Living "La Dolce Vita” - Family Trip to Rome

Guided Tours:

• One of the highlights of our trip was exploring ancient ruins such as the Pantheon. The Pantheon is a great first day afternoon site to visit and take a tour of because it is only about 45 minutes of touring after being exhausted on an overnight flight and perhaps not wanting to walk endlessly.

• From the Pantheon, it’s only a short walk to visit the Trevi Fountain, which is an absolute must-see and an amazing Instagram photo opportunity. If you have kids with you, make sure they throw a coin in the fountain to ensure they come back to visit one day. Same for yourselves!

• We concluded our first day in Rome with the kids’ favorite tour of them all - a twilight Vespa tour of the entire city at night! This is a perfect end to day one because the kids rode in sidecars and didn’t have to walk anymore. The fresh air woke them up a bit and we saw parts of the city we would have never known about. You stop along the way for pictures and to learn about each place, monument, ruin. Did you know there’s an ancient pyramid in the heart of Rome? This tour was 5-stars a must do with children.

• Lastly, kids generally love the guided Colosseum tour as well (a bit longer so second or third day is recommended) and learning about the gladiators and the fighting techniques. Being able to witness firsthand the marvels of this world-famous city was not only awe-inspiring but also educational. We all learned about the ancient Roman civilization and better understand the significance of these historical landmarks.

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Art, History, Religion

• Guided Tour of the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica: Rome's renowned art and art history offered our family a unique opportunity to appreciate some of the world's greatest masterpieces. On day two, we spent three-and-a-half hours in awe at the Vatican Museums, admiring breathtaking works of art like the Sistine Chapel and the famous sculptures of Michelangelo. Some of the oldest relics in the world have been housed here for centuries, so it is truly incredible to witness. We took the shortest guided tour we could find so as not to bore our kids with an overabundance of information. This ended up being a wise choice on my part…for them AND for my husband whose attention span was waning at the end of the tour. Our tour concluded in St. Peter’s Basilica - an absolute humbling place to witness in person. This exposure to art sparked our children's curiosity and ignited a love for creativity and beauty.

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Another important aspect of our trip was indulging in the rich Italian cuisine. Rome provided us with a variety of delectable treats, from mouth-watering pasta dishes to authentic gelato. Our kids enjoyed trying new flavors and experiencing the joy of discovering different foods from a different culture. Here are the places we went and I would highly recommend them.

• Dinner at Saltimbocca ristorante in Piazza Navona. Try to grab a table outside on the street so you can enjoy the people watching and fresh air. If you are visiting in summer then enjoy a carafe of their house white wine - delizioso and refreshing. Their caprese salad was a family favorite.

• Dinner at Osteria da Fortunata. This gem of a restaurant was recommended to us by a few of the locals. When you walk up, you’ll see multi-generations of Italians hand rolling fresh pasta for all to witness and be in awe of. The recipes here have been handed down from mother to daughter for generations and kept secret for hundreds of years. Indulge in the pasta here! The gnocchi was incredible and some of the most divine I have ever tasted.

• Refreshing Treat at T’azzo D’oro. Be sure to refresh and get an energy boost one your first day in Rome by sipping a Granita de Caffe (shaved iced coffee with whipped cream). Located in a quaint old building near the Pantheon it is the perfect spot to enjoy this popular local treat.

• Gelato and Wine at Bar San Calisto. You can get gelato just about anywhere but we loved the little area of Rome called Trastevere. It’s a very hip and vibrant town in the evening with young and old sipping wine in the street or enjoying a gelato. We ended an evening here and it was magical!