Trova trails

Supermarket deli counters are a great place to buy a tasty sandwich and pizza.

Choose your bread - pizza Bianca , white rolls, 8 grain, wholewheat - and filling - buffalo mozzarella, mortadella, prosciutto, pecorino, Gorgonzola - pretty much any type of Italian cheese or pork product.

You'll find Roman Thin-crust pizza rossa(with a layer of tomato sauce) and pizza bianco (like focaccia) by the slice and you can normally find a few other options too.

Todis supermarket have pioneered the caramelised onions with porchetta pizzetta at their deli counter: delizioso!

How well do you know Rome?

Our new Trastevere to the Gianicolo trail is currently being tested - on live (very) children - and will be launched this summer.

Get off the beaten track: whilst the kids let off steam on Rome's highest hill you'll find clues, solve puzzles, discover the heroes of Italian unification and find out how Guiseppe Garibaldi inspired a biscuit to be named after him.

April 21 - Rome's birthday- the celebration of the legendary founding of Rome by Romulus in 753 BC.

More than 1700 costumed participants join the festivities around the Circus Maximus for the grand parade. Gladiator tournaments, trench-digging and a match of Harpastum (ancient rugby) are all on offer.

Natalediroma.it

Get the kids out, get them moving, get them playing, get them learning.

See the Colosseum from a different angle.

Download the trovatrails app and tour the outside of the amphitheater with a fun game.

No queues. No cost. No lectures.

"Can we go and do another trail right now?' Diana,7 years old, on finishing our detective trail around the Pantheon.

We love your enthusiasm Diana!
If your kids aren't begging you to take them to a museum, download one of our themed detective trails and they soon will be!

Go on a spy mission around the Capitoline museums, hunt for buried treasure around the outside of the Colosseum (currently free to download), embark on a magical tour through Saint Angelo Castle or follow a watery trail walking through the heart of Rome. No lectures, just fun.

Trova trails Rome A fun detective trail to explore Rome with kids

Did you know you can save 50% on train travel travelling with a child?

The Italian fast-speed trains, the Frecciarossa, are an excellent way to travel. Fast, modern and well connected. They are also very economical for families because with the frecciaFamily offer kids under 16 go free plus parents save 50% on their tickets too.

So a trip to Venice that would have cost €138 for a single, cost €46 for two (including a child).

Make sure to book with the FrecciaFamily offer.

Trenitalia.com

The Underground Colosseum tour is even better now with the gladiator exhibition set in the tunnels under the arena.
Seeing the costumes and armour helps bring it all alive but the best thing is the short video of gladiators walking in the dark tunnels with the noise of the crowds.
Sadly the exhibition ends in February but the video will remain.

Fiumicino airport to Trastevere station: 27 minutes. Cost: €8,kids under 13 go free.

If you want a quick, cheap, safe way into the center, consider the local train. It leaves every 15 minutes- every half hour on weekends and holidays. The leonardo express is another option if you're staying near Termini but most people don't realise this local train is just as quick. No need to worry about car seats - which you won't find in Roman taxis- and taxi drivers drive way too fast on the highway for our liking.

At Trastevere station you can then take a bus, taxi or jump on to the number 8 tram that runs into the center. Scenic, safe and budget-friendly.

Get the kids out to find clues, solve riddles and explore the Colosseum with an interactive game.

Our Colosseum trail is free for a limited time in 2024.

Discover more about this great icon with fun facts written for kids. The tour takes you around the outside of the amphitheater so tickets are not necessary.

Start 2024 off with an adventure the whole family will enjoy.

For peace of mind when visiting Rome,hang on to this link: MedInAction.com

If your child gets sick, MedInAction have English-speaking doctors who do house calls. Staffed by doctors with perfect English and a gentle approach to children.

Yes you can use the Italian public health system too. But navigating a hospital without Italian can add stress to an already stressful situation. Relax knowing that you can book an English speaking doctor to come to your bedside.

It's not cheap at €140 for a Pediatrician's visit. So make sure to read our next blog on how to save money when visiting Rome.
www.trovatrails.com/blog

Explore inside an ancient pyramid in Rome.

The 2,000 year old pyramid- shaped tomb of Caio Cestio is now open every Sunday in October for guided tours. And it's free.
To book go to: Www.soprintendenzaspecialeroma.it

Food tastes so much better when my kids are happy.

Our kids aren't patient sitters so we have often sought out restaurants with a piazza next door so the kids can play whilst we wait for the food to arrive. Play tag, kick a football, chase pigeons.

If you have kids who like to keep moving, read our blog for five of the best restaurants in Rome with outdoor space.

www.trovatrails.com/blog

Don't do this in Rome!

Electric scooters in Rome are common. Don't be tempted to use them with kids. Roads in Rome are terrible. Small wheels and potholes are not a safe combination. (And there are a LOT of potholes). Then there's the chaotic driving. It's not worth the risk.
Rome is a safe city - except on the roads. Traffic is a problem and we suggest you are very careful crossing roads and in traffic.

To enter the Pantheon you now need a €5 ticket. DO NOT get duped into paying three times as much to enter the Pantheon.

Trova tips: To buy €5 tickets (children are free but still need a ticket to enter) head to: www.museiitaliani.it

Yes, you have to log in which is frustrating. It's possible the ministry will get their act together and create a more efficient ticket service in the future. Once logged in you'll need to choose a time slot and purchase tickets. Don't forget to get free tickets for the kids. (And don't forget to cover your shoulders or you won't get in. )

It's almost impossible to find the official site on Google, and you'll find yourself on the site that looks official- but isn't. We're happy to report the lines with the audio guide at 3 times the price were about 3 times longer than the official lines.

You can buy the tickets in person in cash but the line was very long.

Please get a guide, use Trova trails guided game or read up a bit about the Pantheon before you visit. It's a special place that comes alive with a bit of knowledge.

Did you know that Sant' Angelo Castle is one of the most popular sites in Rome for kids?

Find out why with a self-guided magical trail around the tomb and fortress.

Today is the magical day they scatter red rose petals from the Pantheon's skylight for Pentecostal mass.

Another piece of magic: look at the size of the coffers (indented squares) of the dome in this archival photo. Did you ever believe they were that large? I'm astonished by this image .

Discover the Pantheon with an exciting quest. Improve your critical thinking and have fun with the first child-led travel app.
This must-see building is even more exciting when you discover the magic behind its construction. Ditch your guidebook and get stuck into a family adventure.

Calling all nerf fans! The 'summer of Nerf' is about to begin!
Starting April 21-25 at Villa Borghese. To celebrate Earth Day there will be all sorts of activities to get kids outdoors and moving. Head to the 'galoppatoio' area (near la casina di Raffaello).

Garum: the sauce that powered the Roman Empire.

Packed with protein and nutrients, this pungent sauce was used by rich and poor alike. A good bottle of the stuff could go for €500 but there were cheap versions for those not prepared to pay half a grand on rotted fish guts!

Intestines, blood - every part of the fish was used to create an "exquisite liquid."

An adventure for kids in Rome? Climb the 550 steps inside the cupola of St Peter's Basilica.

The windy, narrow stairs are NOT for the claustrophobic but feel like a great adventure for kids. You're rewarded at the top with an amazing view of Rome.

"These steps are interesting" Danny, my six year old volunteered on the way down.

€8pp, kids go free
Trova tip: Take cash as cards are not accepted!

Harry Potter fans: explore a spooky castle and ancient tomb with a magical trail. Find clues and solve puzzles as you learn about the emperors, popes and magicians who lived - and died - in the castle.

Explore Castel Sant' Angelo with Trova's Cursed castle trail. Download the app now (see link in bio).

familytravel funhistory gamifiedlearning

Lions, elephants, crocodiles - and sausage dogs?!!
Recent research has found bones of dachshunds (or their ancestors) under the Colosseum.
More fun facts from Trova.

Five fun facts about gladiators your kids will love. (Except number 4 which is frankly just disappointing)

What every parent visiting Rome should seek out: pizza rossa.
Beloved of Roman children and their parents. Thin and crispy with a delicate tomato sauce it's perfect for breakfast, snacks, lunch or aperitivo time.
Available at most bakeries, many green grocers (alimentare) and even the supermarket. Devoured even by the pickiest of eaters.

Roscioli, Linari, La Renella, are some of our favourite bakeries for pizza Rossa. What are yours?

Pest or sky art? Millions of starlings fly over Rome this time of year making magical shapes in the sky.
Also making a sticky mess underfoot. The birds travel as far as 80 km for food eating as much as 10 olives per bird! The oily droppings are a menace for scooters and bikes.

This gorgeous little temple, il Tempietto, designed by Bramante, is another reason to venture up to the Gianicolo hill.
Whilst Kids might not appreciate the beauty and harmony that make it highly regarded in architecture history, they will enjoy its tiny size and peeking below to see the crypt underneath that marks the place st Peter was apparently crucified.

Open Tuesday to Sunday 10-6pm

Three reasons to get off the beaten track and visit piazza Vittorio with kids.

Mouth-watering pizza al taglio (by the slice) at Casamanco, Testaccio. Zucchini flowers, burrata and anchovies. With their unique crust with blended grains it's a healthy meal.

This gorgeous Baroque church, Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza, between Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, is often missed. Inside the courtyard of Rome's 15th century university building and hidden behind an austere wall, it's well worth a tiny detour to find.
Corso del Rinascimento 40.