I'm taking my teenaged boys (13 and 15) to Rome for Christmas. Other than the standard sites, ruins, etc....what would be fun for them?

Oh, and presuming you mean this Christmas, be aware that most things will be closed on the 25th, 26th and 27th this year.

Oh, and presuming you mean this Christmas, be aware that most things will be closed on the 25th, 26th and 27th this year.

Hmmm. The 'net seems to be acting up. The second response posted twice, and the first is lost. Here goes again. <BR> <BR>Among the 'standard' sites, and some not so standard, there are a few that have stood out for our youngsters: <BR> <BR>-St. Peter's Basilica - include a climb to the cupola, a tour of the grottoes beneath ... if possible reserve a tour through the Necropolis. <BR>-Roman Forum and Palatine. <BR>-Vatican Museums - deserving, for many, several days to visit ... focus with the youngsters on the keys, certainly including the Sistine Chapel. For most youngsters I'd say and hour is enough. <BR>-Castel San Angelo <BR>-Italian Food <BR>-Colosseum <BR>-The 'Church of the Skulls' as our youngsters called Santa Maria delle Concezione. <BR>-Ostia Antica, the ancient port of Rome. <BR>-Museum of Roman Civilization. <BR>-Catacombs <BR> <BR>You'll find more info on these and other thoughts about visiting the city with youngsters at http://twenj.com/romekids.htm <BR>

The Cappuccin Crypt which is just off of Piazza Barberini. I also went to the Catacombs and found them very enlightening. Here is the Italian Tourist Board Website which has loads of information: http://www.italiantourism.com/html/benveng.html

For boys I would certainly second the suggestion for The Cappuccin Crypt which is just off of Piazza Barberini (my wife and I really enjoyed it too). Our daughters, same age as your boys, were less than thrilled with most of the regular "must see" sites but they loved the Doria/Pamphilli (sp?). Not just a cool museum and palace, but knowing that the family still lived there just blew them away. <BR> <BR>The other most memorable part of the trip for the kids (once I got them to try it with me) was walking into a dozen or so chuches that were not in any of our guide books. As you walk the streets of Rome, look for Churches with open doors and just walk in. (Yes, kids, it is allowed. No kids, nobody is going to stop us. Fine kids, we will leave some change in the box)

I took 2 teens to Rome a year ago, October and they loved staying in an old merchant's palazzo on a tiny street off the Plaza Navona. They really liked the guy we rented it from as his warmth was much like the majority of the people in Rome. They loved seeing all the motos zipping around; they loved Plza. Navonna and all the ice cream parlors in Rome. They loved visiting the fountains and hiking all over the hills...they loved the Treasury at the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel...they loved being able to eat all the pizza they could order....Romans love children-they talk to them , not over their heads. Take the boys to St. Peters Moto....it looks like the Harley dealership of Vatican Row! Let them stroll in the Borghese Gardens.... There's lots for teens.