Monti in Rome, your thoughts please
 

I am semi stuck at home and starting to plan for the next trip to Europe. I'm thinking that I will try to fly in or out of Rome, and I am wondering about staying in Monti. I would love to hear experiences and opinions.

We've stayed in several parts of Rome over the years, and my favorite for a long time now has been any place close to the Via di Ripetta. But now I'm thinking about trying someplace new and both Monti and the Ghetto are on my mind. Monti seems to be a sort of "it" place so I'm looking there.

Feedback welcome.

I stayed in Monti for a week last summer and would definitely stay in that neighborhood again. From there I was able to walk almost everywhere. I found it very convenient. Also, the vibe at night is young, hip and energetic. (I am none of those but enjoyed watching the young Italians who did fit into that category!) I have not stayed in the Ghetto area so I unfortunately can't compare the two.

Tuscan, there has been a lot of discussion of Monti on TA of late.

jubilada, I was looking for Monti talk on TA today. Their search engine isn't thrilling but I'll keep looking. Thanks.

Dee_Dee, what street were you on? I too like to watch young, hip and energetic Italians!

Anywhere close to Piazza Madonna dei Monti and the streets that run down to the Imperial Forums are nice but the neighborhood is so gentrified these days that your average family can no longer afford to live there. I think you'll notice a difference between Monti and Via di Ripetta, however - less traffic for one - and a village atmosphere.
The Jewish Ghetto is a quiet little postage stamp sized spot - the main street leading to the Portico of Octavia is a sunny pedestrian zone with some great restaurants.

tuscan, the Piazza Madonna dei Monti is the square with fountain where the young, hip and energetic Italians hang out at night. There are 2 restaurants right on the square where you can watch the action. Food wasn't great but the entertainment was. There was a restaurant 1 block from the square where I did dine 2 nights on very good food. I'll try to find the name.

I'm ready to try something different for us.

I would take a place in the Ghetto because I like the ancient quiet, but I would also like to try Monti. I've only been in that neighborhood for a few tourist sites and eats and passing through.

Gentrification is a problem so many places, but on a vacation, it's not something I give too much time and worry to.

Yes I agree gentrification is not overly a concern on holidays but for those looking to mingle with families and locals, Monti used to have this flavour but they're increasingly driven out.

I stayed in Monti last fall for 5 days. Loved it! I usually stay in Trastevere, but it has gotten very touristed in the last few years. Monti is like a little village (like Trastevere used to be) and a relief to return to after a long day of walking and sightseeing. Tons of very good restaurants within a few blocks. Transportation is easy from there, but I walked everywhere. Stayed here: http://www.domusalberti.it/ Federico was the most amazing, friendly, helpful host. For wonderful information on restaurants and things to see and do in Monti you might want to read Elizabeth Minchilli's blog. She's an expat living in Monti.

Barb, thanks for the response and the website for Domus Alberti. I do read Minchilli; thanks.

It depends on where you stay in Monti. Some areas are a bit sketchy.

It also depends on what you plan to visit. Monti used to be more convenient when ATAC was operating the small electric buses (116 & 117) that traversed the historic center. They traveled areas regular buses couldn't and one of them ran through Monti (multiple stops), by the Colosseum, San Giovanni in Laterano, Spanish Steps, Piazza del Popolo. The other crisscrossed that route and ran between the Vatican and Villa Borghese with stops around Piazza Navona. Both got dropped a year or so ago.

Well, that's a disappointment.

I am toying with the idea of Rome but really don't have plans to visit anything in particular at this time. There is always a list of churches we haven't been to, but I don't have anything in particular in mind.

I have thought about Centrale Montemartini, where we have not been, and a revisit to the Domus Aurea.

Was in Rome the other week, now in Naples. I was staying by Trajan's forum while my sister and her family were in the Ghetto right by Tempio Maggiore. I'd choose based on the hotel. Both areas are convenient to my eyes, though there weren't any restaurants that drew me to Monti this particular trip.

By the way, I read your comment about Palazzo Valentini and took my niece--we both loved it. Thanks.

Leely2, I'm so glad you loved Palazzo Valentini. I thought it was fascinating and well done.

I'm always recommending PV and the Hotel Dieu in Beaune, France, but I doubt that I've convinced anyone. Thanks!

Which hotel did you choose and would you recommend it? I will probably choose an apartment or B&B for budget reasons, but I am going to be taking recs.

Tuscan, we stayed on the via dei Serpenti which runs from Nazionale down towards the Colosseum, so it was very easy to get buses etc when you wanted to. There were lots of nice restaurants in the area, not just on Serpenti but in the little streets that run parallel to it, which are also full of little shops and workshops. As others have said the Piazza is nice too with cafes, bars, and a I seem to remember a gelateria.

My only caveat would be that this was about 10 years ago, so things might have changed bit since then.

For the past 4 years we have stayed in Monti (on Via Cimarra) and absolutely loved it. Fab restaurants - Broccoletti, Urbana 47, L'Asino D'Oro to name but a few . Our favourite pizzeria in all of Rome is there, Alle Carette and Aromaticus & Mariolina are great places for lunch

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All of these recommendations are helpful and I would love to hear about actual apartments, hotels or B&Bs.

I don't think that the apartment we stayed in is still available tuscan - at least the agency we rented through has disappeared and i can't remember the exact address!

I stayed at the Hotel Nerva and liked it--not in Monti and not inexpensive.

http://www.hotelnerva.com/en/index

My sister and her family rented this apartment, probably too barebones for you:
http://www.booking.com/hotel/it/apartment-tempio.html

I visited with them there and found it spacious and airy with a good location.

We've stayed twice in Monti and have really enjoyed it. As others have noted, it's a lively area, especially in the evenings. We stayed at Hotel Monti this year and would not recommend it. The previous year, we stayed at the "Forum" apartment that can be found at www.dolceroma.it and at https://www.vrbo.com/194822. The apartment is on Via Leonina, right in the heart of Monti and steps away from the Cavour metro stop. The hosts--Walter and Natalie--were very pleasant to work with and have been in the rental business for a long time. We would have happily stayed in the apartment on our second visit, but our stay wasn't long enough (they have a three-night minimum). The apartment is VERY quiet and I felt safe in the neighborhood. The AC worked well, too.