Visiting the Italian capital brings history vividly to life, and you can sightsee simply by strolling, with regular reviving pizza, pasta and ice-cream stops. Rome, a place of mythology, gladiators and ice-cream, has an unparalleled hold on the imagination.
The city centre feels like an open air museum, the gloriously intact Colosseum rising up at its ancient heart, and with millennia-old ruins and dazzling baroque at every turn. Rather than specifically family-friendly sights, in Rome a family trip could encompass epic Roman ruins, chances to tell a lie at the Mouth of Truth, or cycling around the bucolic Villa Borghese park.
Another plus is that Italians love children, and babies, especially, will get a fuss made of them wherever they go. Toddlers: The Palatine encompasses the imperial ruins of ancient palaces, but more importantly, lovely gardens in which toddlers can run around and play; pack a picnic to take it easy and enjoy the greenery.
The Explora Museum has a central water mechanism where toddlers can get busy moving water from one place to another and getting the machine to work. They can also play at being grown ups, with small shopping trolleys, post office counters, and grocery shopping. Piazza Navona has impressive fountains, street artists and performers such as living statues. Children under The Colosseum looms large on the landscape of any trip to Rome, and younger kids will find the evocation of gladiatorial combat, imperial power and wild beasts irresistible.
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Opt for a family guided tour to bring the ancient auditorium to life. Afterwards, wander up nearby Aventino hill for a view through its mysterious peephole. The ancient Roman road, the Via Appia, has a preserved stretch running southwards through emerald countryside and lined by Roman ruins. You can bike it, with bike hire at the Visitor Information Centre. Nearby, Rome Gladiator School runs gladiatorial training sessions, ideal for kids who love a bit of mortal combat. Tweens and teenagers: Colosseum night tours are a thrillingly different way to explore the amphitheatre.
