tylerdonna

Franco I believe I saw somewhere that you don't recommend aparts in the area near the Colosseo due to safety issues, is that correct? I'm looking at one on Via Capo d'Africa that is very close to the colosseo with a nice terrace/view... would that be OK?

marigross

Hi everyone. I posted separately but will give it a try in here anyway.

We are going in May to Rome for 5 nights. We are traveling as a family of three: DH, DD (16yrs old) and myself.

Most great places are already booked and these are the options which have been presented to us by the agencies:

This is currently my first choice as it has two bedrooms:

http://www.sleepinitaly.com/files/apt_falegnami.html

these are the others:

http://www.rentalinrome.com/conserva...servatorio.htm

Coronari Split Level:
Description: http://www.realrome.com/propcoronari1.html

Testaccio Querini 0102:
Description: http://www.realrome.com/proptestaccioquerini0102.html

Lungaretta Split Level:
Description: http://www.realrome.com/proplungarettasplit.html

Scala Cortile:
Description: http://www.realrome.com/propscalacortile.html

Panisperna
Description: http://www.realrome.com/proppanisperna.html

thoughts? plus and minuses?

franco

tylerdonna, I did, but I don't anymore, the information is outdated in the meantime. Via Capo d'Africa is fine now. For details, please read this thread, it has been discussed broadly.

marigross, your first choice is excellent - in the former ghetto. Via del Conservatorio is close to it, and equally fine. Via dei Coronari is near Piazza Navona, and that precise lane has been discussed on this thread few days ago. Via Pietro Querini is in the Testaccio district. Both Trastevere addresses are in the heart of the busy/lively part of Trastevere, certainly not the calmest of your locations. And Via Panisperna is on Viminale hill. All of these neighbourhoods have been broadly discussed on this thread, so all information you need is actually here above!!

Which leads to a polite plea, and I don't want to seem rude, but: each posting like this takes minimum 15 to 20 minutes (checking all the weblinks, checking the addresses on the Rome map), and I actually have a life beyond Fodor's, or so I try - so PLEASE read this thread, however long, before asking, and compare the information available here with "your" addresses, and work with a Rome map (www.viamichelin.com, for example). I'll be happy to answer all questions whose answers are not obvious after reading the whole thread, but both tylerdonna's and marigross' questions have exhaustively been answered weeks or months before they have even been asked, and on this very thread - please...

Zerlina

I haven’t looked at this thread in some time, and I see that my views on the Campo dei Fiori have been referred to a few times recently. Way back in July 2007, I said:

“…in the evening - and late into the night - the Campo dei Fiori has become a place for drunken, rowdy crowds: many American college kids doing a semester in Rome and many young Italians who come in from the suburbs to booze it up. It's not a place that I enjoy walking through in the evening and one that I avoid late at night.
The general area - the triangle of Pantheon, Campo dei Fiori and Piazza Navona - is great, but I would avoid anything too close to the Campo itself.”

The situation on the Campo itself has not changed. The mayor of Rome is trying to clamp down on it. This is a summary in English from a news source in the UK:

“New rules limiting take-away alcohol sales in the high-life night spots of Italy's capital Rome came into effect on Friday (January 16, 2009). Late-night sales will be banned in neighbourhoods famous for their nightlife to tamp down on loud, all-night partying. It is now illegal to sell take-away alcohol from in bars, restaurants, supermarkets or other outlets in some city-centre neighbourhoods after 9 pm. From 2 am, the sale of alcohol is banned inside bars and restaurants, although discos are exempt. Rome's mild temperatures and stunning sights make it a perfect venue for an outdoor cocktail, and residents and tourists alike buy drinks to sip by Rome's famous Baroque fountains. But residents have complained about the constant noise and the city's new right-wing mayor, Gianni Alemanno, was elected on a law-and-order platform. Earlier this month, an American tourist was stabbed after a fight near Campo de' Fiori, the downtown piazza where hundreds go every night to party in bars and restaurants. Campo de' Fiori is covered by the new measures. So is Trastevere, whose narrow alleys are lined with bars, and Testaccio, home to popular bars and nightclubs. The ban remains in effect until March. “

I’m not sure why the ban only remains in effect until March, as the situation tends to worsen as the evenings get warmer and longer. Perhaps there are time limits on how long the mayor can ban anything.

I would, though, change a little what I said back in July 2007. Anything on or very close to the Campo itself is to be avoided, as is anything on the “main drags” that lead to the Campo, such as Via dei Giubbonari and Via dei Baullari. But there are streets in the Campo area that are not touched by the rowdiness, and the further the address is from the Campo, the better. Even 200 meters can make a difference.

There was a time when Piazza Farnese, which is very quiet nowadays, was to be avoided, because druggies were doing their thing on the stone benches of the Palazzo Farnese. These things change over time, and today the Campo dei Fiori is one of the epicenters of misbehavior in Rome.

I would suggest that prospective renters and hotel guests enter the street name (and the number, if they have it) at maps.google.com and try to make an informed decision themselves.

Franco has been providing a free public service for years now, but I have the impression it is starting to drive him to distraction to repeat the same information again and again and again.

Leely2

Thanks, Zerlina, for the update.

I was in Rome last month and would not hesitate to stay near the Campo, although Giubbonari has never been my favorite street. I have stayed on via del Pellegrino, about a block and a half "above" the Campo and via dei Cappellari, about the same. This time I was with my mother and aunt and so we stayed nearer to Piazza Navona, but I prefer being closer to the river.

Certainly I am probably younger--although not "young rowdy" age!--than some of the posters here and live in a city anyway, so my tolerance may be higher. I just think it's prettier and a bit more quiet above the Campo than being right by Piazza Navona. But, as we say on the internet, your mileage may vary.

franco

Leely, basically, I completely agree. The stretch between Corso Vittorio Emanuele and the river is one of the favourite neighbourhoods in Rome, just great. But as both Zerlina and I said, as far as the surroundings of Campo dei Fiori are concerned, let's just wait until the evening crowd will move on. If Gianni Alemanno's recent decisions help anything in this respect, then this might at least somehow justify the desaster of that fascist extremist having been elected mayor of Rome!

Zerlina, thanks much for the update. If I may add something, I think not just the distance from the Campo should be taken into consideration, also the urban geography: Via dei Coronari 60 actually is in some distance from the Campo itself, but why I advised against it is that you'd normally cross the Campo when coming home after dinner: in most cases, you'd get off the bus or tram on Largo Argentina and walk five minutes, instead of waiting 15 minutes (at night) for another bus to go just one stop along Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
And please don't get me wrong, Zerlina and everybody: I still enjoy providing this "free service". I just think it would be fair to read first, and ask after that - questions might be already answered if proceeding in this order, or - perhaps more often - they'd certainly be more precise, and more detailed. But I'll always be happy to oblige if somebody comes up with questions like that.

excited_confused

Hi, I am now looking at 3 bedroom apartments that could accommodate 8 since we have another family traveling with us. The one I am looking at is Corso Vittoria through Rental in Rome. http://www.rentalinrome.com/corsovit...ittorioapt.htm
I believe the street is supposed to be noisy, is that a major problem? I read in a post above, that the stretch between Corso Vittorio Emanuele and the river is one of Franco's favourite neighbourhoods in Rome, Franco, would this apartment fall in that category? Have any Fodorites stayed in this apartment? If so, I would love to hear from them.
Leely2 & Zerlina. just wanted to get your opinions on the area around the Monte di Pieta which I currently have booked - http://www.romeby.com/monte-di-pieta...es/profile.htm. We have two older children, one of whom is a teenager so I do not want an unsafe area. Thanks.
Also, does anyone know of any other apts for rent in the same.adjoining buildings or any hotels very close to the Monte di Pieta apartment? Thanks again for all the very helpful information.

bjtravel

I am traveling to Rome with my spouse and 4 year old - after reading the different posts I am thinking maybe Trastevere will be a good neighbourhood for us. We'll be in rome for 3 full days and wondering how we can get to the major attractions from Trastevere? Or do you guys think Pantheon\Navona area will be better place? It will be great if we can come back to the room for a short break\nap...

Any advice is highly appreciated!

bjtravel

Franco,
Do you have any advice on apartments in Via della Maschera d'Oro and in Via Arco di Parma?

What do you think about the area?

thanks!

excited_confused

Hi, still trying to get some input on the following 3 bedroom apts/areas
http://www.rentalinrome.com/corsovit...ittorioapt.htm
http://www.sleepinitaly.com/files/ap...g-cristal.html
Help!

annhig

hi excited,

i am as you know nothing like the exprt that Franco is, but reading the descriptions of the last two apartments you've chosen, the 2nd one states how quiet it is, the first one doesn't - IMO if it was quiet, it would probably tell you so. so if peace and quiet are important to you, the 2nd one would be preferable. it is of course close to the madness that is the TRevi fountain, but I'm sure you'd soon find your way around that.

bj - although trastevere is a very nice interesting area, it is not very near the places that you as a first time visitor want to be - ie the ones you have listed. and with a 4 year-old, being able to return to your apartment for a nap/drink/rest, is very important [and may be important to your 4 yrar-old!] so i would go for somewhere more central near the campo dei fiori or piazza navona. of course, Franco may say different!

regards, ann

bjtravel

thanks ann!

excited_confused

Thanks ann, I like the look of the first apt better (of course, that would be the case!), that's the reason I was trying to find out if the noise would be a major factor - if anyone has stayed in the area or on that street, I would really appreciate any input. Thanks again.

franco

So sorry - my backlog is due to my grave antipathy to the new forum layout. But finally, I have to catch up with what happened over the last 10 days...

excited: Piazza Monte di Pietà is very close to Campo dei Fiori. See above: I wouldn't stay there currently. "Unsafe" is certainly saying too much... but "uncomfortable" is maybe an apt description.
Staying on Corso Vittorio Emanuele is of course a big no-no. Car traffic is like hell there; no apartment, however pretty, could make me want to stay there even for a single night!! But your third find, on Piazza Scanderbeg, is quite certainly in THE single most pretty location of Rome. Yes, Trevi fountain is close by, but the narrow lanes around Piazza Scanderbeg don't get any of the (tens of thousands...) of tourists that gather only around the fountain, so exactly as Ann told you, you're going to find your way around. So if you don't have a car (no street parking anywhere nearby), this location is excellent, and above all, just stunningly beautiful.

bj, both neighbourhoods you're thinking about are really great. Trastevere, as you know, is my big favourite (at least, considerable parts of it!), but the other area north-west of Piazza Navona is certainly as good as Trastevere - which one you prefer is a mere matter of taste. As far as taking a nap in the afternoon, this will be somewhat easier in Venice... Rome is huge, traffic is time-consuming, and you may find yourself too distant from "home" to nap wherever you stay. Anyway, I think much depends on WHERE to stay in Trastevere. If you're near the tram, then it's even (much!) easier to head back for a nap to Trastevere than to the Piazza Navona area. Traffic connections are definitely less good for Piazza Navona - the tram is great, extremely quick, going maximum every five minutes (thinking of daytime), and it starts from Largo Argentina: one of the few places in Rome that are always more or less easily reachable since so many busses are heading there from all directions.

excited_confused

Hi, what about the location of this apt-
http://www.rentalinrome.com/crispima...rbleluxury.htm
Is it quite far from the main areas we would be visiting? Since I originally started out looking in Piazza Navona & Campo de Fiorei, it seems quite a lot farther away however the decor is more to my liking than the Scanderberg apt. Thanks.

excited_confused

The address of the above apartment is Via Francesco Crispi 99, found it on another website too - http://rentalo.com/281092/luxuriousa...ml#Description

annhig

hi excited,

you're right, it does seema long way from the centre.

does the decor really matter - you'll only be sleeping there, after all. proximity to where you want to be is much more important, IMHO.

remember those three vital words: location, location, location.

regards, ann

grace44

ttt

Marianna

Franco and everyone who have contributed here, I finally read through this whole thread - wow, such great comments, advice and insights.

Is the area of Via Governo Vecchio a good place to stay in Rome (we wanted to be near Piazza Navona) or is it too close to Campo de Fiori?

Thanks.

franco

excited, the concept of being near to "the important sights" doesn't make any sense in Rome. The important sights (and there are dozens of them!) are dispersed all over the city, and wherever you stay, you will go long ways each day. The important thing about location in Rome, thus, is how nice the area is; and how good traffic connections are. Via Francesco Crispi is a pretty location, a very upscale, elegant and expensive residential area, but the precise street is also that district's mainfare. And as far as traffic, there are definitely easier locations than this one, as Ann told you. But it's not too bad, either; it's not even too far from Piazza Scanderbeg, which we were discussing recently. You can reach Via del Tritone by foot, and you have good bus connections there. But still, you're going to invest some time and (walking) effort each day for the sake of decoration, that's certain. And though I don't recall Via Francesco Crispi too precisely, it's safe to assume that you will be facing some traffic noise.