location in Rome
 

Wondering about staying near Castle St Angelo> How is this location for staying in Rome.
This would be second time there.

Thanks

How long do you have in Rome and what do you want to see? That location would put you close to the Vatican. Did you already go there on your first trip? Or are you planning to go there this time?
If you're not going there, you might want to think about going further east, either just across Ponte Sant'Angelo, or more toward Piazza Navona. I like that area because it's very central, has plenty of restaurants around, and has good bus connections.

what SusanP said: we love the area around via Giulia, which is close to the Ponte Sant'Angelo, on the Piazza Navona side. we find all of the streets in that neighborhood, all the way to Campo di Fiori, to be so charming.

Staying near the Castel Sant’Angelo does indeed position you well for the Vatican and St. Peter’s. You are close to the Prati neighbourhood which has some good restaurants catering primarily to the Romans who live in that neighbourhood. And you are close to Enoteca Costantini, an outstanding wine store — and wine bar too IIRC,

Thanks for all the help. Will be there for nine days.

Very nice amount of time. With that in mind, I would stay further east (more towards the center) even if you plan to visit the Vatican, for the reasons I noted above. If you plan to do any day trips, it would also put you closer to the train station (I wouldn't stay over by the train station).

Thanks again for the help.
Also looking at another location near the Villa Borghese Gardens.
Any thoughts?

I think I would prefer to stay near CastelSant'Angelo, although you don't say exactly where. As FTOttawa notes above, there are some good restaurants in Prati, and parts of that area (not all) don't feel quite as congested as areas more in the dead-center. With nine days and on a second visit to Rome, you won't be rushing from major site to major site, so IMO no need to stay central. But of course it depends on you and your priorities.

Of course, you don't have to stay near the center if you really don't want to for some reason. I do want to point out that if you stay near Borghese, the bus connections aren't great. I was forced to stay up there a few years ago when the hotel I had booked did overbooking and put me in a sister hotel just outside the entrance to the gardens. It took two buses and 3/4 to 1 hour to get anywhere. If you like to do a lot of walking, you could avoid the bus some, but it's a very steep walk back up. Maybe that wouldn't bother you, just wanted you to know.

I love to walk through the Borghese Gardens, and to visit the museum, but I wouldn't be happy staying in that area overnight. We enjoy strolling by the river and around Piazzza Navona in the early morning and in the evening too much to stay someplace much further away!

I stayed at the Sofitel near the villa Borghese in November. The hotel was great and there were some good restaurants and a fun jazz bar close by but it is a very steep walk back up from most of what you will want to be seeing.
We took taxis a few times.

Thanks again. I don't mean to be a pain but I have one more location I promise.
I am trying to use Marriott. Via del Velabro 16
Roma, Italy, 00186
Any thoughts?

Mike, we stayed in Prati for the first time this past April. The location would be a busy one. But then again, you'd be within walking distance of the Basilica, the museum, passegiata Gelsomino, Castel Sant Angelo, with Pza Navona/via Giulia not too far off.
*Foodically speaking...Prati would allow easy access to BonciPanficio Bakery (i.e. Pizzarium's smaller far less hectic outlet); Sciascia Caffe (great authentic Roman vibe indoors or out); El Maiz (Venezualan take-out/corn-based heaven); La Tradizione cheese deli; Castroni deli; the Trionfale market and Love croissants (lineups).

I am done. the mangia, the metro and the crowds

We stayed in Prati many years ago , it was fine .
My last visit ( before Covid ) I stayed in Monti , which I liked….
The area had a local feel, I walked to the Colosseum and Foro Romano.
It was easy to get to the train station ( for day trips) and use the metro around the city. Taxi rates were reasonable, too.

I'm an avid walker so for me that address would be fine, having been to Rome many times. Just note that there aren't any many cafes/bars right in the immediate vicinity. Plug the address into Google maps and then do street view and walk around a little. Certainly seems evocative from a views-on-ancient-Rome perspective.

And I took back "there aren't any" cafes/bars/restaurants and changed to "there aren't many," because there are quite a few, just not right outside the hotel door. Also looks like an easy walk across the bridge into Trastevere, about 20 minutes walk to the Basilica di Santa Cecilia.

But as you can see from the diversity of opinions above, we all have different preferences when it comes to where to stay in Rome.

[to add to zebec's Prati food list: Il Sorpasso, Ristorante l'Arcangelo, Panificio Bonci]

Via del Velabro isn't a bad location. As mentioned, it's close to the Colosseum and Forum, as well as close to a bridge over into Trastavere. Also not far from Santa Maria in Cosmedin if you're interested in the Mouth of Truth (but go inside the church as well!). I agree that that area isn't full of restaurants. I prefer to not have to go far for dinner, but that's just my preference, maybe you don't mind having to go a little farther afield. Of course, going over into Trastavere will get you to restaurants.
Edited to add that if you're not a big walker, near the end of Velabro is the Petroselli bus stop, and Bus 30 or 130 will take you over to Piazza Navona.

I tend to stay on main bus and train lines near the Vatican. A little more out of the way, so prices a bit cheaper and fewer tourists with a more natural local life. Our latest find in the St Peter's train station. Ok a fair few nuns walking about but perfectly normal city Italy.

Don't worry about being a pain. We're here for helping and for learning ourselves. I had a colleague who always deliberately asked "stupid" questions at seminars, the things she knew that students would be hesitant to ask.

The location at Via del Velabro isn't bad, although you might do a bit of walking. It's not far from the backside of the Palatine Hill.

The last time I was in Rome, we stayed near via del Governo Vecchio. That's an area I like. It's near Castello Sant'Angelo, and it's not overwhelmed by tourists. It's easy walking distance to Piazza Navona, and there's a bus depot nearby, so you can catch buses to nearly everything.

Of the places you've mentioned, the hotel near the Villa Borghese would be my least favourite.