| Rome for kids can, let's face it, be a bit tedious. | | | | Italians know better, and the Borghese Park is |
| Ancient Roman art and architecture which may | | | | one of the local sources of real Italian |
| fascinate older people and even hold the attention | | | | entertainment which Romans themselves delight |
| of teenagers for a while will not mean a great | | | | in, while tourists miss out while they're busy tiring |
| deal to a six year old. | | | | themselves and their kids out by rushing round |
| And yet Italy for kids is a brilliant place. Children | | | | ancient monuments. |
| and the family are right at the core of Italy's | | | | Apart from the 148 acres of parkland and |
| culture and kids in Rome will be made welcome in | | | | beautiful (and very romantic) pathways, it's home |
| all sorts of unexpected ways - a free piece of | | | | to a lovely family run cafe - bar (where the |
| fruit from a market stall, a sweet treat in a | | | | Mamma just adores kids!), a tiny cinema, a puppet |
| restaurant, a cry of "Auguri" as local people peer | | | | theatre, roller-blade and bike rental, fifteen |
| into a newborn's pushchair. | | | | fountains (see if your kids can find them all!) and a |
| So in such a family-orientated culture it's hardly | | | | small lake complete with boat rental. It's also |
| surprising that there are plenty of things to do in | | | | home to Rome Zoo, which we described in our |
| Rome for kids, if you know where to look. | | | | first article. |
| Here's the second of our articles to help you out | | | | If you're with your kids in Rome on a Sunday it's |
| when your kids are calling "time" on culture. | | | | a particularly lively place to be : Italian families tend |
| Go clothes shopping! | | | | to come out for a Sunday morning stroll before |
| Shopping is probably not high on the list of | | | | disappearing for the all important family lunch. Our |
| priorities when you think about activities in Rome. | | | | favourite way of getting round the park is renting |
| But Italy is a country of style and fashion, and | | | | a multi-person pedal bike : it seats up to six and |
| young Italian people take a real pride in what they | | | | kids love telling their parents to pedal faster as |
| wear. | | | | they struggle up the hills. |
| For that reason there are lots of trendy clothes | | | | Great fun - don't miss it. |
| shops in Rome for kids, from babies right through | | | | |
| to young adults. Where you'll go to find them | | | | Explore 'Explora'. |
| depends on how much you want to spend. Try 'I | | | | OK, so it's a museum and kids might have seen |
| Pinco Pallino' on the Via del Babuino for an Italian | | | | enough of museums in Rome to last them a |
| designer brand which is well known in Italy and | | | | lifetime. But this one is different because it's the |
| Russia but not many other places. It's quite | | | | only museum in Rome for younger kids. Designed |
| expensive because the clothes here are | | | | for the under 12s, it's very 'hands-on' and although |
| handmade of the very finest of materials, but | | | | the museum's aim is educational, it's fun at the |
| they're colourful, trendy and above all, fun to | | | | same time. |
| wear. Even if you only buy one small item for | | | | It's broken into four sections where even very |
| your kids to take home to show their friends - do | | | | young people can experience various things from |
| it. | | | | everyday life they would never normally get the |
| For a less expensive option have a walk down | | | | chance to do until they're all grown up, from |
| the Via del Corso or the Via Nazionale, where | | | | 'driving' a fire engine to changing a car wheel to |
| you'll find up to the minute clothes shops for both | | | | helping produce a T.V. programme. |
| girls and boys. Miss Sixty is the present favoured | | | | The exhibits are described in Italian, but everyone |
| designer for young women in Rome. | | | | seems to enjoy experiencing them anyway and |
| Kids love wearing these clothes, and teenagers | | | | the kids mingle well with each other no matter |
| particularly will take great pleasure in telling their | | | | what language they speak. Visits are fairly tightly |
| friends back home that they're dressed by an | | | | structured over an hour and three quarters, |
| Italian designer. | | | | starting at 9.30 and 11.30 in the morning and 3 |
| Italian entertainment in the park. | | | | and 5 in the afternoon. Booking's not necessary. |
| Tourists often spend a relatively short time in | | | | It's closed on a Sunday. |
| Rome, and are understandably keen to see all the | | | | You'll find the museum at number 80 Via Flaminio, |
| famous sights the city has to offer. However, | | | | near the Piazza del Popolo. |
| that can sadly mean that they miss out on some | | | | Enjoy! |
| of the city's wonderful natural beauty spots. | | | | |