Underground beauty: tips for parents visiting the Rome Catacombs
30th September 2022
Going on a family holiday to Rome may be just what you need after long weeks at school and work. Depending on your budget, and the ages of your children, you may want to consider the different excursions available. Among them are the catacombs, located underneath the main city. There are a variety of different tours available depending on what you want to see, how much you want to spend and who you’re travelling with!
Booking your trip
The catacombs can be incredibly popular for the young and old alike, especially for those who have an interest in history, or even a morbid fascination with the dead. You can purchase tickets for Catacombs in Rome online, long before you even step on your flight, to ensure that you are able to enter. This can also be useful to avoid ticket scalpers, or paying over the odds for that experience. Ordering tickets online can also help to greatly simplify the process. You may already be concerned about remembering your passport and any other passes you need to have in a physical form. Therefore, having tickets and QR codes on your smartphone, or kept in your email, can be one less thing to think about.
Navigating with younger children
Due to the location of the catacombs, doubled with the fact that they are kept in as much of a historic condition as possible, accessibility may be an issue. Sadly, there may not be a way for wheelchairs or pushchairs to navigate the steep steps. Those with infants and toddlers may then need to consider taking a sling or strap-on carrier with them. Otherwise, you may find that one parent has to miss out on the excursion to remain with a younger child who couldn’t walk for themselves.
The importance of respect
The catacombs can be a great way for you and your family to experience some of Rome’s ancient history. That being said, these memories may need to remain in your mind, as some catacombs may not allow photography. If your child or teen is old enough to have a phone, you may need to stress to them the importance of not taking any photographs while on the tour. Likewise, to be respectful, they should also not listen to loud music or play games.
The easiest way to do this can be for the whole family, parents and children alike, to have their phones switched off and kept in a bag until the tour ends. This may also help to negate the complaints a teen might have if you have your phone, but they don’t. In turn, this may then allow you all to spend some quality time together taking in that experience.
Visiting the numerous catacombs in Rome can allow you to see underneath different parts of the city. From old chapels to the burial chambers of previous popes, the catacombs can hold a great deal of history that may truly astound you all.
Louise is a valuable contributor to our blog, with many years of experience in the parenting niche. She specialises in crafting well-researched articles on fertility, pregnancy, and baby care, often collaborating with experts. With a solid background in baby name research and guidance, she is dedicated to providing trustworthy and insightful content, making her an essential resource for parents navigating their journey.
