Is area around Piazza del Popolo safe?
 

I have a couple of choices for apartments around the Piazza del Popolo area, actually a little bit north near via di Villa Giulia.

1. Is this area safe?

2. How far is the walk from via di Villa Giulia to the closest metro station of Flaminio?

3. Is this too far to walk last week of August? We have 2 young children, just don't want to walk too far if it's too hot.

4. Is there any supermarket and restaurants around this area?

5. Can the area be noisy at night?

6. Can we walk to the Spanish Steps? Or is this just too far?

Thanks,
QQ

You need to put up the addresses of the apartments for people to answer your questions.

The general area is safe, but one of best ways to ascertain the safety of the area around an apartment rental is to read reviews of a nearby hotel on Tripadvisor. People are very vocal if they thought their neighborhood was dicey. You can put the address of an apartment rental you are considering into a google map search, and then ask google for hotels near that address. They'll show up on the map, and you can check out reviews.

You can also use google maps to determine walking distance from an address to a named metro stop. Use the "Get Directions" feature, and choose the icon that shows someone walking.

It will be hot in August. The metro itself will be hot. You might also want to check out bus routes (which will also be hot).

You should plan your day so you are not doing all your touristing in the heat of the day. Some places are great in the morning. Many are wonderful at night. For the middle of the afternoon, it is best to go swimming (there are public pools in Rome) or plan indoor or underground visits --- or just hanging out at the apartment until it is cool enough to go back out for a gelato, an evening stroll, checking out some fountains and having a pizza.

Via di Villa Giulia is a bit out of things, it's an "OK" area but there are much better and more central options. I would start with neighborhoods that are both south of Via della Fontanella di Borghese and west of Via del Corso.

When you say you have a couple of choices for apartments near Via di Villa Giulia, do you mean ALL your choices are in that area? If not, I would be curious as to what other neighborhoods are in consideration at this point.

Back to your questions:
1) yes
2) 10-15 minutes with children
3) too far to walk WHERE?
4) Not much near apt., but there are restaurants near Piazza del Popolo and food stores near Spanish steps and the neighborhood across the river from the apartment.
5) Area near Via di Villa Giulia is quiet, but it does get noisier the closer you go toward Piazza del Popolo
6) Spanish Steps would be about a 30 minute walk with children.

But, again, are there other neighborhoods in the running?

>>>3. Is this too far to walk last week of August?<<<

Yes. It's past Piazza del Popolo so it's not very convenient.

>>>6. Can we walk to the Spanish Steps? Or is this just too far?<<<

Too far, but there is a tram (#'s 2 and 19). You should not concern yourself much with metros in Rome. The metro system is very limited. You will be better served by electric buses that run through the historic center or trams (if you stay that far out). If you stay somewhere more convenient, you can walk many places.

Tram map

http://www.atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=5

Electric bus map

http://www.atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=9