We are traveling with a 6 year old and a 4 year old in Italy and I wanted to know what the dress code is in churches, etc. for kids this age? I know for adults you must have knees and shoulders covered - but what about kids?
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
18201 posts
In the absence of wee ones of my own. I'll refer you to "Mama Loves Rome." She's a local who has been blogging about exploring the Eternal City with her own littles for years. While you'll be visiting other areas in Italy, given St. Peter's strictness for dress, what will get you inside here will work anywhere!
https://mamalovesrome.com/visiting-the-vatican-with-kids/#vatican_dress_code_–_a_note_for_families
General rule of thumb seems to be that the rules for showing offending shoulder and knee flesh (plus that of other parts) is relaxed for very young children. What I might do is dress your kids in shorts that are just a wee bit longer than not - don't worry overly much about hiding their chubby little knees - and T shirts. The whole dress thing also seems to be at the discretion of the guards on duty on any given day: I've seen pix of grownup people wandering about the basilica in attire that should have seen them kicked to the curb ( Ahem, looking at you, Jennifer Aniston.) Given Italian affection for little folks, you'll be fine.
Posted by
995 posts
Kids always get a pass. Don't give it a thought.
Even adults often get a pass. Whenever I felt like I might be intruding, I have asked and I've never had anyone be anything but welcoming. They realize tourists are living out of a suitcase.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
17851 posts
I have a photo of my first communion at the age of 9.
I had a suit with a tie, but we all had short pants above the knee.
We were not kicked out of the church by our priest and we were not denied our first host.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
18201 posts
Like this, Roberto? :O)
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
17851 posts
That’s about right. Our suits were light gray and we had ties. In one picture that my high school friends always send to our chat, I have my hands in front of my face in prayer pose, obviously pretending to pray. But my eyes were rolling up conspicuously as to say: “when is this torture going to end?”. My closest friends pass it around to everyone they know. I’m sure it’s on instagram somewhere.
Posted by
9 posts
chill, Italy love kids!