Visiting Rome with Kids

The eternal city of Rome is a wonderful city to visit with kids. If you believe that it is just full of ancient monuments that couldn't interest children, then think again. Rome can ensure a pleasant, exciting and educational time for the whole family including children of all ages.

There is 3,000 years of history to discover in Rome but far from being boring, it can be brought alive so kids can visualize the customs and costumes of an important time and population. A classic for the whole family is one of the most well-known monuments in Rome; the Colisseum. Just the size of the structure will impress any child, the real-live Roman gladiators around the Colisseum will help them to start to imagine the era, then the inside, with the help of an expert guide will come to life as history unfolds it's battles between fierce beasts and the early Christians and mock sea battles for the entertainment of the people. That was television in those days!
Right next door is the Roman Forum which creates a picture of how city life was. You can see ruins of temples, squares, shops, statues and fountains and imagine the different activities that happened in such a thriving civilization.
The Palatine hill gives examples of the homes of the first Romans and the palaces built by the different emperors who each had a special role in history.
The Pantheon is yet another monument, probably the best conserved in the whole city, that will leave kids and adults alike in wonder. The structure, with its unsupported dome's width the same as the height of the walls is an unthinkable feat of architectural engineering for the time but maybe younger children will just be captivated by the enormous hole in the ceiling and the holes in the marble floor that are the drainage system for the rainwater that inevitably comes in.
When the ancient city is discovered through the eyes and experience of a clever guide who can open your eyes to another distant world, then history really can be fun and seducing.

Although Rome isn't only about its ancient Roman history, that is merely the beginning of the things to discover in the city. The city has a host of beautiful squares and fountains, each with their own greatness and charm. Campo dei Fiori is a bustling fruit and vegetable market that lets the whole family experience the typical, noisy fun of a roman marketplace as well as discover things different from your own country. Piazza Navona is a favourite for kids because of its size, plenty of space to run around and let off steam, enjoy an ice-cream and watch the street entertainers and artists and maybe even have a caricature done to take home as a souvenir. In December and January it hosts beautiful Christmas markets that will enchant every child.

The Trevi fountain is a great place to sit and eat a piece of pizza and watch the crowds, not forgetting to throw in a coin over your shoulder to make your wishes come true.
It's possible to relax and see the city from the tranquility of the River Tiber on a boat trip which children and adults alike will love.
To get away from the tumult of the city, all you need do is wander through the second largest park in Rome; Villa Borghese. This enormous park homes the Biopark (kids always adore seing animals), as well as a mini train, a lake with swans and boats to hire, a merry-go-round, a puppet theatre and bikes for hire that carry up to six people.
If all of this isn't enough or the midday heat is too much for the kids, there is also the Children's Museum dedicated to interactive activities to keep them entertained for hours or you can head to the cool underground areas, like the spooky catacombs on the Appian Way or the Crypt of the Cappucine Monks.
These are just some ideas of what to do with children in Rome. The list is endless and with the help and experience of an expert guide, every family can surely discover the best, most interesting itinerary for their kids.
Enjoy this incredible city with your family.

There are many websites that offer private tours of Rome with expert guides, such as www.rome-tour-guide.com.