Things to Do and Places to Go

Holidays by Destination Europe Italy Rome Things to Do and Places to Go 

The £1.2bn investment in restoration and infrastructure in 2000 means that more attractions are now open to the public and several others are now in better shape.

Below is a list of places in Rome which might be of interest to children. Trying to do them all would be a mistake. Better would be to pick the ones of most personal interest and punctuate with regular ice cream, pizza and pasta stops. This is particularly true with churches. These do offer much of the art but are best confined to no more than one or at most two a day. Above all though, avoid any archaeological sites in the midday heat of summer days.

For more ideas of things to do check out Romac'e's English section. The most likely option is puppet shows at the Janiculum usually in Italian, from around 4pm to early evening on weekdays and around 10.30am to lunchtimes at weekends.

For a good overview, consider one of the coach tours offering the chance to step off and on at the sights. Stop-n-go City tours by CSR has nine departures daily at 14 stops. Maps with details are handed out in tourist offices of e-mail csr@gisec.it.

Alterantively consider one of James Hill's walking tours which with children will cover for example why animals were killed in the Colosseum, the elements of an ancient Roman arena in Piazza Navona, the biggest ice-cream parlour in Italy, why people throw coins in the Trevi fountain and will always include the Forum, Capitol Hill, Spanish Steps, Pantheon and The Vatican.(James also works in programme making for the BBC and has worked on programmes for 'Blue Peter' about all sorts of things related to Italy so knows what children require.) The walks last 4hrs and start at any time. They are always private and cost Lit350,000 for up to 8 people.

Romans

The Colosseum is Rome's icon and best seen early morning or evening without tour buses, now a shell but a truly impressive one which has inspired sports stadia to this day.

The Forum of Trajan was one of the most impressive city centres in the world with monuments, apartments, and basilicas. The semi circular markets of Trajan retain the remains of a shopping centre in tiers.

The Roman Forum was looted for so long that to make much sense of it it is worth taking along a book which shows an illustration of the original. Look out for touches like the gameboards scratched in the marble around the Rostra the central part of the forum. All best seen on Sundays when the main road past is closed to traffic. There is a visitor centre with for example virtual reconstructions of the main monuments and multi-media installations, plus guided visits to the sites currently being excavated.

The Palatine Hill is where according to legend Rome was founded and where you find some of the city's oldest remains including of an iron Age village. Greener than the forum, it can be a good place for a picnic. The House of Livia dating from 1st century BC is one of the best preserved, still with its rather faded wall decoration including frescoes of animals.

The Capitoline Hill used to be centre of the Roman empire and has provided the English words capital, and money from the temple to Juno Moneta (home to the Roman mint). The Campidoglio is traffic-free and you can see a ruined ancient Roman apartment block.
Behind the Palazzo Senatorio is the Tarpeian Rock from which traitors were thrown.

The Pantheon is Rome's most complete Roman structure, albeit stripped of the portico's original bronze roof. A brilliant piece of engineering without visible arches, impressive for its sheer size.

The Baths of Caracalla now just a shell give a better idea than almost anything else of the monumental quality of ancient Rome with walls still standing to almost their original height.

The Museo Nazionale Romano includes the Sala della Livia with big frescoes of animals and birds.

The oldest bridge across the river, to the Tiber Island, Ponte Fabricio, dates back to 62BC.
Domus Aurea, the former palace of Emperor Nero, is one of the attractions newly open to the public.

Other History

San Pietro in Carcere is built above the Mamertine Prison where, among others, St Peter was held, still a rather unappealing place.

If open the Museo di Roma has a permanent collection showing the city at different stages of its history.

Catacombs along the Via Appia were used by early Christians, or see those at Sant'Agnesi (see below).

Castel Sant'Angelo was originally built as Emperor Hadrian's mausoleum, but converted by the papal authorities into a fortress for use in times of trouble. The angel statue on top dates from a vision by a pope.

Churches

The following are picked as potentially more appealing to children though nothing like a definitive list.

St Peter's centre of the Catholic religion and fronted by a striking, oval piazza. Highlights inside include the Pieta of Mary with the dead Jesus completed when the artist was only 24, though the sadness may be more than many children fancy contemplating. The bronze plaques in the floor comparing the size of the building with other churches may be more popular, as might be the bronze canopy, in awe-inspiringly lush style. Children with a head for heights might like the climb to the roof and dome but you will probably have to queue and it's still a fair climb, even using the lift. There are 300 steps squeezed into the shell of the dome to take you up to the lantern at the top. Not for claustrophobics.

Santa Maria Sopra Minerva the city's only gothic church (built on the ruins of a temple to Minerva) the best known work being a bright piece by Filippino Lippi of The Assumption.

Sant'Agostino offers Madonna del Parto, invoked during pregnancy. Numerous successful petitioners leave photos of their newborn.

Santa Maria del Popolo offers attractive Pinturicchio frescoes including an Adoration of Christ.

Santa Maria in Trastevere is known for its ornate 12th century mosaics.

Santa Prassede on an ancient site includes glittering 9th century mosaics.

Sant'Agnese Fuori Le Mura offers St Agnes in the apse as a jewelled mosaic Byzantine empress. The catacombs are some of the best preserved in the city.

Outdoor Options

Piazza Navona Based on a first century AD athletic stadium, rebuilt in the 17th century. Home to lots of cafes so good for people watching.

The Spanish Steps famous from postcard shots and where lots of young people just hang out.

Villa Borghese with pedalboats, pony rides, bikes a small train and a rather uninspired zoo. plus the Pincio and its views over the city. It is connected to the similar Villa Ada park.

Villa Doria Pamphili and the Passeggiata del Gianicolo (Janiculum) though hard to reach by public transport, with pony rides, bumper cars, puppet shows etc plus good views over the city.

Campo dei Fiori, once a square with medieval inns, now best known for its market.

The Trevi Fountain Another postcard spot and you can throw a coin in.

Luna Park in EUR is a bit of a way out but a large amusement park with roller coaster, ferris wheel etc.

Horse and carriage rides are offered from the Spanish Steps for example.

Worth Pointing Out to Children

Bernini's Elephant statue, the model a popular figure for Romans, here depicted as happy, if trumpeting about the weight of the obelisk carried on his back.

Fontanella del Facchino A fountain statue of a man holding a barrel, and probably a representative of the old fraternity of water carriers.

Torre della Scimmia The Monkey Tower where in the 17th century a pet monkey kidnapped a child and took it to the top of the tower. The story is that the father called upon the Virgin for help and the monkey immediately brought the child back down.

Bocca della Verita Popular with tour groups, the one-time Roman drain cover in medieval times was moved upright and turned into a spot where liars who inserted their hand were reported liable to have it bitten.

The vivaciously attired Swiss Guard at the Vatican.

Other Galleries, Museums etc.

The Galleria Borghese recently re-opened and a five-star attraction. There are Roman mosaics of gladiators for example and in the Pinacoteca (where you only half a half hour) there are paintings by Raphael, Cranach and more.

The Vatican Museums Best reached first thing in the morning (8.45am) as the tour buses arrive soon after. It is best with children to keep things simple, sticking to the Raphael rooms and the Sistine Chapel, provided you have managed to take a look at a reproduction beforehand and perhaps talked about what they think about the paintings and what they expect will be different about seeing the real thing. Though impressive, they are not the most immediately appealing though images like the flood, and the famous finger of God touching Adam's might trigger a reaction. The fact that Michelangelo spent a total of seven years at work in the chapel, painting the ceiling single-handed on his back might also add interest. There are also the statues and mosaics of animals in the Animal Gallery though some kids by this stage may take more pleasure out of the '30s spiral stair on the way in.

The Capitoline Museums include the odd statue which might connect with children, such as the Dying Gaul and the Boy with Goose in the Palazzo Nuovo, while the Palazzo dei Conservatori has bits of giant statues like the feet in the courtyard, a statute of a boy picking a thorn from his foot, and the Etruscan bronze she-wolf to which in the 15th century were added the twin babies of Romulus and Remus - an opportunity to to run by the story of the founding of Rome.

Museo dei Bambini Via Flaminia 80 is for under 12s opening October 2000 with hands on activities.

The Folklore Museum Museo delle Arti e Tradizioni Popolari at EUR includes antique toys, and even a potty.

The National Museum of Pasta Foods might appeal to real fans of the stuff.

Trips Out/Cooling Off

Ostia Antica the port of ancient Rome at the mouth of the Tiber, is remarkably well preserved with still a theatre, shop and a 20-seater pubic toilet plus baths, offices, houses with mosaic floors etc. Though less spectacular than say Pompeii, it is a good spot to gain a sense of the layout of a Roman town. The beach at Ostia however is tacky.

The seaside is likely to elicit most enthusiasm. Nettuno is an entirely local seaside stop (just one hotel) with a walled medieval town at its heart and reached in less than a couple of hours by train. It may be possible to rent an umbrella for the day on the beaches as there is little public space.

Swimming pools are found in the outskirts of the city rather than the centre and are not too common even there. If desperate ask your hotel for details of the the easiest to get to. Private rather than council-run can be expensive at up to Lit50,000 a head.