During our time in Rome we were fortunate to meet up with Claudia, a tour guide in Rome who is passionate about interactive family tours and specialises in private customised tours.
We were delighted when Claudia contacted us with the idea to create a customised family tour, including Castel St Angelo, and a foodie tour of downtown Rome. It can be challenging for a travelling family to find the right balance between family and entertainment but Claudia reassured us that her knowledge of the arts, combined with a walking food tour, would suit us perfectly.
Castel St Angelo was first a tomb, dating back to 125 AD. The structure is a mixture of rough stone work and ornate detail. Once the Pope’s living quarters, the residence’s ornate rooms are opulent and a statement to the importance of the emperor’s status.
The children received a pack containing interactive artwork to help them learn about Castel St Angelo and after a short walk hearing about the history, the kids sat down to discover what was inside. A paper with a drawn outline of the Castle had to be decorated with cut-out images to highlight their location, with a little help from Claudia. It was a great way for the kids to learn, and give them a take home memory of the experience.
Castel St Angelo is a great place for children to explore. It is not too big in size to get around while its maze-like structure and epic scenic views make it more than just a historic museum. After we left, it was time to discover Rome’s hidden local food gems as we had all worked up an appetite.
The foodie tour began over Ponte 25 and in downtown Rome. On our way to our first foodie stop, we were shown a handful of artisan traders who are renowned in this area. Artisans include the fine art of the pappel tassels and ropes, marble sculptures and straw weavers.
Our first stop was to play an Ice-cream game at Gelateria Teatro. After being blindfolded, Claudia brought us four different types of ice cream to taste and guess. It was so much fun with all of us tasting different things and some were tricky to guess, like the basil-flavoured ice cream.
Next was the best street food Supli in Italy – at Supplizio. This tiny street vending store has a couch, some arm chairs and a couple of sets. Angelo, owner of a Michelin star restaurant, wanted to create a shop based on the Roman favourite, supli, which is a variety of rice and flavouring covered in tasty breadcrumbs and filled with oozy cheese. These delightful bite-size morsels make a tasty snack are and also a lot of fun to eat… try and see how far you can stretch that cheese!
The last stop was Tiramisu Zum. This store has been in operation for just over a year and prides itself on making tiramisu from organic marscapone. Varieties include classic, fragila, mandola, pistachio, rum and amaretto. Order some and watch them prepare yours fresh from scratch. I believe they also offer classes and workshops which make for a great family experience in the heart of Rome.
As a surprise for the children, Claudia stopped in at an old sweet shop where the children were treated to a couple of traditional Italian sweets.
The last stop was Tiramisu Zum. This store has been in operation for just over a year and prides itself on making tiramisu from organic marscapone. Varieties include classic, fragila, mandola, pistachio, rum and amaretto. Order some and watch them prepare yours fresh from scratch. I believe they also offer classes and workshops which make for a great family experience in the heart of Rome.
As a surprise for the children, Claudia stopped in at an old sweet shop where the children were treated to a couple of traditional Italian sweets.
A private customised tour is a great way to explore different parts of Rome. We discovered new streets, learned a lot about the history of one of Rome’s most recognised structures and enjoyed a walk while experiencing food at its best, recommended by a local and made by locals.
Thanks goes to Claudia of Rome Touring who collaborated with Our Family Travels and prepared our customised tour.
