With my wife we are planning our first trip to Rome in May and wonder if any of you stayed at a B&B or apartment and if you care to give us some advice. We would like to stay in the Historic Center. Thanks P.M.

We ahve stayed at a lovely apartment in Trastevere. It is just across the Ponte Sixto fromt he center. It is well located to all tha major sights and is in a very untouristy neighborhood. There is a very wonderful gelateria and bar right down the street and you have ll the artisan shops of Trastevere to wander to.<BR><BR>here is the URL for the agency. Search on Trastevere and then you willget a link to this apartment. It is property 1740. The kitchen and bathroom are quite luxurious.<BR><BR>http://www.1001-villa-holidaylets.com/<BR><BR>

Pierre!<BR><BR>My wife and I stayed at Residenza San Pantaleo (B&B) in May. It was just great for us. Right next door to Piazza Navona and close to Campo dei Fiori.<BR><BR>Website: www.residenzasanpantaleo.com<BR><BR>Any questions, email me separately.<BR><BR>Bob

Hi Pierre,<BR>I live and work in Rome and thought I would help you out. The recommendation you got from Bob regarding the Rezidenz San Pantaleo is excellent. I have met many people who have stayed there and all speak highly of it. it is also in a wonderful location right near Piazza Navona where you have the beautiful Fountain of the Four Rivers by Bernini and you can spend many hours watching the buskers perform. Just off the piazza on the side street near St Agnes in Agony you will find one of the absolute best Gelato shops in Rome at Blue Ice, try the varied nutella it is incredible!<BR>You are also near Campo di Fiori a more local and Italian piazza where you will find excellent wine bars and trattorias. You will be close to the bus for the Vatican (watch the pickpockets) and to other sights such as the Colosseum and the Forums and walking distance to all the main monuments in the historical centre.<BR>Pierre, If you want any other recommendations on where to stay or what to do while you are in Rome, please feel free to email me direct as I am a tour guide here and know the city very well.<BR>Happy planning<BR>Marianna

Thank you all for your advice!!!

Pierre--my husband and I stayed at this apartment just off the Campo dei Fiori. It was just perfect in size and location. Great for a couple, and lots of restaurants and shops nearby. The apartment was lovely (though not quite as luxe as Dean's recommendation), and I'd recommend it highly. The description says its on the first floor, but it's one story up, for us yanks. <BR>http://www.guestinitaly.com/apartments/farnesi.htm<BR>Feel free to e-mail me with questions. It's been several months since we were there, but it seems like yesterday.

We rented a place in Piazza Navona with Domus International 2 years ago, and was a great experience. Don't remember the web address but run a serach with yahoo. I think an apartment is better, privacy and more quiet. B&B's are less $$ but you have to deal with the owner all the time. And the B-Fast in Italy is a cup of coffee and a glass of O.J. <BR>Good luck!

I prefer to stay in Trastevere rather than in either the area of Campo di Fiori or the Pantheon. The Pantheon is a very busy and crowded area with loads of people well into the night. And a lot of these people are younfolk from Britian or America and the scene is a little rowdy and noisy. Plus the bars and food stores are very expensive and not so good. The restaurants range, La rosetta incredible but I don't need to stay nearby to go there. <BR><BR>Campo di fiori at night is a litttle edgy with a lot of blues bars etc. Again, not what I lok for in Italy.<BR><BR>Trastevere however, is more mellow and still very lively. The restaurants have folk dining out side till late at night. Many incredible bars and shops open late. Artisan shops where you can buy more hand crafted things and not so much mass produced stuff. There are street musicians till all hours of the night. And there is a more boho feel to the place. <BR><BR>Just my opinion

Plus its only 10 minutes walk to campo di fiori, 20 to pantheon or navonna, 30-45 to the vatican. And the caffes are fairly uniform;ly good and we had the best gelato there.<BR><BR>