Rome Travel Forum

I will be working in Rome and my husband and daughter can fill a couple of days with the usual things, but am asking about easy, fun side trips with the possiblity of an overnite or two stay that would allow my daughter to have fun (like child's fun as opposed to educational, cultural fun). Also if you know any good places for her in Rome proper, I'm very interested!

Someone who wrote a book about traveling with children recommended a trip to the beach every three or four days.

Well, I am hardly an expert on what 10 year old girls might want to do, but I am guessing that if she is a outdoorsy sort of girl, she'd like swimming, hiking, and horseback riding, yes?

You can do all of these things in (or next to) the Parco Regionale dei Castelli Romani, which is a regional park southeast of Rome, between a number of hilltowns called the "Castelli Romani" (Roman castles).

Lago Albano is the larger of the two lakes in the park, and I know there is swimming on the floor of the volcanic crater. What volcanic crater? Oh, the one below Castel Gandolfo that filled with water (i.e., it's extinct), and which gives the most wonderful view when you're eating lunch in one of the restaurants on the lip of the crater in Castel Gandolfo itself.

In fact, it such a nice place that the Pope has his summer palace here, and will probably be there in August to escape the heat of Rome in the summer. (Traditionally, the Pope leaves Rome in late July and stays in Castel Gandolfo until the beginning of September, assuming he's not flying around the world somewhere).

Well, there's swimming, there's tons of hiking, and there are a number of equestrian centers, including 3 in Rocca di Papa, a town beyond the east side of the lake.

Two 'unfortunatelies': (1) although I have been to Castel Gandolfo several times, I haven't done the hiking, swimming, or horseback riding, so all I have is the knowledge that it can be done, and (2) all the websites that I have found so far are only in Italian, which is OK for me but probably not so good for you.

You can see some photos of Castel Gandolfo on my Castel Gandolfo page, and let's hope that someone with direct experience pops in or that maybe I'll find a better website for you (I know I've seen them...I just need to find them)...

Bill

If you are in Rome on a Sunday, go to the Vittorio Emanuele II Monument. They close off via D. Fori Imperiale to traffic on Sundays and it turns into a blocks long street fair. They sell gelato and there are street performers along with many people strolling and creating a show all their own. It's great fun and disappears on Monday. 8^)

Have a great trip.

Great museum for children
http://www.mdbr.it/inglese/
Can be interesting for some girls too:
http://www.viator.com/tours/Rome/Roman-Gladiator-School-Learn-How-to-Become-a-Gladiator/d511-2466GLAD#additional
Tivoli (Villa d'Este)
Time Elevator (great experience)
My children liked the idea of chasing obelisks. I planned our walk to pass about all of them http://www.initaly.com/regions/classic/obelisks.htm
(walk+information)

Ostia Lido.

This is a beach resort about 30 min from Rome. Easy to get to by taking the metro and the local tram, adult round trip ticket is 2 euros (Metro B line to Pyramide station then switch to the Lido tram). On the same tram line, a stop before Ostia Lido, is the roman ruins of Ostia Antica. This was the ancient seaport of Rome before the river Tiber changed course. The ruins go on forever, the kids just love rambling around in them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDqGoyyLDZA