Italy with a 9 year old boy (Gladiator School? Other Suggestions?)

I don't have any personal experience with it, but Sarah Murdoch, who is a Rick Steves staff member and has a blog, Adventures with Sarah, took her young son to Italy last year and blogged about it. She seemed to enjoy the gladiator school and wrote about it. Search for her blog by searching Adventures with Sarah and you can read about the experience.

Judging by the "gladiators" working the Colosseum, I would opt for a pizza-making class instead.

Another fun thing might be the Museo delle Mura, where you can walk part of the ancient city wall.

We are going to Italy with our 9 year old son and 12 year old daughter in less than 2 months. I know what you mean about trying to add activities that kids would enjoy to the itinerary. We are doing Gladiator school in Rome. I've seen many good reviews for it. We are also spending a few days in Venice (doing a gondola ride, my daughter is very excited!) and in Lake Como (boat tour on the lake). We also have a few days planned around Milan, where we are flying in and out of. I originally wanted to see Florence but have opted to take the kids Gardaland. I can't believe it myself-but I think one day at one of Europe's best amusement parks will buy my husband and I some credit as we see art and churches in the other cities! (Gardaland is near Milan) I have also read many suggestions on having the kids read age-appropriate books set in the city/country they're visiting. It helps them imagine what life is like there and they look forward to seeing things more. The Thief Lord is set in Venice, and The Roman Mysteries are set in Rome. There are other books out there to get kids engaged in a city, I'm still looking as well. Good luck on your travels!

We did Gladiator school back in 2008, so not sure if the same outfit is providing the service. We were three adults in our thirties and had a great time. We were the only three there until a school group arrived towards the end.

We were first given a little tour of the "museum" which contained a small number of authentic items, and a larger number of reproductions. We tried on several pieces of head gear.

Then our Gladiator taught us some choreographed moves to work on. We also got to try the "fisherman" gladiator thing, where you kill by throwing the net over the opponent's head and yank it hard enough to break the neck. I was freakishly good at that and the gladiator ran into the ring to make sure I didn't injure DH!

Our gladiator was an older wheezy guy, and we wore him out, so then we were assigned a young female gladiator, which DH particularly enjoyed.

They gave us water and fresh fruit to snack on partway through (it was July).

As I said, this was a long time ago so I'm not sure if the experience is similar.

To add, it was a kind of historical society group that was doing the Gladiator school back then.

From Modena train station, you can walk to the newer Ferrari museum branch. To/from the Maranello museum location, shuttle buses depart about every 1.5 hours (between Modena train station and either museum). See schedules at http://www.vivaraviaggi.it/happy_circle.php?happy_circle=6.

The fastest Florence-Modena train connections take just over an hour, with a change of train at Bologna. There's a direct train that's a little slower, departing Florence at 8:20 and arriving Modena at 10:05.

FWIW, the guys in costume in front of the Colosseum and a few other locations are not gladiators but centurions (for the most part). Gladiators were dressed more like slaves.

Our seven year old loved scavenger hunts. Some museums may have them for kids. Like in a certain room searching for chariots. I did something similar. I told our daughter to count the number of horses or buildings in the paintings and it kept her focused on them, when she became bored. She would come back with a number and I would say good job or have her point them out to me. As a reward for getting them correct we would stop at the third or fifth gelato shop. I know it sounds mean, but it kept her entertained and looking for stuff. She loved the Underground tour at the Coliseum. We also started her on language lessons(nothing too much a word or two every week and would use the Italian word around our house) and she had to order her meal in Italian. Not just spaghetti. If we were in a piazza, I would have her find the narrowest door and the largest door or window. We would try to find a park for her to play in every few days. You will be surprised how reenergized a kid can become with 45 minutes running around a playground!

We scheduled the most important places in the morning when we were all fresh and her patience was at it's best.

I would think a boy would love the Ferrari museum and gladiator school.

My kids were 10 and 12 when we went and to be honest I'm glad I didn't bother with anything like gladiator school, although I had considered it. They loved just being there, the colosseum, ordering in Italian, LOVED San Gimignano and wondering through the shops with medieval swords etc. each of my kids were given a map and the itinerary and it was their job to plan our day in terms of route to get places. They navigated and took control of the trip including what platforms at stations and when to get on and off. It gave them ownership of the trip and there was really no need to entertain them.

In Rome, our kids enjoyed seeing the Cappuchin monk skulls and spending a day in Ostia Antica. My son -- who was a bit older than yours -- was in charge of figuring out the buses/metro, which he thoroughly enjoyed. We took a guided tour of the Colosseum and the Forum which they both still talk about to this day.

In Venice we just enjoyed watching the traffic on the canals. We spent a day in Murano, but that was not all that interesting to the kids.

Have a wonderful trip.

Even though my children are older (14, 13 and 12), my boys are doing the gladiator school when we go in April. Because they are nuts about Star Wars and lightsaber battles have permeated our back yard for years, it seems a logical choice for us lol. Our boys have also never left the US except a day trip to Canada. For one son's birthday, he and I are taking a pasta making a pasta class together and he is really excited about that. Perhaps a bike trip? In Florence, a visit to a Tuscan farm?

Rowing in venice
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187870-d1856843-Reviews-Row_Venice-Venice_Veneto.html#photos;geo=187870&detail=1856843&ff=233357594&albumViewMode=hero&albumid=101&baseMediaId=233357594&thumbnailMinWidth=50&cnt=30&offset=-1&filter=7

three types are offered, including a chichetti row. Its a family activity. http://rowvenice.org/

Interesting responses! We are going with our three kids, two boys and a girl ages 9, 14 and 16, and I'm looking for activities to interest everyone, particularly my 9-year-old son.

I liked the idea of learning to row in the slower canals and plenty of families of all ages do this.
They have three choices of outings. We signed up for one starting at 5:30pm - 8 pm where you stop to get a bite and a drink. Check the trip advisor reviews and photos.
Not sure how they do the age requirements so perhaps email them. There appear to be families with kids of all ages in the TA .photos.