Lasting 1000 years, the period of ancient Rome, with its many emperors, warriors, poets, and myths, can be tricky to understand. This walk was designed to give families an entry point for grappling with antiquity and thus is an excellent starting point for any Roman adventure.
Ancient Rome Discovery brings families into the archaeological heart of Rome where we encounter the stories of Romulus and Remus, the artistic and political achievements of the emperors, and the everyday lives of ancient Roman citizens. Although stories figure predominantly into the walk, the emphasis is on learning and putting Rome in context.
We begin with the Colosseum, emblematic of Roman engineering prowess and social complexity. This site, often that most iconic for children, presents a great jumping point to delve into the lives of ancient Romans. We will take our time here, while our docent helps us explore the construction and history of this spectacular space, painting a vivid picture its history and encouraging lively discussion between children and adults by using inquiry-based learning techniques.
If the stories of gladiators interest the group, we'll make a special side visit to the Ludus Magnus, a training area for gladiators from which they could enter the Colosseum via an underground tunnel. This site, discovered in the 20th century, offers an intriguing look into the everyday lives of the gladiators and is especially eye-opening for children, as they can draw mental pictures of the ancient training area.
Lastly, we'll stroll down the via dei Fori Imperiali and touch on the Imperial Fora, a string of open plazas and temples and other structures, built by the emperor Augustus and his successors as Rome grew and expanded during its incredible rise to dominance. These magnificent structures culminate in the markets of Trajan, where the past and present intertwine to bring history alive in ways that are only possible in Rome.
When you book your Ancient Rome Discovery, we will add the price of Colosseum tickets and reservations (14 euro). This will be calculated when you checkout according to the number of people in your group. You will need to purchase entrance tickets to Trajan's Markets (€6.50) during the course of the walk. Please note that only children from the European Union are eligible for a discounted ticket. Children from the United States and Canada must pay full price.
If you will be using a Rome Archeological Pass or Roma Pass for the entrance fees, please note this in special requests so you will not be charged for entrance. These passes, however, must be purchased before the tour and in order to use the Roma Pass, the Colosseum must be one of your two free entries allowed.
In order to plan the best possible experience for your children, it would be helpful for us know some background. Have they traveled to other countries in the past? If so, where? Have they studied any subjects in school that would relate to the walk? Are they interested in art, music, even food! The more you can tell us, the better.
Please note that this walk does not cover the Roman Forum or Palatine Hill.
Due to the very interactive nature of this program and given the educational environment our docent aim to evoke, we adhere to a very strict maximum of 6 participants. Groups larger than 6 will need to book two separate walks that can run concurrently, but with different docents.