Called Steam, is huge arts classes and re enactments, plus with pasta, yummy fresh cheese and fruits.

And there's plenty of tastes attempt. 00:00:43.190 --> 00:01:2.320 Tiny pallets conquer it all in I'm Nathan and Nine Genus and were Mom and Dad were traveling around the world, discovering amazing countries, new cultures and really wild experiences together. 00:01:2.640 --> 00:01:13.120 Come along with us as we learn all about our planet and about being together as a family as we discover the wonders of the world, the wonders of nature and sometimes wonder.

What were we thinking in travel with kids?

Rome is one of the largest cities in the world and is teeming with people, both locals and tourists.

There's a small underground rail system, which is easy to use, but fairly limited.

Buses are a good option but can be quite overcrowded.

Open top bus is air fun for kids, but touristy while they might cost a bit more.

The fastest and easiest way to get around is by Taxi Coma.

We've arrived by train from Venice, a fast and easy trip on the trains. 00:02:4.320 --> 00:02:30.460 We're staying in an apartment, which we booked through Parker Villas Roman Holiday, This beautiful apartment just off Piazza Navona Center to all of Rome's attractions, Villa offers plenty of room for the whole family, plus a kitchen and dining area so we can eat some meals in which saves some money and washer and dryer so we can actually pack light and do laundry as we travel.

After settling into our villa, we head out by foot.

Another great way to get around Rome, especially if you plan your days to visit attractions all in one area to explore the city.

Starting with our own Piazza Navona, Piazza Navona was built on the site of an ancient stadium.

It's now an example of Baroque architecture. 00:02:56.000 --> 00:03:1.900 Cool stuff in the piazza includes this fountain of four rivers and a big Egyptian. 00:03:1.900 --> 00:03:2.490 Ah, bliss. 00:03:3.070 --> 00:03:5.200 Also look out for the fountain of Neptune. 00:03:5.660 --> 00:03:10.920 This style, found all over Rome, was made famous by a sculptor named Bernini.

In the small, cobbled streets around Piazza Navona, kids find a map in a shop window that shows them what Rome once looked like.

This is where they have chariot races.

This is where Glady and fight, and this is where they have church.

To get a better idea of Rome's history, we decide to view the three D movie time Elevator Rome.

We load into moving cars with three D glasses, and we're bumped around through an on screen journey through Rome's history.

While this is a unique way to learn history, the film is somewhat loud and graphic for younger kids and is a bit over priced if you're pressed for time.

A better investment is the book Rome reconstructed.

This is a great book for kids who visit Rome. 00:03:59.100 --> 00:04:4.970 It shows all the main tourist sites as they would have been an ancient Rome and how they look now. 00:04:5.920 --> 00:04:23.750 It really brings the whole vision together for the kids, which can be found in many gift shops around town, including the time elevators way usually go for independent travel, exploring on our own with a guide book at our own pace.

But in the case of Rome, we've decided a guide would be great.

Rome is huge and can be overwhelming.

After all, most of the history of the world is right here because Rome is such a big city with so many monuments with stories to tell, we decide to hire a guide from walks Inside Rome, which offers a specialized Children's tour.

Salvatore, our guide, picks us up and takes us to a local taverna, where he explains each dish. 00:04:54.960 --> 00:05:2.800 He's been doing this for quite a while and knows the city and its people inside and out is called Macaroni China. 00:05:3.300 --> 00:05:13.150 It's one of the old, the shoes when Italy was very poor and, ofcourse, that these were very simple.

These users trying the local Backstreet Tavernise is a real treat, and kids will surprise you what they'll try, especially when they're hungry.

And don't worry, there's always pizza, and the cook shows us the kitchen.

Roll over homemade having lasagna.

Okay, you want to do it?

Let's see how you do it. 00:06:0.200 --> 00:06:6.710 And just like the gladiators of ancient Rome, after a huge feast, we head for the Coliseum.

Coal steam is here Are you Wesley?

And while the Coliseum could seat well over 50,000 people, tickets were hard to get a hand.

It's no different today.

You can expect long lines at the ticket office and the entrance, but you can skip the lines by using the Roma pass Ah multi attraction past.

Or you can reserve your tickets online for a specific day and time of entry. 00:06:55.460 --> 00:07:7.540 But south from walks inside Rome can also get us right in and right past the lines completed an 80 80. 00:07:7.900 --> 00:07:14.660 The Coliseum has come to be an iconic image of Rome, but this was well into the history of the Roman Empire.

According to legend, Rome was founded in the eighth century BC by Rahm Youlus, grandson of the Greek goddess Aphrodite.

During this time, the city was made up of seven separate settlements on the seven hills of Rome, while some six kings later the Roman republic was founded, the republic was made up of elected senators to rule the country, and over the next few 100 years, the Roman Empire expanded eventually, including the entire Italian Peninsula, areas of North Africa, Asia and most of Europe.

It was at this time that it also moved from a republic to a government ruled by an emperor. 00:07:54.740 --> 00:08:1.590 It was Emperor Vespasian who started the Coliseum, and his son, Titus who completed it eight years later. 00:08:3.250 --> 00:08:9.850 The Coliseum measures about 500 feet across and sores almost 150 feet into the sky.

That's about the height of a 15 storey building.

The giant, elliptical shaped building was used to perform classical mythology, recreated battle scenes and even mock sea battles.

But its most famous use was for Gladiator battles.

Sal does a great job of painting a picture of what the Coliseum looked like in ancient Rome.

Imagine that these lower section was completed.

It covered up by wooden platform.

Are they going? 00:08:44.650 --> 00:09:0.110 They used to wear from these wooden platform traps like these in which down below, they usedto have cages and they used to lift the cages up, and the animals are appeared from the bottom. 00:09:0.410 --> 00:09:3.080 So motion lines just come out and meet the gladiators. 00:09:3.090 --> 00:09:13.850 Gladiators used to fight with the animals, including where the emperor's senators and other celebrity types sat pampered in the shade.

And they look at the most interesting thing on these building.

I had a roof, huh?

You know that these was a retractable roof.

So after sells history lesson and reading a few books we got before we came way.

Always recommend getting books about the destination you're visiting so the kids get a no idea of the history and culture of each country.

I give the kids a short pop quiz.

Julius Caesar.

What's a Christian wrong?

Millennium Shamus?

But nice try.

Come on, guys. 00:09:58.790 --> 00:10:1.850 Two more constantly.

Playing games helps learning and their imaginations air sparked.

They instantly get into the role of emperor.

I am for command you to go in the concert, but this is one emperor whose fate you probably don't want.

Friends, French, French friends, not friends.

Here's okay, Give me tonight, you hopefully not the Shakespeare play, Nathan quoted from his Julius Caesar, who, like many of the ancient Roman stories, had a passionate life on a tragic death.

So, old Paris guy, when you want your ears like in addition to teaching the kids about history and architecture, ciao gives them some language lessons as well.

There wouldn't platformer was covered up by center send in order to suck the blood there.

Sam Yes, and send in Latin Winkle Arena.

Are you calling English these buildings?

That's where the name Arena comes from, and he points out some features that would keep little boys interested public battles, which they used to ever alone.

Bench seat with a hole.

The kids are intrigued what kids wouldn't be with emperors and gladiators and epic battles quite a Rhea life classroom for the kids, and Nathan tells us what he's learned so far. 00:11:57.490 --> 00:12:2.610 The Roman Empire started here in Rome, and they built the Roman Coliseum. 00:12:3.030 --> 00:12:13.970 The Roman Coliseum was built by the Romans that lived in role, and they ate Roman food and fought Roman gladiator fights and did Roman stuff.

So when in Rome you have to be Roman, and now I'm gonna go roam around, and with that, we head outside the Coliseum to see where else competed.

Just over the Palatine Hill, home to rich Romans and emperors in ancient Rome, the Circus Maximus hosted horse racing and athletic competitions on a circular track longer than six football fields.

And they usedto have three different races towards is a three horses and four horses. 00:12:55.140 --> 00:13:1.550 Crowds over 100,000 people deep watched his chariots race five, pumping and jockeying to get in front. 00:13:2.040 --> 00:13:13.560 And of course, you know what you you tend to push everybody else away from the truck so no rules and the kids are ready to go on your mark.

Get set.

While it is fun, I seem to be missing that jugglers and fortune tellers that strolled around the crowds in ancient times.

They say there was a circus down there.

I took the kids to see the circus after a long day, taking in the sights of Rome way head back to the apartment to Manja like the locals.

So there's a movement Italy called slow food, and that's cooking a nice, leisurely enjoying your meal.

Instead of rushing in and out of a restaurant.

That mass produces food.

Slow food also has the health benefits of using fresh food and those that are easy to come by at the local street markets. 00:13:58.940 --> 00:14:1.640 Here in Italy, we got some fresh mozzarella cheese. 00:14:1.650 --> 00:14:3.140 They fell in huge bags. 00:14:3.140 --> 00:14:6.150 Here in the store, we got some fresh tomatoes. 00:14:6.240 --> 00:14:13.210 Bread of the day, which we sprinkled with fresh tomatoes, garlic butter and Aquino Romano cheese.

Pacino, Romano.

It's good cheese.

One of the nice things about staying in apartment rental or villa like this one is that you could spread out.

There's plenty of room for the whole family, and you have room to cook so you don't have to go out with the kids every night.

You could make your own meals right here in the apartment, and you can create really memories making the food together.

That's called slow food and talking about the day before a gladiator's first fight. 00:14:56.280 --> 00:15:9.900 He has a big feast with pasta, red thes bonding moments reflecting on your day, talking together, joking together and make family travel such an important opportunity.

Today we're immersing ourselves and Maur of Rome's political history at the Roman Forum before we learned to live the history at a local school.

But don't worry, kids.

This is no ordinary school.

You'll see.

Construction on the Roman Forum began during Republican Times, but it maintained importance during the Imperial Emperor times as well. 00:16:0.750 --> 00:16:5.890 Form is made up of roadways, plazas and markets and is dotted by temples and monuments. 00:16:6.760 --> 00:16:13.110 This is where the soldiers raided the spoils of war and where everyday citizens came to socialize and do business.

Nowadays, it's hard to picture what the Roman forum must have looked like because it's mostly fallen over columns and pieces of buildings.

This is where that book I talked about earlier grown, reconstructed really comes in handy.

It's called the Roman for Looked Like Back in Rome, I thought you still like It was like this big building with all the colors.

But now, where?

More white than I thought you could just imagine the Romans walking around doing everyday business here.

The boys love the vibrancy thestreet performers bring to the ruins and wish they could be gladiators. 00:16:59.060 --> 00:17:0.800 And in Rome they can. 00:17:6.560 --> 00:17:8.690 But first, a kid's dream lunch. 00:17:8.840 --> 00:17:9.570 Easy to find. 00:17:9.570 --> 00:17:20.910 Here in Italy, many restaurants charge a service fee to sit down, so take away is a cheap option called Take Away.

You don't have to sit down and sitting down costs money topped off by the ultimate Italian dessert.

Our kids hunt for it all around the world, but here in Italy, the stands, air everywhere.

This gelato is so good, I think these boys would search the world over for that perfect gelato.

Let's go find something way.

Let's go back to okay. 00:18:36.650 --> 00:19:2.150 Our lunch break is over, and it's time for school kids, but this is no ordinary class Here. 00:19:2.150 --> 00:19:6.070 Students of all ages train to be gladiators.

We're doing gladiator fights.

Wait, todo better watching.

So we're gonna get trained.

And then we fought. 00:19:46.040 --> 00:20:1.820 I get to be going down after touring the museum where the kids learn about the expansion of the Roman Empire and its armies. 00:20:2.080 --> 00:20:18.840 The legend authorities were professional soldiers off the Romana, the legendary war little sandals or a later belt with metallic strips for noise.

For the great water up a red unique.

It is a really element in first century off the Christ, with some understanding of gladiator life under their belt.

They suit up and are ready to begin their training. 00:20:54.040 --> 00:21:3.840 So in gladiator times, there were lots of fights in the Coliseum and different will stage places. 00:21:4.060 --> 00:21:10.030 Lots of the gladiators were slaves and also an agent Agent room.

Gladiator was a job for people actually get paid for it.

And not only gladiators fought other people, but they fought.

Laurean's tigers bears.

Oh my.

Well, now that they know so much about gladiators, it's time to start the physical training.

To learn to be a bloody or you have to go through a lot of training going through sandbags.

And if you don't try hard enough, feels feel the sting of the whip on your back.

Well, maybe back then.

Here it may just be heckles from the on lookers. 00:21:49.170 --> 00:22:7.450 They start their training by jumping over obstacles and running through sandbags from here to here. 00:22:7.920 --> 00:22:9.800 Run fest.

Okay.

Oh, go.

Learning to put together defensive weapons today.

Use it for the 10 in Roman.

Time for the horse.

Okay, you assembled this.

Okay, one stand up.

Okay, let's just hold it.

And the art of hand.

Hand combat learning first on wooden swords about to use wooden sword salute. 00:22:52.360 --> 00:23:4.800 You stomach and then it's on to mock battles. 00:23:7.430 --> 00:23:11.780 Oh, go.

You're on.

It's time to move on to really swords.

Heavy metal swords.

But don't worry, they're not too sharp.

And he teaches them some fancy moves.

Oh, okay.

That's fun. 00:23:45.320 --> 00:24:5.450 That's on. 00:24:5.460 --> 00:24:17.050 Then the gladiators put on a show for us using some of the moves they just taught us.

And the kids were there to play Emperor.

It's so much fun playing Gladiator.

It's hard to get the kids to leave is the Roman citizen.

You are now free radiator.

Do it again.

But the heat of the day is at its peak. 00:24:44.700 --> 00:25:9.920 And well, when in Rome do as the Romans do when the hot summer sun is beating down Roman's head to the Central Park of Rome for Gezi Gardens, way crowds and the heat of the day gets too much in Rome, and it will you come here to the Villa Borghese.

Beautiful Green Park area.

Lots of stuff to do for families.

Lots of stuff for kids.

Everyone relax and green open parks rent a bike, but we're gonna go do now.

Let's go here You can rent bikes and rowboats to explore under the cover of the cool shade trees. 00:25:49.900 --> 00:26:4.550 After relaxing afternoon spent in the burgh acey gardens, we head back to Piazza Navona, where our apartment is, which is also a hot spot for local families, where we have dinner at one of the outdoor cafes. 00:26:5.410 --> 00:26:15.260 Dahlia Boys, This pizza, this boy's nookie so don t know at the where the voice come run around.