“Benvenuti a Roma” is how you will be greeted by locals when you arrive in Rome. It literally means, “Welcome to Rome,” and such a wonderful phrase to hear as you embark your adventure in Italy’s capital city.
With its roughly 3,000 years of history, I know you will agree with me that Rome offers more than just the beautiful ruins and churches, such as the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Apart from otherworldly landmarks that you will not see anywhere else in the world, Rome offers so much more, especially to your kids.
So, how is Rome with Kids going to look?
Well, as a sprawling cosmopolitan city, which is by the way one of Europe’s most popular and most visited capitals, Rome is known to world as an art, architecture, and cultural powerhouse.
Now, let’s get into business and let me show you the best places and things to see, plus the exciting activities that you can do with Kids in Roma, Italia! Indeed, “Benvenuti a Roma!”
1. Enrich your kid’s knowledge of the past at the Colosseum
Open for seven (7) hours every day from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., this world-renowned amphitheater is a tourist magnet. The Roman Colosseum or Coliseum, originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, is located in the heart of piazza del Colosseo. It is huge! It is not only its size that is big, but its history is colorful and dark, too. This amphitheater is where gladiatorial battles between gladiators and wild animals happened. Despite its bloody past, tourists, which includes kids love to roam around the Colosseum just to learn about its past and to see firsthand how massive it is. The colosseum is colossal!
2. Let the kids be a gladiator
If you think that learning to be a gladiator is only for the adults and for the brave, think again. Gruppo Storico Romano or Rome Gladiator School, a museum that has genuine gladiator artifacts and replicas, promises to offer an amazing experience for kids who love to learn basic gladiator moves. Kids can participate in the kid-friendly activity for a two-hour session. Completing the session will grant your kids a diploma! Cool, isn’t it?
3. Go visit the Pope at Vatican City
Though the Vatican is an independent city-state, it has close ties to Rome, because technically it is within the grounds of and surrounded by Rome. Then, it is safe to say that when you are in the Vatican, you are in Rome. So, a trip to Rome should include a visit to the Vatican. There are quite a number of things to do and places to see in the Vatican, which we also discussed separately in a previous post that you can check at Places To Go With Kids: Vatican with Kids, but it is still worth mentioning that kids will love the beautiful St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square, and the Vatican Museum. If you are lucky, you might be able to see the Pope in person.
4. Climb the dome
Since we are speaking of Vatican City, it is worth mentioning that for a minimum charge, your and your kids can enjoy a sweeping view of St. Peter’s Qquare and the city by climbing the St. Peter’s Dome. Along the way, there are numerous art works and architectural wonders, some were created by Michelangelo that you will see as well. Older kids can opt to take the stairs to climb, otherwise, taking the lift for much easier and comfortable ascent is an option. Once on top, a 360-degree view of the beautiful and history city is at your disposal.
5. Take a stroll around the Roman Forum
Strolling, which is practically walking, is surely good for our health. Therefore, whenever you are in Rome with your little ones, never ever miss the chance to take in the environment by walking around and within the famous ruins of the Roman Forum. It is located at the heart of Rome. Looking at the ruins of temples, government buildings, and churches that date back some 2,000 years, one can certainly say that this is where the history of Rome started.
6. Chill and make a wish at Trevi Fountain
This fountain that stands 86.23 feet (26.3 meters) high is arguably one of the most popular fountains in the world. Ask a friend who has been to Rome, and he or she will certainly mention the Trevi Fountain. Visiting it during summer could be a little crowded, given that it is famous, but still kids will love it. It is iconic and it never gets old. Give your little ones some coins that they can throw so they can make a wish for more trips and travel with you. Using it as your photo backdrop is like taking a scene from a movie. Plus, the cafes nearby sell nothing but delicious gelato and pizza. It is something that kids will love, right?
7. Go on a walking tour that includes gelato tasting
Well, you should never leave Rome without tasting different flavors of their gelato. Taking the kids for a walk around the city to taste gelato from different shops will help you manage possible tantrums and break the monotony of the trip. A fun afternoon walk around the sites of Rome with less history and more gelato will surely excite your kids’ taste buds. You can get a scoop of gelato from Gelateria Fatamorgana that serves creative flavors that range from black rice to white wine, Gelateria dell’ Angeletto for some gluten-free and vegan ice cream, or from Gelateria San Crispino that is located near Trevi Fountain.
8. Take a bite of that Roman-style pizza
You are in Italy and it will be sad to leave the country without letting the kids take a bit of the famous Italian pizza. To top it all off, the Italian capital is among the best places to enjoy something-crusted Roman-style pizza. From traditional pizza to the ones with toppings such as rosemary, potato, mozzarella, tomato, and onions, you can find them in Rome. Pizzas in Rome are main event. Pizzarium and Pizzeria da Remo are just two of the many pizza houses you can visit when in Rome with kids.
This article is part of our popular series, Place To Go With Kids!
