Rome for Repeat Visitor

[scrapycruiser]

 

I would love to hear suggestions for touring Rome &/ or countryside for someone who has been to Rome before. We have a 5 yr old and will be docking at Civitavecchia.

[alliebdive]

Have you been to Rome many times before because otherwise there is probably still so much you haven't seen? Try one of the more unusual tours such as the Ghetto, food markets; Rome Underground. It's such a great city just to wander in, exploring the piazzas, finding fountains and churches off the beaten track. Early tours are generally very time pressured so often many places will pay for a revisit. And new things open - for instance from August I understand they are opening up the underground areas of the Colosseum for the first time so you can see the gladiator quarters, the lifts for the animals etc etc. One tour we would recommend above all others is to try and get to see the Vatican Scavi. These are the ruins of a 1st century AD church and cemetary found below St Peters. You literally go down stairs and into the time of St Peter and Paul and walk the streets of ancient Rome - it is very amazing. Only 13 people in each group and you have to book on the Vatican website. Really, really worth doing.

Alternatively, try a tour to one of the Etruscan cities or into the countryside, they are generally on offer. Or Ostia Antica - very much like Pompeii, the site of the Port city of Rome, still fantastically preserved. To get there: take the train for Rome and get off at Rome Ostiense station (before Termini the last stop). Get the commuter train here to Ostia - they run every 20 mins or so, take 30 mins and cost about 1 euro each. The park is about 5 mins walk from Ostia Antica railway station and signed all the way. There is a good restaurant in there or do what the Italians do and take a picnic. Nice medieval castle in Ostia too.

Hope this helps.

[euro cruiser]

One of the great joys of revisiting a place is to be free of the tyranny of the "must see" list, you can do what you want, or do nothing, and just enjoy the place and the people.

 

Rome is a particularly wonderful city with a child. Especially for an American child, it doesn't look like any place they are accustomed to. Also, the Italians are very solicitous of children.

 

When M was six we spent a week in Rome and she loved it. For some reason, she was fascinated by the Forum and we went through it at least once a day (at that time the Forum was free of charge, so it was easy to accommodate her).

 

We also devised our own tour of animal fountains and statutes for her. She loved to draw, and would sit at each one for as long as we would allow her, drawing away. Some particular favorites were the tortoise fountain at Piazza Mattei, the bees at Piazza Barberini, the elephant in front of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, and of course the horses at Trevi.

 

The park at Pincio (part of Villa Borghese, near Piazza del Popolo) is great for kids.

 

She also really liked Castel Sant'Angelo, which many first time visitors to Rome miss.

[carlmm]

From the abundance of option I would like to recommend a few that are suitable for a 5 year old, too.

 

Galleria Borghese and Park: The Galleria is obviously important for its art and thus something for the adults, yet many children also enjoy to see the impressive and life-like statues. The park is normally filled with Roman children, their are playgrounds, grottos and much more to discover.

 

Santa Maria sopra Minerva: Again the historic significance might be lost on a 5 year old but he or she might enjoy the descent through the various levels of buildings down to the most ancient part.

 

Terme di Caracala: Huge area with the change to run around the ancient ruins.

[euro cruiser]

Santa Maria sopra Minerva: Again the historic significance might be lost on a 5 year old but he or she might enjoy the descent through the various levels of buildings down to the most ancient part.

Are you perhaps thinking of San Clemente?

[carlmm]

Are you perhaps thinking of San Clemente?

 

You are right!

[cruisemom42]

Have you been to Rome many times before because otherwise there is probably still so much you haven't seen? Try one of the more unusual tours such as the Ghetto, food markets; Rome Underground. It's such a great city just to wander in, exploring the piazzas, finding fountains and churches off the beaten track. Early tours are generally very time pressured so often many places will pay for a revisit. And new things open - for instance from August I understand they are opening up the underground areas of the Colosseum for the first time so you can see the gladiator quarters, the lifts for the animals etc etc. One tour we would recommend above all others is to try and get to see the Vatican Scavi. These are the ruins of a 1st century AD church and cemetary found below St Peters. You literally go down stairs and into the time of St Peter and Paul and walk the streets of ancient Rome - it is very amazing. Only 13 people in each group and you have to book on the Vatican website. Really, really worth doing.

Alternatively, try a tour to one of the Etruscan cities or into the countryside, they are generally on offer. Or Ostia Antica - very much like Pompeii, the site of the Port city of Rome, still fantastically preserved. To get there: take the train for Rome and get off at Rome Ostiense station (before Termini the last stop). Get the commuter train here to Ostia - they run every 20 mins or so, take 30 mins and cost about 1 euro each. The park is about 5 mins walk from Ostia Antica railway station and signed all the way. There is a good restaurant in there or do what the Italians do and take a picnic. Nice medieval castle in Ostia too.

Hope this helps.

 

Just a note: the Scavi tour is not open to children. I forget whether the minimum age is 12 or 13, but it is definitely not possible for a 5-year-old.

 

My son at age 6 also particularly enjoyed Castel Sant Angelo, the zoo in the Borghese park, and the Pantheon.

[scrapycruiser]

Thank you ,everyone, for your replys !:)