Italy is a dream destination for almost everyone. Fabulous wines, amazing food, romantic culture, in postcard perfect setting steeped in millennia of fascinating history; what's not to love? It's the perfect honeymoon destination... but what about the kids? Sure, you could shelf them with Grandma and spend your whole two weeks saying, "I wish the kids could see this!" and sipping wine in trattorias late into the night. Or, you could take the kids, and trade the late night wine tastings for impromptu chariot races on the Circo Massimo and gladiatorial reenactments among the ruins of the forum. Rome is the perfect place to take the kids.
History:
Is there any better place to experience Ancient History first hand than Rome? For sheer volume of archeological sites and artifacts, Rome is hard to beat. Any child would be "Wowed" by an afternoon spent exploring the Colosseum and taking pictures with the Roman re-enactors, imagining themselves watching the Gladiators slay lions on the arena floor. Big kids who might yawn and roll their eyes at the Pantheon when it's dry will enjoy standing beneath the circular opening in the rain. And any kid big enough to handle ghost stories around a campfire will find the catacombs beneath St. Sebastian's Church just creepy enough to be fabulous. Even the most hardened teenage tourist can't help but be drawn in by the stories of grave diggers, hiding Christians and ancient grave robbers as they descend into the deep dark of seven miles worth of hand carved honeycomb like cemetery. All that is missing are the bones. The possibilities are endless: walk the Appian Way, the ancient Roman road that ran straight into the heart of the forum. Quote Shakespeare on the floor of the Roman Senate, where Julius Caesar was killed. Climb the Scala Sancta (on your knees of course!) Explore the length of the old wall, picnic on the Spanish Steps and wander the streets sampling gelato wondering about the millions of feet who've worn the stones smooth for centuries before.
Art:
Just try to avoid art in Rome. Unless you walk blindfolded, you can't do it. Everywhere you look you'll find beautiful sculptures, breath taking frescoes, unbelievable architecture and local cultural art of all sorts. It is one of the best parts of being there. Of course, if you REALLY want to see fabulous art in Rome, there's only one place to go: The Vatican... the smallest independent country in the world, home of the Pope, seat of the Roman Catholic Church. Everyone goes to see the Sistine Chapel, and it is fabulous, but no more fabulous than the hundreds of rooms preceding it. I dare you to spend a whole day at the Vatican and see even half of the art treasures contained within. I dare you to make it through the whole tour without developing a serious case of "art overload." It can't be done. Be sure to see the Raphael room, the biggest piece of bronze sculpture in the world (in St. Peter's) the Pieta by Michelangelo and the golden papal carriage.
Food:
One fun way to explore a new culture with kids is through a "food tour." Rome is the perfect place to have a food themed week. Explore the fresh foods markets that spring up all over the city until noon most days. Be sure to sample the various Italian breads spread with fresh cheeses. Taste the difference between buffalo mozzarella and "regular" fresh mozzarella (it really is made with water buffalo milk... can you discover what makes it taste so much better?) Buy flat breads smeared with tomatoe paste from street vendors and start every day with a new Italian pastry for the kids and a cappuccino for Mom and Dad from any of the local bakeries. Make a family project of rating as many different lasagnas as possible on a scale from one to ten. Sample every gelato stand you pass on a given day. Have fun gaining your holiday five pounds... no visit to Italy is complete without it!
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