Visit Rome with kids
Visit Rome with KIDS
Rome, the Eternal City. What a glorious destination. Some have the misguided opinion that it is not for families with children. They are so mistaken. Rome makes a GREAT vacation destination for the family and really any destination can be family friendly with the right research and planning!
We took our kids, who were then 5 and 7, to Rome for a week. It was their first international vacation and so we had to be ready for anything – new food, new things to see, and even jet lag. They were amazed, fascinated, and we all had a marvelous time – sharing experiences, and making memories. The key to traveling with the kids is to be prepared and give them information on what they are seeing and what is special about it.
Visit Rome with KIDS: What do kids love about Rome?
Visit Rome with KIDS: The Trevi fountain
The Trevi fountain is the largest fountain in all of Rome. Look for some of the 30 different type of plants carved into this giant statue and some animals like a lizard. This enormously famous fountain is in a very small square which is usually jammed with people. Take advantage of early morning rising from jet lag to get here before the crowds.
Throw a coin in over your shoulder so you’ll be sure to return one day. It worked for me! I’ve had the pleasure of visiting it three times and each time it is still as magical as the first time.
What happens to all the coins? They are collected each day – about $4500 and delivered to a grocery store for the needy. You can feel good about the contribution you make when you toss in yours.
Visit Rome with KIDS: Capuchin Crypt
Teens especially enjoy the creepiness of the Capuchin crypt which is the burial place for friars in the Capuchin order. This small place, with soil from the holy land, is important, unusual and a little creepy. Since there isn’t much soil, once a body has been in it for about 30 years, it is removed to make room for someone else. The bones are then set up in rooms and those are the ones you will see on display.
Does Capuchin sound a little bit like the hot coffee drink cappuccino to you? It sure does! That’s because the drink was named after the brown robes of the Capuchin friars – friars, not monks.
CLICK HERE – Cool Information on one of Rome’s Creepiest Sights – The Capuchin Crypt
Visit Rome with KIDS: Vatican city
Laocoon and His Sons -Remember the Trojan horse? This is the man, Laocoon, the man who knew it was a trick. He and his sons ran through the city trying to warn everyone. The gods of the sea, who were clearly on the side of the Trojans, tried to silence Laocoon and his sons with this creepy sea monster.
The Sistine Chapel – The paintings are overwhelming, even for adults, unless you know the story behing the painting. My kids were quietly fascinated while staring up at it while I relayed the information.
Michelangelo was a really interesting person. For starters he did not like to paint. So how does someone who doesn’t like to paint end up painting such an important piece? Well, other artists at the time were very jealous of Michelangelo as he was a new, rising star in the art world. Since he was so good at sculpting, his enemies thought he might not be so good at painting. They convinced the pope to ask Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel, hoping it would be a total disaster. You can see how it turned out! While he loved sculpture so much more than painting he clearly was really good at both.
Their evil scheme to disgrace Michelangelo totally backfired. Bwahaha….Michelangelo got the last laugh there because this marvelous painting put him the the history books and everyone knows his name. Those other jealous artists – remain nameless. Perhaps they should have spent more time working to improve their skills and less time being mean to other people. Great lesson for the kids – hard work, skill and good triumphs!
CLICK HERE – Did Michelangelo really lie down to paint the ceiling? Hint: Your answer is probably wrong.
Vatican City is a SUPER cool place.
*The Worlds’ Smallest country by size and population
*Home to the Pope
*Home to the Pope’s Army – Swiss Mercenaries
*Where you’ll find the World’s busiest pharmacy – Yes, the smallest country yet the world’s busiest pharmacy.
CLICK HERE – The Swiss Guards – last of the Swiss Mercenaries
CLICK HERE – Vatican City with Kids – Why is the Pharmacy the World’s busiest?
Visit Rome with KIDS: The Colosseum
Looking into the spot where lions and tigers and gladiators ( Oh, my! ) once battled – awesome! Kids LOVE the colosseum. Imagine sitting where thousands sat to watch the most wonderful entertainment of the time!
Do not go into this wonderful site with children unprepared. Imagine looking at this with a child’s eye…without understanding what took place here it just looks like part of an old building. Help them enjoy it by helping them understand this fascinating piece of Italian history.
CLICK HERE – Visiting the Colosseum with Kids – all you need to know
Visit Rome – Fantastic Food
Ok, no one travels without thinking of all the wonderful food you’ll enjoy. Food that someone else cooks…and someone else cleans up after. AND we all know that calories on vacation don’t count, right? When you go to Rome, you get all that AND the delicious food. Kids even enjoy the top favorites in Rome so it is just easy squeezy for families.
You can’t visit Rome without thinking of pizza and no matter your opinion of pizza at home, you have to try it here. The pizza is really unique and super tasty. One of the most famous types of pizza here is Pizza Margherita which is cheese and basil – named after a queen. What sort of pizza would you have named after you?
CLICK HERE – Pizza and Pasta is better in Rome!
Visit Rome with KIDS: Gelato
I scream, you scream we all scream for gelato!!! Gelato is Italy’s answer to ice cream and is a taste treat. The colors are so pretty! Italian ice-cream comes in so many flavors. Each night, join the locals in the evening to stroll the city while snacking. What’s not to love? Experiment and find your family’s favorite flavor.
My favorite is stracciatella – which is a lot like chocolate chip! The word stracciatella means ‘rag’ from the Italian word ‘stratford’ which means to stretch. In this case I think that it is called stracciatella because the chocolate is stretched and stringy as it is swirled into the gelato instead of our chocolate chips which are small pieces. I love the crispy texture of the thin threads of chocolate in the vanilla gelato.
While stracciatella is my favorite gelato flavor, there are other delicious things in Italy with the same name!
Stracciatella is used for more than one food in Italy:
*Soft cheese made from Buffalo milk *Gelato with thin pieces of chocolate
*Egg Drop soup – Stracciatella
CLICK HERE – Why Gelato is even Better than Ice Cream
You CAN travel with kids, impart a love of history and art, and even enjoy the process. My books have everything you need to help the kids understand what they are seeing and keep them engaged. Shhhhhh….they also serve as Cliff Notes for adults. Rome is available now!
CLICK HERE – Kids’ Travel Guide to Rome
There is so much to see in Rome! Don’t miss a thing with our itinerary – set up to see all the cool things in Rome without missing a single thing. Use it to plan your next trip to Rome, the Eternal City.
CLICK HERE – The BEST 4 day itinerary to Rome
Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was the perfect Rome trip planned that fast! Daydreaming about a trip is so much a part of the fun. Do you love quotes? I sure do and they make me smile about my next vacation or help bring back memories of a vacation I’ve had in the past. If Rome is on your mind, you’ll love some quotes on Rome.
CLICK HERE – Quotes about Rome, The Eternal City
If you are taking the kids with you, be sure to check out the travel guides written just for them! These guides teach the kids about the sights of Rome, while keeping them engaged and occupied. The very best part of these guides is that they were written by a teacher so they are full of activities that teach, too!
CLICK HERE – Kids’ Travel Book to Vatican City
CLICK HERE – Kids’ Travel Book to Rome’s museum Galleria Borghese
CLICK HERE – Kids’ Travel Book to ROME
Want even MORE suggestions for what to see in Rome with the kids?
In addition to all the benefits of reading in general, reading about a destination helps the whole family have a better time! When the kids understand what they are looking at they are more interested. If they have no idea why you are visiting yet another church, or looking at yet another painting or statue, they will be bored, but if they know the reasons, they’ll have so much more fun! (This works for bored spouses, too! LOL!)
CLICK HERE – Kid’s Books on Italy – Read Before You Go!
Be sure to get your trip off to a good start with smooth sailing at the airport! Airports can be really stressful – they are big, noisy, crowded and full of people who are tired, stressed and nervous. Have your trip start off on a good foot by having a smooth start at the airport.
CLICK HERE – Global Entry – Why YOU really need this number
CLICK HERE – How to get through Airport Security with an Infant
CLICK HERE – Airport Security with a Child – Smooth and Easy
Happy Travels!
Natalie, The Educational Tourist
It’s funny you mention “Cliff Notes for adults” because I have been fascinated by all of the stories and information in “The Kids Travel Guide to Rome”! I bought 2 copies for my 8 year old and almost 4 year old and have learned SOOO much through Natalie’s book! She has such a gift for pulling out the details that make an impression on kids! My 2 boys love the stories! The pictures and activities are engaging on so many different age levels!
Thank you! I think Spain is going to be fun, too! The history and culture is soo very different than from the Rome book. My kids loved Spain!
I would love to visit!! What beautiful pics and great ideas for the kids!
Thanks! These work beautifully in a classroom setting, too for a unit on Rome!
Your posts are always so helpful! My sister has young kids and struggles traveling with them so I’m going to send her a link to your blog 🙂 Thanks for all of the helpful info!
Thank you so much!
Great ideas for how to engage in a cool city with your kids. And I mean, who doesn’t love gelato!!!
Rome is such a beautiful city and definitely a great destination for kids. Great post!
Thanks! We want to take them back. They are older and will appreciate the experience in a totally different way now.