parks in Rome?
 

Where can a kid play catch in Rome? We will be travelling to Rome with our two boys and our proven strategy for seeing the museums is the promise of play time in the afternoon. It was easy in Paris and Madrid but can it be done in the Eternal City?

Besides having a very nice outdoor pool, the Sheraton Roma is within walking distance to a nice family park and a couple of soccer fields. It is not located near Old Rome Center, but they do have a complimentary van that picks/drops guests every hour on the hour in front of Piazza dei Campidoglio, near Piazza Venezia. Very convenient. We had a great deal by using the Entertainment Book Discount coupons.

There is also a large park near the Galleria &amp; Villa Borghese, where I saw some children playing soccer.<BR><BR>Buon Viaggio,<BR>BC

Yes, the Villa Borghese has a very large park where kids can have a great time, but it is a bit far away from the centro storico. <BR><BR>Just a little bit closer in are the Pincio Gardens. These gardens overlook Piazza del Popolo and give a great view of Rome. You get to it by walking from the top of the Spanish Steps past the Renaissance Villa Medici.<BR><BR>Although not a park, you can take your kids to the Circus Maximus just on the other side of the Palatine Hill and let them play ball in the ancient oval track where the Roman chariot races took place. Think of the history lesson !

The Circus Maximus is a large open field where I've seen children/young adults kicking around a soccer ball, walking/jogging and playing Frisbee.<BR> Across the street from the Colosseum is a park (Parco Oppia &amp; Parco di Traiano) which is built over Nero's Golden House (Domus Aurea) and among the sparse ruins of the Baths of Trajan. Regards, Walter<BR>

You can also reward the kids for putting up with your visit to St Peter's or the Vatican museums by promising to take them to the Castel Sant'Angelo afterwards.<BR><BR>Show them the impressive castle on your way to the Vatican, telling them how it was originally built by the Emperor Hadrian as a Mausoleum for himself and his family. Tell them how it's function changed from a tomb to a become a fortress and prison for the Pope, and how it's connected to the Vatican via a secret passage running along the top of the encircling walls of the Vatican so that the Pope could escape to it in times of crisis. The kids will enjoy going up the circular ramp leading up to the different levels of the castle, and looking at the great views of the river and city from each level (specially the top). There is also a kid friendly museum with lots of armor and weaponry from ancient times.<BR>

We do similar with our kids. There is plenty of room to run around at the Borghese gardens. My kids do accumulate lots of energy when we spend time in a museum. In Rome we've also had them count the Spanish steps on several occasions (they never got the same answer twice!).

Great ideas -- thanks!