Rome - looking for suggestions.
 

You’re in rome with wife and 3 kids (ages 11, 10, and 8) and have seen the colosseum/fortune/capitaline hill and Vatican/St Peter’s - doing tours for both. Your children surprised you by enjoying both - but enjoying the colosseum more.

you’ve got two more days plus a departure day (train to florence) - what would you do with them? Thinking of heading to villa Borghese today but won’t be able to get tickets to the museum. And maybe appian way tomorrow. Any other suggestions?

I saw this article: https://www.planetware.com/italy/rom...-do-i-1-30.htm. which has some ideas. If your kids are OK with skeletons, mine really enjoyed the macabre Capuchin crypt: https://romesite.com/capuchin-crypt.html.

I suggest some of the following:

The Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, a privately owned Renaissance palace, still owned by descendants of the Doria Pamphilj family. It's beautifully furnished in period style, and has the family's art collection hanging on the walls. There's an excellent audio tour narrated by a family member.

https://www.doriapamphilj.it/roma/

Ostia Antica, the ancient Roman port city, actually bigger than Pompeii, with well-preserved buildings. You can see an ancient Roman public toilet, visit ancient Roman bar, and climb some stairs in an ancient Roman apartment building. I would advise a guided tour there, as it's not easy to find things.
https://www.ostiaantica.beniculturali.it/en/the-park/

You can get there on a little train from central Rome, with a regular bus/metro ticket. There's an audio guide available, but when I was last there, in 2019, we found it useless, because we couldn't find any of the signs. ( We saw one lying on the road.)

This tour looks reasonable, but I can't vouch for it personally, as I've always visited it on my own. I've taken visiting children and teens there, and all have really enjoyed it.
https://www.viator.com/tours/Rome/Ru...P8#userReviews

Villa Farnesina, a Renaissance suburban villa, with beautiful frescoes and a nice garden. It's no longer in the suburbs, but in the charming Trastevere neighbourhood. It has rather limited hours. You could also have lunch or dinner in one of the many popular restaurants of Trastevere. I also suggest a visit to the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, one of the oldest churches in Rome, with beautiful medieval golden mosaics.
Villa Farnesina | Gli affreschi di Raffaello a Roma

The Baths of Caracalla, a well-preserved ancient Roman bath complex.
https://www.coopculture.it/en/poi/terme-di-caracalla/

I assume you've seen Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, and the Pantheon (inside).

I would suggest the Castel Sant'Angelo, built as Hadrian's mausoleum, used as a fortress in medieval times, now a museum with wonderful views over the city.

Also the Basilica of Saint Clement -- a veritable time machine. You descend from the 11th century basilica to one built in 4th century, then further down to a Mithraeum and even older Roman ruins.

Along the Appian Way you might want to visit one of the Catacombs.

Near Termini visit the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme with its spectacular collection of Roman art, including murals and mosaics, and the nearby Baths of Diocletion.

All this would take more than two days, so take your pick!

Take the kids to the noon cannon firing from the Gianicolo view point. The view itself is worth the hike. Along the way you can see the fountain that was more or less copied for the Trevi fountain. Fontana dell'Acqua Paola Big difference zero crowds at this fountain just cars to dodge.

I loved the Borghese’s Bernini sculptures, they were moving and realistic. Glad you’re enjoying Rome too!

We really liked the guided e-bike tour of the Appian Way.
There's an option that includes a catacombs visit as well.

Day trip to Orvieto?

Capuchin crypt is interesting. Takes less than an hour to visit. Could head toward the Spanish Steps from there, then nearby Borghese for an afternoon in Rome's largest park.

the crypt was a huge hit. Ive been to rome 4 times and never saw it myself!