rome; inserting your hand inside the popular Bocca della Veritá (Internal Link) whose mouth will gobble your hand if you tell a lie; meandering through the ruins of Largo di Torre Argentina and greet its feline inhabitants; and climbing up to the cupula of St. Peter’s Basilica. These are just some of the attractions the city offers to ensure your holiday is nothing but fun.
The Colosseum and the Gladiator School of Rome
The soul-stirring Colosseum will stop you dead in your tracks so you can admire its majestic grandiosity. The bloody history behind this landmark may not be PG-13 but it won’t stop your children from being enthralled by the stories of the brave gladiators who fought in the arena. They can even get a picture with one of the dressed-up gladiators found outside the entrance gates. If your storytelling skills are a little rusty, you can book a guided tour or activity, especially concocted for children.
However, if you have a gladiator-obsessed member among the pack, head to the Gladiator Museum, located at Piazza Navona to learn all about gladiators. The museum has an extraordinary collection of gladiator uniforms, armour, helmets and weapons on display. There is also a Gladiator School where you can partake in true physical training and learn about the fighting techniques employed by gladiators. Located on Via Appia Antica and run by Gruppo Storico Romano, the school offers the chance for the whole family to learn how to use a sword (wooden!) Gladiator-style. It is still not quite clear who enjoys this activity the most – the kids or the adults.
Children get to learn about the captivating lives and battles of these fearless combat fighters and get to dress up from head to toe in their armour. The workshop lasts two hours and at the end children get to test the skills they’ve learnt – there is no better way to learn about history than to live it!
The Rome Time Elevator
A trip to Rome with children requires a stop at the exhilarating Time Elevator. Come experience key moments of Roman history thanks to this multi-sensory, 5D cinema experience. You’ll live the fascinating legend of the twins Romulus and Remo and the founding of Rome; the assassination of Julius Cesar; and the creation of the fresco adorning the Sistine Chapel ceiling, painted by Michelangelo.
The Time Elevator invites visitors to travel back in time and witness unique historical moments. Through the use of panoramic screens, mobile simulation platforms, and state-of-the-art special effects and surround sound, visitors live a thrilling experience like no other. The experience is available in different languages and makes for the perfect fun-filled family activity.
Parks and piazzas
Rome is filled with great parks and squares where children can enjoy some outdoor fun. The street artist-filled Piazza del Popolo and the fountain-adorned Piazza Navona are fascinating squares for all members of the family to explore. The spectacular Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi was designed by the great Gian Lorenzo Bernini, commissioned by Pope Innocent X. Children will be taken aback by the Egyptian obelisk rising out of the fountain basin.
If you are looking for a relaxing break from sightseeing, head to Villa Borghese. This lovely verdant park is a great place to enjoy a walk or bike ride through its landscaped gardens, or hire a rowing boat and enjoy a moment out on the water. There are also many other attractions including the Water Clock and the Silvano Toti Globe Theatre, a replica of the original Globe Theatre. You can access the park via Porta Pinciana, located by Piazza di Spagna.
The Bioparco di Roma is also located on the grounds of Villa Borghese. The 17-hectare biopark is home to a wide variety of animals, which can be admired in their natural habitats. Complete your visit by heading to the Museo Cívico de Zoología. The natural history museum has wondrous exhibitions on the remains and discoveries of the animal world.
If you have budding artists among your offspring, plan a visit to Galleria Borghese. The museum has outstanding works of art by the likes of Caravaggio and Raphael.
Other kid-friendly attractions in Rome
Rome doesn’t lack attractions or landmarks but if you need something especially suited for children, read on to discover our round-up of fun attractions.
The museum Explora offers workshops and interactive activities, especially curated for 12-year-olds. It is situated by the tube station Flaminio.
Technotown is great hands-on educational option for all ages. The multimedia play centre has all types of activities relating to science and technology. The coolest features include the 3D space trip among the rings of Saturn, and Sbongi, a virtual ball game. It is located in Villa Torlonia on Via Lazzaro Spallanzani.
Rainbow Magic Land is fun attraction park located within the Eternal City. There are rides for all ages and it even puts on an amazing acrobatic show. You can also enjoy aquatic activities during the summer time.
Eating out with children in Rome
Pasta, pizzas and gelato, the star dishes of Italian cuisine, make eating out in Rome with children a piece of cake. These dishes are favourites of young and old, but especially the little ones. There are great restaurants around every corner whipping up delicious dishes of spaghetti, topped with your choice of sauce. There are also the fantastic pizzerias and their wood-oven packed pizzas. Head to Est! Est! Est! on Via Genova; it’s located very close to Piazza Navona. The city is also dotted with gelaterias so whenever you are in a need of sweet break, pop inside and choose from a wide selection of flavours. You may need to try a few to really discover which one serves the best gelato in Rome.
