Hotel near Santa Maria Maggiore Basillica
 

Does anyone know anything about the Hotel Viminale on Via Cesare Balbo? It is near the Santa Maria Maggiore Basillica. It is a Leonardi Hotel. This area is fairly near the train station and I am wondering if it is a safe and nice area? ANY feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!

Do not now the hotel but would advise against the area. One of the poorer quarters of Rome with little to do for tourists and too much petty street crime i.e. gypsies and/or pickpockets. I would try for something central near Pantheon or Piazza Navonna. Good luck.

Stayed in the area but not at that hotel (we were about 1/2 block away from the church). <BR><BR>While I would not choose to stay in that area again (mainly because it was pretty far away from the major stuff), we were not overly uncomfortable there. We didn't stay out too late though -- maybe 8 or 9 at the latest? I wouldn't call it a "nice area", but we didn't feel threatened either. <BR><BR>I would recommend a taxi when returning late at night. Otherwise, it wasn't bad.

Thanks to both of you. I'll keep lookig. I am convinced not to try something in that area. Doesn't sound like the place we want to be for a celebration!

Pam--have stayed at Viminale twice; it's probably the safest location in Rome because the police HQ are literally across the street and there are guards on V. Cesare Balbo 24 hrs/day! V. C. Balbo is a quiet, 1-way street w. very little traffic. We came and went at all hours w. no problems; did not see a single gypsy/beggar, but did see lots of police HQ bureaucrats! The Viminale outdoor roof patios, which include lawn swings, provide a wonderful view of S. M Maggiore, which is about a 5 min walk. Don't miss it; inside, it's one of the most spectacular churches in Rome, and its Sixtine Chapel rivals anything else you will see for sheer beauty.<BR>It took me about 10 min to walk to Termini from Viminale. <BR>Posted last June on this forum re. my experiences at V.; you may try a text search, or if I can find it, I'll top it for you.<BR>Have a great trip.

Pam--just did a text search on Hotel Viminale and came up w. 4 hits, incl. the one i posted last June.