Page 362 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Rome

360  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS
CHILDREN’S ROME

Italians love having children around, and you art. The temptation may be to wear yourself
can be sure yours will be made welcome and your children out by packing too many
wherever they go. But there are few special sights into one day. Plan in advance and
amenities for children, and the heat, crowds, leave plenty of time to wander around the
and lack of clean public restrooms mean that city: looking at the quirkier fountains and
Rome is not an ideal city for a vacation with monuments, watching knife-grinders at
babies or under-sevens. It does, however, work in the markets, and spending hours
have plenty to offer slightly older children, agonizing over the choice of ice-cream
especially those who are keen on history or flavors and special pizza toppings.
Practical Advice
If you are planning to bring
your children to Rome, try to
come in early spring or late
autumn, when the weather is
good, but not too hot. Easter
is best avoided, as the city is
more crowded than usual, and
you’re constantly jostled on
packed buses and streets.
Where you stay is crucial.
A hotel near the Villa Borghese
park will give your children
plenty of chance to relax and
let off steam, though you may
end up spending a lot of time
and money to get to and from
downtown. A hotel in the old Midway ride in the Villa Borghese park
center is ideal, as you can easily
pop back during the day for a a noise while they relax and, if Getting Around
rest and a clean bathroom. yours are reasonably outgoing, Bumpy cobblestones, narrow
As hygienic rest rooms and they could join in with the local streets without sidewalks
changing amenities are rare children playing spontaneous and overcrowded buses
within the city, it is really not ball games in early evenings on make pushing children
advisable to bring a baby to piazzas like Campo de’ Fiori. around in strollers tiring work.
Rome unless you are visiting If you feel the need for a total Mothers with young children
friends or family. break, most hotels will be able are, however, usually allowed
As with many historic cities, to provide a baby sitter or help to go to the front of the line.
Rome may not instantly you to contact a qualified Outside rush hours, the Metro
appeal to all children, but childminding agency. is often less busy. Kids under
there is plenty to inspire their In the event of an accident, 3 ft 3 in (1 m) tall travel free
imaginations. Use this book see pages 370–71 for infor- on public transportation.
to make the buildings and mation on what to do and a Although the city is not
history come alive. Children list of emergency numbers. good for bicycling, families
might also enjoy learning a with older children could rent
few Italian words and phrases bicycles to ride along the Tiber
so they can greet locals, order on the bicycle tracks to the
food, and buy things by north of the city, or to take on
themselves. If lingering over a train into the country. The
drinks on the café terraces is bicycles, tandems, and rickshaws
what you enjoy best, bring for rent in Villa Borghese are
something to keep your good fun, and the bicycle rental
children busy once they have hut in the Pincio gardens has
finished with their treat. You free baby seats.
are unlikely, however, to see
Italian children playing with
their phones at the table. Eating Out
Alternatively, most other adults Children are normally
are very tolerant of children A selection of bicycles for rent in the Villa warmly welcomed in
running around and making Borghese park neighborhood pizzerias

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