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KIDS' ROME |
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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 Fontane. Mon-Fri 3-8pm, Sat 3pm-1am, Sun 10am-1pm &
3-10pm; free entrance, rides cost L2000-5000.
An amusement park in the EUR district, this is the only place in Rome
that you'll find big-scale amusements, like a rollercoaster, haunted
house, Ferris wheel, and the like. It's a bit dated, but is still a
popular destination for families.
Villa Ada
Beautiful grounds just north of the city with plenty to keep youngsters
amused, including a roller-skating rink, bike paths, two playgrounds,
and ponds.
Villa Borghese
A huge park offering plenty of entertainment for young ones. Enter at
the Viale delle Belle Arti entrance to find pony rides, a children's
train, swings and paddleboats. Kids might also be interested in the
Bioparco on Via del Giardino Zooligico, (daily 9am-6pm; tel
06.360.8211), a once poorly kept zoo that has undergone many changes. It
now also has a museum next door - and often face-painting at weekends.
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 about all aspects
of the world beyond. There is also supposed to be a laboratory where
kids can participate in experiments.
Museo di Zoologia
Via Aldovrandi 18 tel 06.321.6586. Tues-Sun 9am-5pm; L5000, kids under
18 free.
Located next to the zoo, this museum is getting a facelift. A new
permanent exhibit, Animals and their Habitats, is on display in a new
wing, while a variety of stuffed animals fill the older part of the
museum.
Museo della Civiltà Romana
Piazza Agnelli 10 tel 06.592.6041. Tues-Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 9am-1.30pm;
L5000, kids under 12 free.
On your way to Luna Park, stop by the Roman Civilization museum, where
you can see replicas of Rome's famous statues and buildings, as well as
interesting models of Imperial and Ancient Rome
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
soldiers.
Benetton
Via Cesare Battisti 129 tel 06.6992.4010. Mon 3.30-7.30pm, Tues-Sat
9.30am-1pm & 3.30-7.30pm.
Just one of the several locations of this famous Italian chain store
that sells fairly expensive clothes for children and adults. This one
conveniently has a children's hairdresser on the second floor.
Bertè
Piazza Navona 108 tel 06.687.5011. Mon 3.30-7.30pm, Tues-Sat 9.30am-1pm
& 3.30-7.30pm.
One of Rome's oldest toy stores at the other end of the Piazza from Al
Sogno, that has a complete range of toys for children of all ages.
Città del Sole
Via della Scrofa 66 tel 06.6880.3805. Mon 3.30-7.30pm, Tues-Sat
11am-1.30pm.
Toys, games and books for kids in a great central location.
IANA
Via Cola di Rienzo 182 tel 06.6889.2668. Mon 3.30-7.30pm, Tues-Sat
10am-1.30pm & 3.30pm-7.30pm.
Popular Italian chain store selling moderately priced kids' clothes.
La Bottega di Marinella
Via Margutta 34 tel 06.324.4793, fax 06.361.4143. Mon 3.30-7.30pm, Tues-Sat
9.30am-7.30pm.
Adorable children's store on swanky Via Margutta, selling their own
designs of infant and young children's clothes, plus fabrics to brighten
up any child's bedroom.
Marina Menasci
Via del Lavatore 87 tel 06.678.1981. Mon 3.30-7.30pm, Tues-Sat
9.30am-1pm & 3.30-7.30pm.
Toy store that sells exclusively wooden toys, in a great location a few
steps from the Trevi Fountain
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 whether they understand the
words or not.
The outdoor theatres on the Janiculum Hill, and in EUR on Largo K.
Ataturk, are said to be the only places to view the true puppeteers left
in Rome. Both are free, although a small donation is expected. You can
also see shows near the Janiculum at Teatro Verde, Circonvallazione
Gianicolense 10 (tel 06.588.2034), a children's theatre where they also
put on musicals and marionette shows (L12,000). Most puppet shows go on
from around 4pm till 7pm on weekdays and 10.30am until 1pm at weekends.
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 where they were going. The kings responded
that they were following a star, in search of a newborn baby. They
invited her to come along, but she declined, saying she had too much
sweeping and cleaning to do. When she found out who it was the kings
were off to find, her regret for not having gone with them was so great
that she has spent eternity rewarding good children with presents and
sweets and bad children with pieces of coal on the day of Epiphany,
January 6.
Each year, from early December until January 6, Piazza Navona sets up
the Bufana toy fair , where endless stalls tempt children with every
sort of sticky, gooey sweets and even chunks of black sugar made to look
like coal. There are also toy stands and several manger scenes where
children sometimes leave letters for La Bufana, asking her for specific
presents and toys.
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