minar - the area we stayed in [Monti] does not qualify as the centro storico, I think, though it is near the colosseum. we had very good footwear but our feet still suffered. the temptaion in places like Rome is to keep walking, rather than spending a little time working out the poublic transport routes, which can lead to the problems we encountered.

I was just trying to prevent someone else making the same mistakes.