Let Rome become your family’s playground as ancient history and medieval strongholds capture the imaginations of children and adults alike. Imitate the brushstrokes of contemporary artists while capturing the beauty of Piazza Navona. Dig your hands deep into fresh pizza dough before putting the dish into a brick oven. Scour famous galleries in search of hidden images while on the ultimate museum scavenger hunt. Wander the polished halls of opulent palaces and learn the ways of gladiators who once...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Rome – A Home in Rome
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.
What's Included:
Day 2
Rome – One with the Ancient World
Day 3
Ostia Antica – Finding the Ancient Ships
Day 4
Vatican City – A Day with the Arts
Day 5
Rome – Over and Under Rome
Day 6
Rome – The Italian Art of Doing Nothing
Day 7
Tivoli – A Picnic with Emperors
Day 8
Rome – A Golden Time
Trip Highlights
- Indulge in the flavors of homemade gelato on a private tour of Rome’s celebrated gelaterias, followed by a personalized dessert demonstration
- Learn the way of the warrior with gladiator training before visiting the ancient arena of the Colosseum
- Wander the historic grounds of Rome with a private visit to the ancient catacombs, home to nine popes and unique early Christian frescoes
- Delight in a bike ride through the elaborate gardens of the Borghese Museum
- Enjoy a refreshing picnic in the lavish gardens complex in the former imperial villa of the Villa d’Este
- Visit the cave of St. Benedict in the hillside town of Subiaco, home to ancient hillside monasteries
- Relish a hands-on painting demonstration in Piazza Navona after the family gains inspiration from the galleries at the Vatican Museum
- Revel in the aromas and flavors of handmade pizza during a family cooking course to learn the art of the famous Italian dish
- Surround yourself with antiquity on the streets of Ostia Antica, once the bustling port city of ancient Rome
Detailed Description
Rome is the perfect family destination, offering a mix of hands-on activities and enchanting ancient artifacts. Your 8-day tour encompasses the historic streets and inspiring artwork spanning more than two millennia, turning educational tours into exciting adventures for the entire family to enjoy. You land in Rome and meet your private transfer at the airport baggage claim. Once in the city, you embark on the perfect introduction to Rome embodied in a gelato tour. Explore the hidden lanes of the city while visiting celebrated gelaterias before learning how to make the perfect gelato.
The following day, the kids learn the history of gladiators in Rome during a training session before the family explores the ancient history of the city at Palatine Hill and in the once hidden depths of the Colosseum. You travel outside of Rome to wander the cobblestone streets of the ancient port city of Ostia Antica. Your private guide leads the family through preserved homes. The kids follow along eager to win their scavenger hunt, searching for ancient artifacts and symbols hidden in the city.
The splendor of Rome surrounds you as the family ventures into the center of art history in Vatican City. After your tour, you make your way to Piazza Navona for an art lesson with a veteran artist. The family captures the beauty of the square based on the techniques taught by your private instructor. Then, your guide leads you beneath the streets of Rome to uncover the catacombs of the city. After lunch, the family enters into the gardens at the Borghese Museum. Rent bikes to discover the magnitude and beauty of the landscape before settling down with a live marionette show at the old theater.
You have the city at your fingertips and the day at leisure. You could venture to beach outside Rome or wander through the passageways at Castel Sant’Angelo. For a different type of excursion, you can explore the hilltop monasteries in the town of Subiaco. Then, the family takes a day trip to the town of Tivoli to discover the opulent grounds of the preserved Roman villas, once home to emperors and noble families. Delight in a picnic in the captivating gardens before returning to Rome for your final night in the city. Your private transfer meets the family on your final day and escorts you to Fiumicino airport for your flight home. You could always extend your vacation in Italy by visiting the Amalfi Coast or embracing the Renaissance in Florence.
Starting Price
$3,600 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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