I've been to Rome, I don't know, six times, seven times?, and have mostly stayed in the Pantheon/Navona/Campo dei Fiori triangle. Stayed once in Trastevere (and would do so again if I could find a quiet apartment).

Two friends, also Rome veterans, and I will be in Rome for five nights after a week in Sicily. We're trying to find an apartment, and we're not married to any particular area because we'll just play Rome sightseeing by ear.

I've always been intrigued by Monti. If you have stayed there, what did you like and/or dislike about the area? And of course if you have any apartment recs, I'd be delighted to see them.

Thanks!

Leely2- I can't offer any advice on Monti. But for some funny reason, your post caught my eye.

I'm actually trying to find a decent apartment in the area (Pantheon/Navona) you are used to staying in. I'm torn between half a dozen.

We are two females. Would consider a one bedroom with a pullout couch. But ideally, 2/2 would be great. I'd like to stay around E150/night, if possible.

I've looked at SleepInItaly, VRBO, PerfectPlaces, and now RentalInRome. I have stayed in a SII apartment before, but it is not available this trip. (Rome 3/31-4/4)

Any apartments that fit the bill that you liked?

thanks, and good luck on your hunt for Monti info.

I've stayed in Monti a couple of time, but didn't rent an apartment. It's walking distance to many things (Forum, Colosseum, Piazza Venezia, etc.). It's safe with some areas pedestrian only. Depending on where you stay, the metro is only a couple of minutes away (entrance for Cavour stop is on via Leonina). The little electric bus line runs through the area. Line 117 - via Serpenti and via Panisperna are in Monti.

It's more trade shops than tourist stores (except for things on Via Cavour) although there are quite a few restaurants. The restaurant on Piazza Madonna dei Monti seems to attract lots of Italians that stop by on the way home from work for drinks/snacks. There can also be some people hanging out around the fountain until quite late.

Sarge, I've stayed in bigger and smaller, but not the exact size you are looking for, I don't think. Will rack my brain. We are also aiming for the same time period.

What are the apartments you're considering?

Monti was an old neighborhood in Rome, with a rich history of events such as Trastevere and Testaccio. Over time, many houses often because of past donations are owned by the Vatican. There are so many apartments occupied by people connected to the Catholic Church. If you have any connection with it will not be difficult to find an apartment for rent. However, there are some B & Bs. Everything else is like said by kybourbon.

You can click on the links on this webpage to see piazzas, churches, streets in the Monti area. I hate to give this link because the guy that has this business has caused much controversy on this board in it's early days and other boards. He was banned by Fodor's years ago. I would not book an apartment with him, but most apartments are listed on multiple sites so you may be able to find some of his listings through another agency.

http://www.romanhomes.com/your_roman...ti-quarter.htm

I have not stayed in this part of Rome but it was featured recently in Budget Travel Magazine:
http://current.newsweek.com/budgettr...onti_rome.html

Sarge, why don't you start your own thread? People who could help you may not be looking at this one.

Thanks for the responses. I think Monti will suit us if we can find an apartment.

And kybourbon, I remember the infamous owner of Roman Homes.

hi leeley,

we stayed in Monti [actually in an apartment on the via serpenti] for our first week in Rome, and though I wouldn't recommend it for a first -time visitor, for someone like you, i should think that you'd love it. local shops and restaurants, lots of atmosphere, and easy access to the rest of Rome via the buses on the via nazionale, and the metro at via cavour. sadly the agency that we used doesn't seem to exist any more, but here's the link to the slow travel's website Rome accommodation agency list:

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/listings/rome.asp

good luck!

Any thoughts on this apartment or its location:

http://www.vrbo.com/293426

It's on via Clementina and available for our dates. One of the reasons I'm thinking of Monti is simply that I'd like to try a different area, ideally one that is slightly less congested with tourists.

Hi Leeley,

i found the via clementina on google, and it looks a very ggood place to be. the area is full of lovely little restaurants, artisan's workshops and proper local shops and businesses. on via serpenti where we stayed there were several nice trattoria, at least one indian restaurant, a pound store, two delis, a very nice osteria, a great gelateria where we ran into the local carabiniere evey night, a cafe wher we bought our morning cornetti, etc. etc.

if you have had your fill of the piazza navona/spanish steps, the position couldn't be bettered as access to some of the less touristy sites of Rome is very good - for example we spent a lovely day following Rick Steves' tour of churches with mosaics.

the price of the apartment looks very good too and there will be plenty of room for both of you.

have a great trip!

Yes, annhig, that's sort of what I was thinking too. I took a virtual walk down via Clementina and it looked okay to me. And while we can handle (and even appreciate!) lots of stairs, there is a lift. Thanks so much for your feedback; I appreciate it.

Of course meanwhile, going in a completely different direction, I found this:

http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p494482

Is there a Rome apartment compilation thread similar to Guenmai's Paris Apartment thread? I have done a search and couldn't find anything. If not, I think I'll start one this weekend.

oh no, that's just not fair. How are you going to decide???

though on 2nd thoughts, i think that I would opt for the other one, especially if you have always stayed in the piazza navona etc. area before - the ghetto is still in the same general area and does not, IMHO, have the variety that Monti offers, though the food there is great of course.

there IS a thread about Rome apartment locations, started and run by Franco. if you search for "Franco Rome accommodation" on this forum, you should find it.

After a bit of hunting I found this.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...odistricts.cfm

I'm not sure if Franco is lurking at the moment, but it would be worth a try posting a query and seeing if he "bites".

Well, the Ghetto apartment seems great but no reviews online, and when I asked the owner what the terms of the rental contract were, he answered my other questions but left that unanswered. So I don't think I can take a risk like that. Not saying he's a scammer but his emails left me feeling a bit uncertain.

I have a few other options but am leaning toward the Monti apartment above because of the view.

Leely, our apartment on the via serpenti had two terraces from which we had a view over the rooftops. i was great to come back after a hard day's sightseeing and drink our tea looking out over the roofs of rome. if we craned our necks, we could even see the colosseum!

I agree with going with your instincts about the Ghetto apartment.

I, too, have long been intrigued by the thought of renting a place in Monti so I will look forward to any opinions, pro and con, about the area. Which parts of Monti are the prime parts for renters? Any to avoid? I hope we receive some leads for specific apartments.

hi ek,

as you will have read, we rented an apartment in the via serpenti. the advantages are that it is full of local shops, restaurants and amenities [rather than ones aimed at tourists] its proximity to the colosseum etc., and easy access to buses, metro and termini. Disadvantages are that it IS a bit less central than the piazza navona/pantheon/campo dei fiori area, and we certainly ended up walking further than was good for us, leading to a development of the condition we came to know as "Roman Foot". However, i think that was because of our lack of familiarity with Rome generally.

for someone who has already been several times, it would make a great place to stay.

as for specific recommendations, i had a look on line but can't find either the place we stayed at or the agency we used listed. there is an apartment in the via serpenti reviewd on TA, but that's about it. perhaps others can help with this.

Hi Leely,

Like you, I've stayed many times in the very centre -- the Campo di'Fiori neigborhood. But for my late spring 2011 visit to Rome, I've rented an apartment in the Monti area.

I think it looks really interesting and I'm excited about the prospects of getting to know another neighborhood. I also anticipate making use of the subway a bit and definitely the little 117 bus! (I love walking in Rome but wish to avoid what Ann above described as Roman Foot. So I'll try to remember to save my feet -- a week in Rome is only the beginning of the trip!)