I'm getting married in Rome in May of next year. Our immediate families will be attending the ceremony. I need to find a three or four star hotel for everyone to stay at (about 8 rooms). I'm looking for something either near the Spanish steps (although I understand it's a bit noisy and crowded) or near Plaza Navona. I'm open to other locations. I'm looking for a charming Italian hotel with a nice restaurant. Any suggestions?

Hi Pam, <BR>we stayed at the 4* Hotel Raphael, just a few steps from the Piazza Navona. Its a smallish, and charming hotel. Fairly expensive. Staff was very helpful. And it had a particularly good food at the restaurant. They have an indoor restaurant, but in nice weather also serve up on the roof. The rooftop area is lovely. I think I found it one of two websites, either www.charminghotels.it or www.slh.com.

I'm afraid that by now you shouldn't have any luck in trying to secure 8 rooms in Hotel Teatro di Pompeo for May. It doesn't cost you any to check it out, though. <BR>The *** Teatro di Pompeo is the hotel we like best in Rome. Intimate, refined, confortable, charming and historical (built on top of the ruins of of Theater of Pompey, steps from where Julius Caesar mas murdered). In my opinion, just off Piazza Campo de' Fiori, it's one of the best located hotels in Rome, in the heart of ancient Rome, at walking distance to just about everything (Vatican, Trastevere, Piazza Navona and Pantheon, Roman Forum, etc). Having only 12 rooms, it would be just about perfect for your needs. Of course, being so small and recommended by most guides it also fills very quickly. Relevant data is: <BR> Largo del Pallaro, 8 phone: +39 06 6830-0170 fax: 06 6880-5531 <BR> http://www.romeguide.it/teatrodipompeo/hotel.html <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR>

Good afternoon, Pam <BR>Have used both of the below hotels, a <BR>good number of times since 1981. <BR>The hotel INTERNAZIONALE, via Sistina, <BR>79 is a three star hotel with 37 rooms. <BR>each room different some with baths, <BR>some with showers, street side rooms <BR>tend to be noisy at night as the Sistina <BR>is a busy street <BR>The hotel DE LA VILLE, via Sistina, 69 <BR>is a four sstar hotel with 189 rooms, <BR>again street side rooms can be noisy at <BR>night. Both of these hotels are located <BR>less than a quarter of a block from the <BR>Trinita dei Monti, the top of the Spanish Steps, two good ristorantes <BR>at the bottom of the steps is the <BR>RISTORANTE NINO, via Borgognona, 11 <BR>$$$ resvn a must <BR>LA CAPRICCOSIA, Largo dei Lombardi, 8 <BR>$$$ resvn suggested. Have used this <BR>ristorante with the same waiter since <BR>1971.. <BR>As for a Roman hotel with an exceptional <BR>ristorante, would be the Hotel FORUM, <BR>via Tor de Conti, 25, across from the <BR>roman forum that has the ristorante <BR>with a rooftop garden, overlooking the <BR>forum.... <BR>Richard of Hickory Hills, IL..... <BR>Steps

The Santa Chiara near the Pantheon and Piazza Navona is very nice and I think they have an apartment.

Although we didn't stay there, we popped into the Santa Chiara a few weeks ago, and were very impressed. It looked like a lovely place. It's a great location, and there's a good restaurant just steps away in Piazza Sta. Chiara (where we did eat - yummy!!).

Aldrovandi Hotel is near the Borghese gardens. Classy. Only hotel around with a swimming pool. Very quiet area and not near all the noise of the city. Contact them for a brochure. May be what you want.

Pam: You might try the Scalinata di Spagna. It's a small boutique hotel right at the top of the Spanish Steps, but I'd book immediately. It's very pretty and very popular. Congratulations!

I stayed in a 3* called City about 1 minute walk or less from Spanish steps, cant recall name of street though but really really close, <BR> <BR>confortable but small rooms, friendly staff. <BR> <BR>Kavey