Last Updated on December 11, 2024 by Leslie Stroud <!– %AUTHOR_NAME% –>
When in Rome, do as the Romans, right? Nothing could be better than embracing the fascinating, torrid history of Rome and its Gladiators. The audacity of the Romans continues to fascinate with the extreme lavishness and the conquest of nearly the entire known world. Even in our current home in Portugal, we constantly encounter Roman ruins. All roads lead to Rome!
As you explore the magnificent Colosseum, your family may be captivated by the gladiators, such as Flavius Aetius, a Roman gladiator who once fought in the arena. Famed as “the most influential man in the Empire for two decades (433–454)”, his story comes to life as you tour the Colosseum. Kids love imagining the crazy stories are true. Did you know they would flood the Colosseum and re-enact full naval battles?
The Colosseum fascinates the entire family, but did you know that you can take it a step further and become a gladiator for the day? During our month-long stay in Rome amid our world tour, we went to see the Colosseum and followed it up with Gladiator School!
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What Does It Mean To Be a Gladiator for a Day?
Glimpses of gladiators can still be found today in Rome, such as the Gladiator Show of Ancient Rome, in which historical reenactors use real armor and weapons to fight. Held from May to September, this can be fun for kids.
However, if you’re looking for something even more engaging, you can go to Gladiator School! The Scvola Gladiatori Roma school hosts interactive tours for lucky guests. Visit the school and the Gladiator Museum, learn what life was like for the Gladiators, and learn how to fight. You’ll then pair off to “duel” with play swords and armor. The instructors are modern-day Gladiators, which is so cool.
We went with our five kids, but only the oldest two were eligible to participate at the time. However, we all had fun! Watching is nearly as entertaining as participating in the battles
Who Can Go to Gladiator School?
This fun experience is open to the whole family! Ages 7+ can participate in the physical training, but all are welcome to the learning experience and the Gladiator Museum.
Our guide interacted playfully with the kids while maintaining authority and respect. Overall, it was a wonderful experience for the whole family!
What Do You Need To Bring to Gladiator School?
- Water bottle (you’ll get a free drink also)
- Suitable footwear for battle. You can wear sandals, but make sure you can move quickly back and forth!
- Bug spray. There can be lots of mosquitos.
- A fighting attitude!
How Can You Participate in Gladiator School?
Most experiences are combined into a tour, which is the easiest way to become a Gladiator. Letting the tour guide figure out the details of transportation and logistics can be great when traveling with kids.
Kids will tire of the antiquities and museums of Rome quickly, so an interactive experience doing what they love best, imagining and playing, is a win-win! History comes to life in the coolest way.
Our Experience Being Gladiators in Rome
Our kids love the stories of the gladiators, and this drove most of their interest in the Colosseum. The architecture amazes most adults, but kids are in it for the fighting! Being able to dive right into this history in a hands-on way was so fun during our time in Rome.
During our visit, we first stopped at the small museum for about 30 minutes. We enjoyed the instruction on the daily lives of gladiators, the training, the weapons, and more.
We were then given some gladiator clothing and weapons and participated in group training. We were taught in a small group of about 8 people, but the group can be larger on a busier day. We trained in the centuries-old fighting styles for about 10 minutes and then were placed in the ring to go mano a mano with each other (heavily guided with prop-style weapons — no injuries) and prompted to engage as the gladiators did.
Observers can sit comfortably in the stands watching. I stayed with the two younger kids and helped with the filming. The epic setting of the school whisks you right into this fascinating time. It can be warm, so bring water and bug spray.
Other Tips for Gladiator School in Rome
- You’ll need to book your return trip to Rome, and it is a bit remote. Getting an Uber can be difficult, so it’s best to book this in advance. Perhaps you’ve befriended a taxi driver during your stay or can ask the school to call you a taxi. There is no public transport nearby.
- Adults don’t need to buy a ticket to participate. This can help save on the cost, as it is a bit spendy.
- Bring a camera, as your kids are going to love it! Also, prepare for them to want armor immediately after to continue their new gladiator lifestyle.
Enjoy your trip!
Leslie
Plan your trip to Rome and get some budget-friendly tickets from Booking.com, Skyscanner, Kiwi.com, or Expedia
Find a family-friendly hotel in Rome from Booking.com, Expedia, or Vrbo, (we also love Tripadvisor and Hotels.com)
Discover more of Rome through exciting activities from GetYourGuide, Airbnb Experiences, or Viator
Need to rent a car? Visit Rentalcars.com / EuropCar
Get insured while traveling with World Nomads / SafetyWing
Want to have a photo shoot while traveling? Check out flytographer!
Capture your best travel memories in Rome as we do with a GoPro, Sony camera, or our favorite drones: DJI FPV, Air, and Mini
Check out your travel necessities from a comprehensive list of all the 7Wayfinders Travel Must-Haves. Click Here!
Additional Reading
How to Tour the Colosseum with Kids in Rome
