Castel del Monte, Rome

Castel del Monte - a medieval hill-town located in the province of L'Aquila, about 100 miles (160km) northeast of Rome - is bracing itself to become one of Italy's fastest-growing tourist destinations. The beautiful little town, accessed through five stone gates and full of narrow, winding alleyways and gorgeous Renaissance architecture, shot to prominence when it was chosen as the setting for the 2010 film The Americanstarring George Clooney. Castel del Monte is not one of those places that are filled with interesting sights or things to do - rather, the entire town is a tourist attraction in itself, giving visitors a taste of authentic Italian village-life. Boasting a population of around 500 people, a holiday in Castel del Monte is not for everyone (and is probably a terrible place to take the kids) - but for those looking to escape the crowds of tourists that swarm to Italy's more established holiday destinations, serene and photogenic Castel del Monte offers the chance to do just that.

Looney's, Rome

Looney's Indoor Entertainment Centre is a great place for kids to hang out, featuring costumed characters and entertaining shows, as well as fun play areas. While the centre offers recreation for children as old as 14, there are also play groups for toddlers and their mothers to enjoy together. A wonderful treat for the kids after a hard day spent sightseeing with their folks in Rome.

Puppet Shows, Rome

There are many theatres throughout Rome staging excellent puppet shows (in English) that will keep the kids amused. Well-known venues include the Pulcinella Puppet Theatre, an open-air theatre on Gianicolo Hill; and the Teatro delle Marionette degli Accettella, on Via Genocchi. The Teatro San Carlino is a puppet theatre in Borghese Gardens, while Teatro Verde is located in Circonvallazione Gianicolense.

Unusual Rome for Kids, Rome

Unusual Rome offers fun, tailor-made tours and activities for children, planned and presented according to their age and interests. With options ranging from visiting the popular sites of Ancient Rome to modern museums and shows, as well as taking part in cultural and outdoor activities, kids in Rome certainly won't be bored!

Getting There:
Take the subway to San Pietro station.

Villa Doria Pamphili Park, Rome

Villa Doria Pamphili is a wonderful park to take children to while on holiday in Rome. The park's playground, skating rink and soccer fields will keep kids happy (and very active!) for hours, and the pony rides around Villa Doria Pamphili are also great fun.

Getting There:
On the Janiculum Hill

The Colosseum, Rome

This enduring symbol of ancient Rome tenaciously clings to its foundations as the site of former gladiatorial conquests. Its architecture boasts an impressive array of Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns and an underground network of cells, corridors, ramps and elevators that were used to transport animals from their cages to the arena. The magnificence of the original structure has been eroded through the years by pillaging and earthquakes so that only a skeletal framework remains; however, the sense of history the Colosseum is still able to evoke is truly awe-inspiring.

Getting There:
B line on metro to Colosseo station; Bus 60, 75, 85, 87, 175, 810, 850; Electric minibus 117; Tram 3 or 8

Opening Times:
Open daily from 9am to 6.15pm in summer, and from 9am to 4.30pm in winter

Admission:
EUR13.50. Tourist tax: EUR1

Roman Forum (Foro Romano), Rome

The site of Ancient Rome's commercial, political and religious centre rests in the valley between the Capitoline and Palatine hills. The Forum's main thoroughfare, Via Sacra, slices through the old market square and former civic centre. To make sense of the ruins and relics of the old Republic, it is helpful to consult a map of the area. Some of the best-preserved and most notable monuments include the impressive Arch of Septimus Severus -a construction designed to celebrate Roman victory over the Parthinians - and the former atrium of the House of the Vestal Virgins, and the Temple of Vesta. Also of note are the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, and the Arch of Titus, built to celebrate Titus' destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. To the right of the arch are stairs snaking up the Palatine Hill, through a series of terraces to the Farnese gardens. The scented avenue, festooned with roses and orange trees, gives way to a magnificent vista over the Forum.

Opening Times:
Open daily from 8.30am until dusk. Closed on New Year's Day, 1 May and Christmas Day

Admission:
Free

Basilica di San Giovanni, Rome

The Basilica of St John Lateran was built in the 4th century by Constantine the Great and was the first church built in Rome. It is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, and as such ranks above all other Roman Catholic churches, even St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It is the official ecclesiastical seat of the Pope, and it is here that he celebrates Mass on certain religious holidays. The building has suffered much damage in the past and has been rebuilt several times, leaving only fragmented parts of the original church. The present building is characterised by its 18th-century façade and contains several important relics, a 13th-century cloister and an ancient baptistery. Inside are numerous statues, paintings, the High Altar that can only be used by the Pope, and a cedar table that is said to be the one used by Christ at the Last Supper. Across the street is one of the holiest sites in Christendom that is visited by pilgrims from around the world: the Palace of the Holy Steps, believed to be the 28 marble steps originally at Pontius Pilate's villa in Jerusalem that Christ climbed the day he was brought before Pilate. They have been in Rome since 1589.

Getting There:
San Giovanni metro station is on Line A. Buses can be caught from Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum in downton Rome.

Opening Times:
Open daily from 7am to 6.45pm

Admission:
Free entry to the Basilica, but EUR2 to see the Cloister. Tourist tax: EUR1

Capitoline Hill, Rome

Capitoline Hill was the original capitol of Ancient Rome and continues to serve as the seat of the city's government. The main feature of the area is Michelangelo's Piazza del Campidoglio, a testimony to the superiority of Renaissance town planning. The piazza is bordered by three palaces: the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the twin structures of the Palazzo dei Senatori and Palazzo Nuovo, which house the Musei Capitolini, containing the largest collection of Classical statues in the world. Among the notable statues found here are the Dying Gaul and the Satyr, the Capitoline Wolf with Romulus and Remus and the Spinario. Paths cut along the side of the hill from the Campidoglio giving way to panoramic views of the ancient sites of the Forum and Colosseum.

Getting There:
Take metro line B to Colosseo stop. Bus numbers 44, 89, 92, 94 and 716 will also get you there.

Opening Times:
Museums are open Tuesday to Sunday, from 9am to 8pm. Closed 1 January, 1 May, and 25 December.

Admission:
EUR14, with concessions available

Trastevere, Rome

Separated from central Rome by the Tiber River, Trastevere is a picturesque medieval neighbourhood characterised by a quirky Bohemian atmosphere. Its narrow cobblestone streets are lined with overhanging flower boxes and washing lines and are home to numerous cafes, boutiques, pubs and restaurants. The area has long attracted artists, famous people and expats, and is a charming place to explore, having escaped the grand developments of central Rome.

Getting There:
Bus H from the main train station, or Tram 8 from Piazza Argentina. 'Regionale' trains (not the express ones) stop at Trastevere railway station

St Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro), Rome

The Basilica lies above the reputed site of St. Peter's tomb. It is an overwhelming interior, containing notable sculptures including Michelangelo's Pieta, which is protected by bullet-proof glass since the damaging attack on it in 1972. In the central aisle stands Arnolfo da Cambio's bronze statue of St Peter, its foot worn down by the constant flow of pilgrims' kisses. Proudly resting above the papal altar is Bernini's Throne of St Peter. The Vatican Grottoes, containing papal tombs, can be reached by steps from the statue of St Longinus. The Necropolis is located one level below the grottoes. This is the legendary site of St Peter's tomb and advance permission has to be obtained to view it. A strict dress code is in place for the Basilica and no shorts, bare shoulders or miniskirts are allowed (for men and women).

Getting There:
Metro line A (the red line)to Ottaviano stop, or bus to Piazza del Risorgimento

Opening Times:
Open daily from 7am to 7pm (April to September), and 7am to 6pm (October to March)

Admission:
Entry to the Basilica is Free. Entry to the Dome is EUR4 (EUR5 with lift); and entry to the Necropolis is EUR10

Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi), Rome

The tiny Piazza di Trevi has been immortalised through this fountain, built for Pope Clement XII. Arguably the most famous and most beautiful fountain in all of Rome, the statues adorning this watery display represent Abundance, Agrippa, Salubrity, the Virgin and Neptune guided by two Tritons. Tossing a coin into the fountain (over your shoulder, with your back turned to the water) is supposed to guarantee a return trip to Rome.

Getting There:
Take the bus to Piazza San Silvestro

The Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna, Rome

The graceful Spanish Steps, built in 1725, elegantly curve their way from the Piazza di Spagna to the Church of Santa Trinit dei Monti, a pastel-tinted neoclassical building. The shopper's paradise of Via Condotti leads back from the Spanish steps to Via del Corso, and during spring the steps are decorated with pink azaleas. At the foot of the steps lies Bernini's boat-shaped Barcaccia Fountain, and to the right is the unassuming Keats-Shelley Memorial House.

Getting There:
Take Metro Line A to the Spagna stop; Bus 60 or 492 to Piazza Barberini, or Bus 117 to Piazza di Spagna

Pantheon, Rome

The stately Pantheon is one of the world's most inspiring architectural designs. Fittingly built as a temple to the Gods by Hadrian in 120 AD, its perfectly proportioned floating dome rests seductively on sturdy marble columns. The only light source flowing through the central oculus was used by the Romans to measure time (with the aid of a sundial) and the dates of equinoxes and solstices. The south transept houses the Carafa Chapel and the tomb of Fra Angelico rests under the left side of the altar.

Getting There:
Buses 46, 62, 64, 170 and 492 stop at Largo di Torre near the Pantheon; or take the metro to Fontana del Tritone

Opening Times:
Open Monday to Saturday, from 8.30am to 7.30pm; on Sundays from 9am to 6pm. Closed New Year's Day, 1 May and Christmas Day

Admission:
Free

Time Elevator Rome, Rome

Time Elevator Rome is an interactive movie theatre featuring panoramic screens, flight simulators and surround-sound. This modern technology offers kids the opportunity to be enthralled by a cinematic, 5-D journey back through 2750 years of Roman history. A popular tourist attraction for kids, we advise that you take them here first, to whet their appetites for seeing the 'actual' wonders of Rome through the course of your holiday in Italy together.

Opening Times:
Open daily from 10.30am to 7.30pm

Admission:
EUR14.62

The Sistine Chapel & Vatican Museums, Rome

The Sistine Chapel's famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo looms above the frescoes on the side walls, painted by an illustrious team of artists that included Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Roselli, Pinturicchio, Signorelli and della Gatta. The altar wall is covered by Michelangelo's Last Supper, revealing the figure of Christ hovering above centre and flanked by Mary and other saintly figures. The Vatican Museums provide an inspiring visit to one of the world's greatest collections of art. The galleries stretch over four miles (6km), and include the magnificent Raphael rooms, the Etruscan Museum and the Pio-Clementino Museum, which boasts the world's largest collection of Classical statues.

Getting There:
Metro to Musei Vaticani or Ottaviano station; Tram 19; or Bus 32, 81 or 98 to Piazza del Risorgimento

Opening Times:
Museum open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 6pm

Admission:
Entry to the Museum is EUR15, with concessions available. Entrance is Free on the last Sunday of each month