Parks, villas and playgrounds
Here they are not parks but villas: Borghese, Pamphilj, Ada, Torlonia, Celimontana, former estates open from dawn to dusk, with umbrella pines, fountains and playgrounds. Further south, the aqueducts and the Appia Antica are explored by bike.
Good to know
- The Villa Borghese, 80 hectares above the Spanish Steps, is the park of museums and children: Bioparco, the Casina di Raffaello play centre, boats on the lake of the Temple of Aesculapius, the Cinema dei Piccoli, San Carlino puppet shows, bikes and scooters for hire. Source
- The Villa Doria Pamphilj, in Monteverde, is the city's largest park with over 180 hectares, open from 7am to sunset; the playgrounds are at viale Lagerlöf, viale Otto Marzo and the Casale di Giovio. Source
- The Villa Ada Savoia, 160 hectares of holm oaks and pine groves in Parioli, opens from 7am to sunset; the children's playground is at the Via Salaria 275 entrance. Source
- The Parco degli Acquedotti, 240 hectares in the south-east, lines up seven Roman aqueducts across the meadows, with a cycle path and playground; it belongs to the Appia Antica regional park, which rents bikes at its visitor centre to ride sixteen kilometres of Roman road. Source
Addresses
-
Villa Borghese
Park
Pinciano, entrées Piazzale Flaminio, Porta Pinciana et Via Pinciana
80 hectares, always open: Bioparco, Casina di Raffaello, boating lake, Cinema dei Piccoli and puppet theatre; the Chateaubriand nursery and primary are at Strohl-Fern, inside the park.
-
Bioparco di Roma
Park
Viale del Giardino Zoologico 20, 00197 Roma (Villa Borghese)
Italy's oldest zoo, open every day except 25 December; free for children under one metre, reduced rate up to age 10, animal feeding times, treasure hunt and a little train.
-
Villa Doria Pamphilj
Park
Monteverde, entrées Via Aurelia Antica, Via Vitellia et Largo Martin Luther King
Over 180 hectares of lawns, pines and lake, with three playgrounds; the Sunday picnic of Monteverde and Trastevere families, from 7am to sunset.
-
Villa Ada Savoia
Park
Via Salaria 267-275 et Via Panama, 00199 Roma (Parioli)
160 hectares of oak woods and pine groves, ideal for children's bikes; playground at the Via Salaria 275 entrance, from 7am to sunset.
-
Villa Torlonia
Park
Via Nomentana 70, 00161 Roma (Nomentano)
The park of the Chateaubriand neighbourhood: the Casina delle Civette and its stained glass, the Casino Nobile and its bunker, Technotown for teenagers; step-free museums, free with the MIC card.
-
Parco degli Acquedotti
Park
Via Lemonia 256, 00174 Roma (Cinecittà)
Seven Roman aqueducts amid 240 hectares of meadows, cycle path, nature trails and playground: the film-set backdrop for Sunday kites, from dawn to dusk.
-
Parco Regionale dell'Appia Antica
Park
Via Appia Antica 42, 00179 Roma (point d'accueil)
Bike hire at the visitor centre to ride sixteen kilometres of Roman road, the Caffarella valley (200 hectares) and the aqueducts; Families at the Museum day at the Cartiera Latina in October.
-
Villa Celimontana
Park
Via della Navicella, 00184 Roma (Celio)
Eleven hectares of gardens on the Celio, a stone's throw from the Colosseum, open from 7am to sunset: the green break after the Forums when the children have had enough.