I plan to be in Rome for at least 12 days in May. I’ve previously stayed in the area around the Spanish Steps. I want to try a new section of the city for my extended stay.
Suggestions?

My standard suggestion is the historical center, roughly defined as within or just outside the triangle formed by Campo de Fiori, the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona. Almost anything you might want to see is within walking distance, and there are numerous buses to further points such as St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums in one direction and the Colosseum and beyond in the other. The area is safe, full of restaurants in all ranges, and the streets are full of people until late in the evening.

Not far from the Campo de Fiori is the pedestrian Ponte Sisto bridge across the Tiber to Trastevere, an area that some people prefer. It is also a very lively area in the evenings; it is perhaps a tiny bit rougher around the edges than the historical center but still safe if you stay in the area around Santa Maria in Trastevere.

Campo de Fiori! It's great fun, and you are close to Trastevere for great restaurants.

My vote is to stay around Piazza Navona.Eloises suggestions in my opinion are perfect.With the city being so congested we took cabs to get around especilly at night.I can promise you one thing the time will fly by. The bakeries scattered throughout the city our the best I have ever seen .There is one in Campo fiori which was immaculate and their everything was out of this world. travel safe and have fun.

lilminkey:
The bakery we liked in Campo area was Il Fornaio, 5/7 Via dei Baullari. It was just wonderful.

Near the Pantheon is a terrific location. We were at Hotel Nazionale a Montecitorio on Piazza Montecitorio, walking distance to the Pantheon in June 2004. Classy hotel with great location. (Often confused with 2 other hotels with similar names, this is the one on Piazza Montecitorio.)

If I had 12 days in Rome I would definitely split them between the Pantheon area and the Trastevere area, which was the one area of Rome we missed.

We saw the Spanish steps, not quite as central as staying near the Pantheon. Piazza Navonna is also near the Pantheon. The Piazza Montecitorio is a small piazza upon which the Italian parliament building also sits.

wanderful: Like others here I cannot find any fault with the P.za Navona/ Pantheon/ C. de' Fiori area.

It certainly is more restful and more pedestrian friendly than the Spanish Steps area (though we have, paradoxically, chosen the latter for a 1 week stay in March)

But I wonder, given that you have 12 days, whether you MIGHT consider somewhere a little more distant and more unusual, just for the experience of living and feeling like a real Roman.

With 12 days, you have the freedom to waste a bit of time getting to the things you want to see.

Personally, I am intrigued by the idea of settling down into an under-appreciated yet atmospheric neighbourhood (Aventino, Trastevere, north of St Peter's, Colosseo).

Just an idea....from someone who likes to stay in odd places and then brag of his discoveries.