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Wonderful Hotel Smeraldo in Rome

A great little hotel only a block or so from the Campo di Fiori. Our room was small, efficient but not claustrophobic: very clean and presentable, and the bed very comfortable. It overlooked a narrow street, but street noise was never a problem. The staff were very accommodating, especially at the front desk, where we were helped energetically in reserving tickets to the Vatican Museum as well as for printing out boarding passes for our flight home. The big plus: a fantastic breakfast, which, if you overdo it (which is very tempting), need be your only meal for the entire day. There's a bust of Marcus Aurelius in the lobby to make you feel at home, and a red-brown marble bust of the notorious Emperor Caracalla glowering to one side at the foot of the stairs to the upper floors. Be sure to thumb his nose on departing!

We found it through Rick's "Rome 2017," and it comes with a Rick Steves discount.

Posted by
1175 posts

Also check out Roscioli.com, the deli and gourmet grocery store at the end of the street. We stayed there 4 years ago and loved it. We walked to just about everything, including the Vatican, (about 20 - 25 minutes) Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Colosseum, Piazza Navona, and Pantheon but we are walkers. Trasterverde, across the river is an easy walk as well.

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973 posts

The Smeraldo has changed its lobby and breakfast room tremendously. They took in space that was once a shop- almost unrecognizable it's contemporary. The entrance has been moved from the side street ( now faces the bakery), and the elevator has also been moved and now accessible from the ground floor.