Italians love
children
. Don't be surprised by how much attention people pay yours here: peeking into buggies and cheek-pinching are quite normal, as is help lugging carriages up steps and giving up a seat for you and your child on public transport.
That said, Rome has a surprisingly limited amount of activities specifically geared towards children. Luckily, touring the sites of Rome is something of an educational experience, and one that children can enjoy - especially
Castel Sant'Angelo
, the
Colosseum
, and of course throwing coins into the
Trevi Fountain
. Pick up the English version of
Conosci Roma,
available free from any tourist kiosk; it's a
children's map
of the centre with interesting facts about sights, daily life of ancient Rome and stickers.
Of Rome's parks, the
Villa Borghese
is convenient, and has a lot to offer kids - pedalboats, a little train, pony rides, bikes, and a
zoo
. If all else fails, there's always
Luna Park
, a large amusement park in EUR, or if nothing strikes the right note, you can always head to the closest
gelato
stand. For more
information
,
Romacè
's English section often has details of what's on for children that week, as does
Time Out Roma
- albeit in Italian.
Parks and outdoor activities
Gianicolo
This park, high up on Janiculum hill, is a good place to keep kids amused, with pony rides, bumper cars, puppet shows and other games, while adults enjoy a great view of the city below.
Luna Park
Via delle Tre...
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Museums
Museo dei Bambini
Via Flaminia 80 tel 06.3600.5488.
Set to open sometime in the year 2000, Rome's long-anticipated children's museum is geared towards children under twelve and has a variety of hands-on activities that teach youngsters...
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Toys and clothing
Al Sogno
Piazza Navona 53 tel 06.686.4198. Mon 3.30-7.30pm, Tues-Sat 9.30am-1pm & 3.30-7.30pm.
Perfectly located at the north end of Piazza Navona, two floors of stuffed animals, handmade dolls, board games, and replicas of Roman...
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Rome's puppet theatres
Puppetry
has been delighting Italian children for hundreds of years, and Rome has a few venues for viewing true puppeteers in action. Sometimes you can find a show in English, but the storyline is visually explanatory and kids don't seem to care...
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La Bufana
There are many stories about
La Bufana
, always depicted as an ugly old woman who flies along on a broom draped in black. The most recognized version is that she was outside sweeping when the three kings walked by, she stopped them and asked...
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