Thanks to all for confirming what I'd been leaning towards - the Pantheon area.

Please have a look at these choices:

http://www.sleepinitaly.com/en/show-...id_appartam=33

http://www.sleepinitaly.com/en/show-...id_appartam=30

http://www.sleepinitaly.com/en/show-...d_appartam=262

Any and all advice most gratefully accepted.

Cheers

Pastini has no AC, so I would rule it out. Other two each are appealing.

I agree about the AC, but I wouldn't want to walk up four flights of stairs. Seems OK on the first day but, after a few days and many miles, not so much.

You're unlikely to need AC in mid-October, and even if the apartment has it, you may not be able/allowed to turn it on at that time of year. I'd rule out Pastini because it's on a relatively low floor on a busy pedestrian street that is a bit of a "main drag" and noisy. Someone just posted about Pastini here:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...ome_Lazio.html

That leaves you with two apartments on the fourth (American fifth) floor without an elevator. Both look appealing. Via del Gesu is the busier street (with cars), so I might favor Palombella, a pedestrian street at the *back* of the Pantheon. Your view of the Pantheon (if you have one) will not be the one shown, but I think you might be pleased to be on its quieter side.

Not for most people because of the stairs, but as an avid hill-runner the second two are both appealing to me. I'd take Gesu. The map makes it look closer to Santa Maria Sopra Minerva than Chiese del Gesu, which would make it less trafficky or at least quieter. In fact I'm going to bookmark it for myself. But I agree with the others that these all seem good.

hi again, mark,

my pick would be the last one because of the terrace, if you can bear the thought of the stairs - actually not too bad so long as you remember to do some shopping every time you are going back to the apartment.

but there are loads of other agencies - have you looked on the slow travel website at some of the others? if you're not going til October, you've got plenty of time. we stayed here - www.lacasadiclelia.webs.com. great for three, IMHO a little tight for 4, but not impossible. ground floor, very central, very quiet.

In the last one you have to navigate basically a ladder inside and then a steep staircase outside to use the terrace, as far as I can tell. Fun carrying food and dishes in and out. Also, the sofabed in the last one looks to be very narrow, if you are planning on 2 people using it. I hope the showers are enclosed in the bathrooms, and not the kinds that spray water everywhere.

The first and third ones have no counter/prep space in their kitchens, although if you are not be planning on doing any real cooking that's OK.

We stayed in the minerva and liked it a lot. You see the Pantheon out your very large windows. Quiet at night since there are no cars. Nice size, good bathroom. The only drawbacks are poor airconditioning, which you won't care about in October, and a worn couch in the living room.
Opening the floor to ceiling windows is as good as having a terrace IMHO.
http://www.sleepinitaly.com/en/show-...id_appartam=70

We liked the Minerva apartment. It's on Piazza della Rotonda with great views of the Pantheon from the floor to ceiling windows. Very quiet since cars aren't permitted. Nice bathroom and kitchen, lots of light. Drawbacks are poor airconditioning, which won't matter in October, and a too worn couch in the living room. IMHO the windows and view make up for a terrace. Fling open the windows and it's like you're outside.
http://www.sleepinitaly.com/en/show-...id_appartam=70

Unfortunately, the Minerva is booked. I'd already checked it out. All the preferable Pantheon apts are already gone.

The only other one near the Pantheon is this one:

http://www.sleepinitaly.com/appartam...d_appartam=419

But overlooking a small market may be quite noisy, but OTOH, it's not 5 flights up!

Sleep in Italy is not the only aparment-rental agency in Rome. Roman Reference generally gets good reviews, and Rental in Rome seems to have gotten its act together in the last year or so.

This apartment is literally just round the corner from the Pantheon. It's just off the Piazza Piazza della Rotunda.

I stayed there in October a couple of years ago, and there was no need for the A/C.

Other fodorites have stayed here too and there are reports posted here.

oh! I had no idea you were traveling in mid-October. I agree that AC loses its importance. But so does a terrace? Depends on how you envision spending your time.

julia t - which apartment is that?

It's the Rondanini apartment.

I wrote a review of my stay there, it's posted here on TTG, along with comments on restaurants, supermarkets in the vicinity, and there are also some comments about the Minerva and Pastini apartments, it's a long thread!

http://europetogo.yuku.com/topic/2110?page=1

In the thread there's also a link to one of the fodors threads.

Rondanini looks amazing - alas, it's booked!