Piazza Republica
 

Can anyone tell me about this area of Rome? I am looking at staying in a hotel near this area. The hotel is Residenza Cellini on via Modena. The metro is located right by the hotel. I would really like to know if the area is safe for dining, walking at night etc.
Thanks

Definiteky one of the worst areas at night, and not so nice at daytime! Sorry!!

It's not as bad as the previous posting implies. You do need to exercise caution at night, and watch out for gypsies 24 hrs round the clock. It's a rather noisy and crowded area characterized for its lack of charm.

We stayed at a hotel near here in October and had no problems, nor did I think it was a bad area at all. There were gypsies but less than we saw near the Spanish Steps or Trevi Fountain.

If you haven't already done so, type "Residenza Cellini" in the search box and click "find" to read numerous comments about your hotel and the area posted over the last couple of years. Enjoy your trip.

Considering Rome's newest luxury hotel "Es" is just steps away, one has to wonder when the previous posters last visited this piazza.

I stayed at Excedra Hotel, which is right on the Piazza, last March. It was totally fine. We had a ball and didn't feel unsafe! I suppose though it is a matter of what you are used to. It's a city and so you have to be watchful of your surroundings. We didn't take the metro so I can't comment on that. I wouldn't hesitate to stay in that area again.

Have a great trip!
SRS

NYC, you're right, the hotel looked very chic with a very chic bar right on the Piazza.

Considering that The Hotel Exedra, a five star hotel is right in Piazza della Repubblica (aka Piazza Esedra), it is not really a bad area. To be objective there are a some things which could be improved, like the hoards of sparrows that from 5-7 pm flock around the Piazza in order to spend the night in the trees, so at one moment in the afternoon (around dusk) you hear shrieks of thousands of birds, and also a bad smell of guano (bird poop).
Secondly, Piazza dei Cinquecento, which is the piazza in front of Termini Station in the afternoon hosts groups of immigrants divided in groups: philipinos, africans, romanians, arabs, etc.. I am not discriminating, beware, but simply stating what happends in Piazza dei Cinquecento in the afternoon. They gather there as a kind of daily meeting, like social groups. But sometimes they also exchange drugs, and there have been police raids that have brought many people in jail for some time... Anyway.
Piazza della Repubblica before the Hotel Exedra was built was getting really ugly, for it was the gathering of immigrants, illegal traders (that would lay a sheet with a few counterfeited bags of Vuitton or Fendi), and who would pee against the beautiful columns of the Galleria Esedra. With the Hotel Exedra there has been a huge improvement in the facade, they have cleaned the galleria, that doesnt look as shabby as before.
On the other hand Via Nazionale which is the shooping street that starts from Piazza Esedra, is an enjoyable shopping area. Still, I cant say how safe it is to walk at night along Via Principe Amedeo, Via Manin, Via Giolitti and other nearby streets. Just be careful. Also be careful in taking the subway late at night (the subway closes at 11 pm if I am not wrong), better get a taxi.
As for restaurants, in this area there arent really good restaurants worth to be visited. There is an irish Pub on Via Nazionale, a patisserie on Galleria Esedra, a Mac Donalds too. You should go to Trastevere. I guess Ira has a large list of good restaurants that he tested himself last time he went to Rome (not long ago if I remember well), so search in the threads for his inputs.
That was my point of view of Piazza della Repubblica area. I know it well for I have studied at the university department that is right in this Piazza (near Santa maria degli Angeli Church)...

About 3 years ago we spent a week in a small hotel nearby. We found it easy to take the metro from Piazza Della Repubblica and if we were coming back in a cab, they had no problem understanding exactly where we wanted to go. The guys hanging out by McDonalds were a little creepy, but never a problem.

We're leaving for Rome next week. Originally, I booked the Hotel Exedra because of the great rates. After more discussion with my wife we canceled and booked a hotel near the Spanish Steps. It's not really that much cheaper than the Exedra and the rooms will be much less deluxe.

Our feeling was that the Piazza Della Repubblica is just too far from where we wanted to be. Our stay in Rome will be 2 nights after 5 days in Sorrento and we want to maximize our time in Rome. We did not move because the area is bad, only because we decided our high priority was location.

When I last stayed at Pensione Lachea in this area several years ago, I just don't remember seeing hordes of gypsies, tramps and thieves. I'm sure they were there, as they are all over the tourist areas of Roma. Perhaps at certain times of the day, some of these folks are heading for their usual "workday" at the nearby Stazione Termini (main train station). But I honestly never had a problem...stayed in the area 6 or 7 times over a 10 year period.

My daughter and I just got back from a trip to Rome several weeks ago and we stayed in this area at the Hotel Aberdeen which was wonderful-88 euros for a double with breakfast,minbar,safe, huge bathroom,cable TV and the reception lady,Sabrina who is a wealth of information and help to everyone. I thought that it was very safe,very convenient to the metro and to the Termini(which I was impressed with considering that everyone makes it out like a drug den-the place is like a mini shopping mall within a train station and I never felt unsafe-now Naples was another story!).In fact the first day we were there was a day of strikes on public transportation and lots of rain. We ended up walking over to the Rome History Museum where we had a great morning and then found out that the number 64 bus was going over to the Vatican so we headed there for the afternoon. Anyway, the Piazza Republica area and Via Nationale was a great place
for us especially since we used public transportation to faraway places like Pompeii,the catcombs,Ostia Atica,etc.The rest of the time we either walked,used the bus,trolley to Trastevere area or metro to other spots. Very easy and inexpensive if you buy the 3 day pass which is unlimited.Spanish Steps was wall to wall people and made me want to scream for some air-I cannot even imagine it in the summer as I have always gone to Rome in off season.If you go to that area,please take a night and visit the restaurant TARGET one block off Via Nationale.Fabulous food,atmosphere and great prices! Have fun!

I have to say I've stayed already at the St. Regis Grand, which is in this area and saw no gipsies there.But honestly, there's not many resturants nearby, no good shopping, more the budget tipe. I didn't like the area very much but it's safe