If you happen to be traveling in Italy on February, I would like to familiarize you with a festival called “Carnevale”. It is most celebrated in Venice, where it first began, but all of Italy is festive during this period. This year, Carnevale started on the 12th of January and will end on the 24th of February.

The 19th of February is called “giovedì grasso” or “mardi gras” in other countries and it is the peak of the festival, when adults and children dress up and participate in the various activities organized throughout Italy. In Rome, where I experienced Carnevale, there are many activities such as theatre plays  and activities in the museums for the young and theme nights in the pubs and dance clubs for adults .

 Carnevale time is mostly for children, where they wear costumes almost every day and go around the streets throwing confetti, however for adults “giovedì grasso” is a sort of Halloween where you can either dress up totally or just wear a mask. The last weekend before February the 24th is very fun with many parades organized throughout the city and towns nearby. There are many typical pastries to eat such as “frappe” and the city becomes more colorful with confetti covering the streets. This festive time is celebrated by young and old and it’s an experience I recommend to anyone traveling to Rome during this time. Information is available on internet, on the city of Rome website and posted in the various pubs and dance clubs.

To experience the carnival in Rome and get a taste of many others Italian traditions make a booking in the strategically-located Yes Hotel or Hotel des Artistes!

 

 

Fortunately Rome has quite a few open spaces and very nice parks. There are pedal go-karts and bicycles available for hire in Villa Borghese as well as roller-blades and the big 4 seater family pedal bikes. If your kids are still quite small a better option would definately be the family bicycles. That way you dont have to run like a crazy person after them when they pick up a bit of speed. Another spot you can also go to for some fun is to Piazza del Popolo, which is right next to the park. Here you can hire segways and go all around the piazza and down Via del Corso too.

 

 

 

There are also fun rides like merry-go-rounds and the other usual stuff that will entertain them and make some great memories too. There is also a bio park and zoo located in Borghese park. There is also a kids museum called Explora at Via Flaminia 60. I have seen it packed all the time with kids so it must be pretty popular.

 

 

 

Another really nice idea would be to take a carriage ride from Piazza di Spagna. There is space for about 5 or 6 people. Cost varies, please make sure you find out prices  before you get on and exactly how much it is going to cost to where you want to go.

There is another place to take them which is down Via del Corso. The time elevator is here and it will take the kids on a journey through Romes 2500 year history. The nice thing about all these places and activities is that they are really very close together and they are also near the other things that the big people, like you, may find a lot more interesting.

To avoid disapointment another word of advice i would suggest is to find good accomendation which is well located in Rome.