ZOO OF STONE

Did you know that an incredible array of animal species hide within Rome’s streets and squares? Wild predators, domestic pets, insects, reptiles, fish and fanciful creatures built their nests here centuries ago. Follow your guide on an urban safari through this city of marble and stone and see how many beasts you can spot!

Families and young children will enjoy this fun experience charting Rome’s history down the ages, from its legendary roots in 753 BC, starring a she-wolf as protagonist, through to its full bloom as a Baroque gem in the seventeenth century – and beyond.

What a multitude of lions, horses, snakes and mythological beings populate this stone jungle! There is so much to see and endless possibilities to explore. Your guide will meet you at your hotel and tailor-make the best possible itinerary, setting the pace and route to suit the needs of the young and very young and combining an eclectic mix of well-known treasures and hidden, secret spots. Along the way you will hear stories of popes and artists who contributed to the splendour of this city and discover the legends, meaning and symbolism behind the animals that decorate Rome’s alleys and famous monuments.

I spy with my little eye… Let the hunt begin! Who can see a piglet munching its way along Via della Scrofa? How many animals are guarding the Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona? Let’s count them together… a horse, a sea monster, a serpent, a dolphin, a crocodile, a lion and a dragon… Seven? No… if you look carefully you’ll spot one more at the top of the obelisk… yes, that’s it, a bronze dove! What on earth is an elephant doing with an obelisk on its back in the beautiful square just round the corner from the Pantheon? What about the cat? Can you hear her meowing in that alley? Maybe she got stuck on the cornice and needs help to get down again. Phew! Running after all these animals is hard work. Getting thirsty? Those turtles might feel the same. Watch them as they sip water from a fountain just off the Jewish Ghetto. Now, be brave and rescue that poor gazelle from the lion’s jaws along the Portico d’Ottavia. Can you hear the sound of neighing horses that seems to come from Capitol Hill? Let’s climb to the top to see what’s going on. Oh… and beware of those stinging bees in Piazza Barberini!