Family-Friendly Rome Tour: From Gelaterias to Vatican Museum

Rome is more than an ancient city with a bustling contemporary lifestyle; when walking along the antique streets and lavish artistry the past comes to life, immersing the family in wonderment. Your private transfer meets the family at Fiumicino Airport before escorting you to Rome’s active city-center. The beauty of the city resounds in the magnificent churches, baroque palaces, and marvelous fountains accenting the public piazzas. Your guide meets you in the hotel lobby after the family has had a chance to freshen up. Follow in the footsteps of gladiators and emperors along the cobblestone streets. The kids are as excited as you are to hear the stories about the ancient lives and lifestyles of the city.

From the façade of the Pantheon, the kids see a remarkable building that spans more than two millennia, with a dome rising nearly 138 feet above the streets of Rome. The concrete dome was erected without any supports extra supports other than the interior walls. The polished marble floor glints in the sunlight beaming through the open hole in the dome. You nearly gasp at the famous names of artists and kings engraved on tombs surrounding the former cathedral, from Renaissance painter Raphael to King Vittorio Emanuele II, the unifier of Italy. Your guide points out the hole at the center of the dome, which captivates the kids. It is the only source of light for the Pantheon’s interior.

When the emperor would arrive at the former Pagan temple at noon, the sun would shine over the doorway, bathing the emperor in light. After your introductory tour of the city, your guide leads you to a hidden gelateria outside of the bustling streets of Roman’s center. The aroma of various gelato flavors, from honeysuckle to lavender, chocolate to espresso blends in the refreshingly cool interior. Your instructor greets you with a sample of the gelatos made at the store before leading the family behind the counter to learn how to create your very own creamy and sweet desserts.

In the morning, the kids continue to share their favorite gelato flavors, claiming they can’t wait to get home to try new recipes. At breakfast, your relish the slightly bitter flavor of fresh espresso, enjoying the natural buzz of the caffeine. Your guide meets the family in the hotel lobby after your meal and leads you into history beginning with gladiator training. The kids don their tunics, put on their leather gloves, and wield their swords during a two-hour experience following in the footsteps of the celebrated gladiators of Rome. After their class, you follow your guide on an in-depth tour of Rome’s roots.

The kids put away their certificates proving they completed the gladiatorial training program and embark on the arena grounds of the Colosseum. The four stories of the former amphitheater continue to rise over the summit of Palatine Hill at a height of 157 feet. Pass through the arcades into the stadium seating to view the arena as citizens once did. The kids peer down into the labyrinth at the center of the Colosseum, once covered by a wooden stage. Gladiators and wild animals were hidden underground before their battles began. They could hear the stomp and roar of the crowd eager for entertainment. Your guide leads you into the maze of tunnels and passages pointing to where the lions and bears once lived. An elevator system made of pulleys helped bring the animals to the arena floor.

In the morning, you find the scent of freshly baked brioche emanating from the countless cafes of the piazzas and opening along the narrow lanes hidden by charming palaces. Your guide meets the family at the hotel and escorts you to the cobbled lanes and former grandeur of the Roman port city of Ostia Antica. Once again, the family is immersed in the remarkable culture of the Roman Empire, wandering an excavated city that maintains its integral history. The kids are sent on a scavenger hunt, keeping their eyes open for certain images around the cityscape. You marvel at the red stone overtaken by lush leaves. The main street of Decumanus Maximus reaches more than half a mile long, beginning at the ancient shoreline.

The kids have trouble believing the ocean receded nearly three miles since the decline of the city. The majority of Ostia’s public buildings line the main road. The Horrea Epegathiana is a unique complex of privately owned warehouses set behind a preserved gateway. Two-story arcaded courtyard adds an elegant ambiance to the typically laborious area, providing a relaxing space for workers. In the afternoon, the family meets a private cooking instructor eager to let the kids get elbow deep in pizza dough. The aroma of fresh tomatoes, garlic, and basil fills the kitchen. The ingredients are already segmented, allowing the family to watch the instructor and learn the basics in the art of cooking one of Italy’s most famous dishes.

Rome contains a distinctive blend of iconic Italia with cultural artifacts brought from around the world, whether embellishing the artistry of public piazzas or on exhibit in the many museums around the city. You make your way to the Vatican City after breakfast to experience the exceptional images of Rome’s history, from the Republic to the 19th century. The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica impresses passersby with its immaculate outline and soaring height of 390 feet above the cobblestone floor of the piazza.

An Egyptian obelisk adorns the center of the square. Your guide leads you into the Vatican Museum, once again keeping the kids engaged with a scavenger hunt. The kids are eager to scour the museum grounds in search of the images provided by your guide. The art exhibited in the halls and galleries of the Vatican Museum captivates you and even causes the kids to stop and wonder about the images in front of them. The collective museums boast the largest collection of ancient sculptures in the world taken from the areas surrounding Rome.

The red sarcophagus of Constantine’s daughter catches your eye. Figures and symbols add rich decoration to the exterior, etched into the porphyry. They kids gaze into the deep red symbols of the sarcophagus. They may not understand the significance of the artifact, but they remain equally engaged. Near the end of the tour, your guide leads you into the colorful gallery of the famous Sistine Chapel to absorb the sensational artistry encompassing the walls and ceiling.

Today the family embarks on a full day exploration of Rome’s captivating history both above and below ground. After breakfast, the kids barely contain their excitement for visiting the catacombs of St. Callisto. The burial grounds date back to the 2nd century AD and serve as the final resting place for nine popes. The warmth of Rome turns cool as you descend into the catacombs. The kids brush their fingers against the walls to feel the temperature of the earthen tunnels. Your guide points out ancient artwork decorating the tombs with early Christian symbols, from doves to fish. The dim light glows along the dirt path making you feel like an amateur archeologist.

Your guide points to a specific dove, which holds an olive branch in its beak. The symbol represents the soul reaching divine peace. You ascend the stairs of the catacombs and venture to the Borghese Museum to wander along the 226 acres of gardens behind the palace. The family hires bikes to peddle along the wide lanes and beneath the refreshing shade of the dangling willows. The scent of cypress trees sweeps across the grounds. You make your way to the 19th century Pincio Gardens overlooking Piazza del Popolo. The terrace offers a stunning view of the carousel, along with an old-fashioned puppet theater that continues to produce marionette shows. You park your bikes in time to watch the curtains part. The marionettes enter the stage and begin to tell the tale of Pinocchio.

In the morning, you can bask in the art of Dolce Far Niente, the art of doing nothing. Enjoy the aromas of brewing espresso and fresh brioche. The early light casts a simple golden hue over the rooftops of the city. The day is yours to enjoy Rome at your leisure, letting the family explore the hidden niches of Piazza Navona. For an excursion that would stand out in your family’s mind, you venture 40 miles east of Rome to the hillside town of Subiaco.

An 11th-century castle towers above the labyrinthine streets of the town, surrounded by cream-colored homes. The ride rises more than 1,310 feet above sea level offering a tremendous view of the landscape reaching to the Simbruini Mountains. The Benedictine monasteries of Sacro Speco and St. Scholastica borders the medieval town. The Monastery of St. Benedict, Sacro Speco, practically blends into the limestone mountainside. Verdant forest ascends the foothills and camouflages the monastery. The kids marvel at the architecture, curious about how the structure was erected.

Enter the grounds along the graveled platform for a view of the valley below. 15th-century frescoes decorate the interior passageway. The lower levels of the monastery contain the older grounds. The Lower Church contains frescoes dating back to the 13th century, along with Latin text paying homage to Pope III who donated revenues to the church in the early 13th century. The highlight of the grounds is the cave in which St. Benedict lived his life in solitude. A marble statue depicts the saint as a young man meditation on the cross.

The savory cheeses and fresh bread of Rome’s vibrant markets have beckoned to you since you arrived in the city. Today you take the opportunity to sample the flavors of Italian cuisine with a family picnic in the town of Tivoli. The Sabine Hills rise above the ravine carved by the River Aniene. Tivoli crowns the limestone ridge. Roman noblemen and emperors found refuge from the heat of the city in summer in the cool mountain air of the hillside. The opulent grounds of the emperors’ villas continue to draw Italians and visitors from around the world. The complex of Villa d’Este contains a series of gardens accentuated by elaborate fountains, pools, waterfalls, and graceful statues.

The kids search the grounds for hidden grottoes. The trees open to splendid views of the countryside. You make your way to the Fountain of the Organ to see the 16th-century centerpiece of the garden erected to celebrate the visit of Pope Gregory XII. The masonry arch behind the fountain frames the statues and hides the hydraulic machinery. 144 pipes control the music played by the fountain, which uses water to produce up to four minutes of Renaissance scores. You find a perfect spot along the grass, shaded by chestnut trees, cloaked in the sounds of the cascading fountains, to have a family picnic in an emperor’s garden.

Your days in Rome have taken you across the layers of the city’s history and immersed the family in the treasured culture of the city. Before your flight, you can make your way to Nero’s Golden House, a structure erected over a portion of the ancient city. You tell your children the story of Nero watching Rome burn before arriving at the remaining walls of the complex once called Domus Aurea. Succeeding emperors attempted to bury the memory of Nero, which instead preserved the walls of the home for more than 2,000 years. Marble, gold, and precious stones lined entire rooms, from highlighting the wealth and power of ancient Rome. The grand plan was to erect a complex the size of Vatican City. After your brief discovery of Nero’s reemerging legacy, your private transfer escorts the family to Fiumicino Airport for your flight home.