Kidding Around

Kidding Around

Whoever said Rome is a big playground just for grown-ups was mistaken. Don't let the ancient ruins and the Baroque churches throw you off, because Rome abounds in child-oriented activities; you just have to know where to look. Here are some popular options, for both little and big kids alike.

Blast from the Past

Hurtle through 3,000 years of Roman history on the four-dimensional flight simulator ride at Time Elevator Roma (Via S.S. Apostoli 20, near Piazza Venezia). Through phenomenal special effects, the one-hour ride takes you on a tour of the city and its monuments as Caesar knew it.

Your start with a Jeopardy!-style quiz on Rome, then head into a movie theater with roller-coaster seats. Once the safety bar drops, lights dim and you're off to the founding of Rome with Romulus and Remus.

Chased by wolves, you dip into a time tunnel to the Ides of March to see Julius Caesar meet his untimely end before your eyes.

Then you hurtle on to the gladiator combats in the Colosseum, watch Michelangelo work in the Sistine Chapel, and dash on to Bernini's Baroque fountains, and continue right up through Italy's modern history.

This ride is air-conditioned—a real plus in the summer—and the narration comes in English and other languages.

Say "Cheese," Spartacus

Taking a photo with one of those ersatz gladiators in front of the Colosseum will win some smiles—but maybe some frowns, too. Many of these costumed gladiators pounce on tourists who simply aim a camera at them and then proceed to shake them down for a "photo fee." Others have a craftier approach: before you know it, one may envelop your eight-year-old in his red cape and say "Formaggio."

Indeed, this may turn out to be the greatest souvenir back home in fourth-grade class, so if interested, step right up, shake hands, and exchange some euros.

But pick your Spartacus very carefully: some sloppy guys wear a helmet and cloak but have sweatsuits or sneakers on. Rumor has it that Rome's government is going to crack down on these "gladiators" but so far it is caveat emptor.

Talk to the Animals

For some wheel fun, think about renting bikes (Viale dell'Orologio on the Pincio hill or Piazzale M. Cervantes) before heading over to the city zoo or to Rome's Bioparco, both set in the massive Villa Borghese park. The Zoo (Piazzale del Giardino Zoologico 1), which is one of the oldest in Europe, is home to more than 1,000 animals.

At the zoo, kids get to participate in all sorts of cool educational activities and can even feed some of the animals.

For those uniquely Roman critters—i gatti (the street cats)—kids can go on a free guided tour of the ancient Largo di Torre Argentina, for it has been made into a sanctuary and home for hundreds of once-homeless Roman cats—mom and dad, meanwhile, can ooh-and-aah at the relics and remains of one of the oldest (300 BC) temples in Rome.

Truth or Dare

Long before the advent of lie-detector machines, and even before there were bibles to swear on, there was the Bocca della Verità—the Mouth of Truth, the famous gaping mouth that so successfully terrified Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday.

Long-ago legends have it that people suspected of telling lies would be marched up to the Bocca and have their hand put inside the mouth of this massive stone relief (originally an ancient street drain cover).

If the suspect told the truth, nothing to fear. But if lies were told, the grim unsmiling stone mouth would take its revenge. This is a great spot for kids to get the truth out of their brother or sister, so have your camera—and your probing questions!—ready.

Don't forget to take in the adjacent Santa Maria in Cosmedin church, one of Rome's most evocative and spooky churches.

Adventures in Learning

Kids love hands-on activities and Rome has one museum that encourages them to do just that.

The Explora Children's Museum (Via Flaminia 82, 06/3613776, www.mdbr.it, near Piazza del Popolo) is a miniature realistic cityscape for children under 12 whose exhibits take them—and their bodies—through life in the big city.

Though the exhibits are mainly in Italian, the visuals, effects, and touchy-feely stuff seem to hold the children's attention whatever their language.

In the section called Io (Italian for "I"), everyone marvels at the giant, 5-foot version of a mouth.

Elsewhere, kids learn about the workings of a post office, a bank, and the ABC's of recycling. Other highlights: the TV weather forecast they get to star in, the Identikit section, and the life-size fire engine!

The World on Strings

Looming over Trastevere is the Janiculum Hill (Gianicolo), famed for its Cinerama view of the city below and for its colorful, open-air Teatro di Pulcinella puppet theater.

Shows here run weekdays from 4 to 7 PM and from 10:30 AM to 1 PM on weekends. A small donation is expected.

Over on the Pincio hill in the Villa Borghese park (usually accessed via Piazza del Popolo) is the Teatro Stabile dei Burattini "San Carlino," which puts on live puppet shows on weekends (Viale dei Bambini Villa Borghese).

Don't forget to take a stroll through the pretty park over to the Cinema dei Piccoli, the smallest movie theater in the world—with all of 63 seats (Viale della Pineta 15)—and children's movies shown daily.

Shows are in Italian, but most kids are amused by the images.

After these puppet shows, the perfect souvenir awaits at Bartolucci (Via de' Pastini 99, near the Pantheon) where you'll meet not one Pinocchio but hundreds, still or animated, from life- to pocket-size, all crafted by artisans.