I know the first reaction is don't have a car in Rome. I totally agree, but...
My initial thought was to pick up a car as I left either Milan or Venice and drop it when I arrived in Rome (then fly home from there). I couldn't find a decent flight option from Rome (decent meaning time including connections, most were pushing 29 hours, with a long connection that started at 9 or 10 at night in various cities). Best flight options available were round trip to/from Venice. So ended up picking up a car in Venice and will drop it in Venice when I get back.
Because of that, I'll have a car I don't need for six nights. This is Italy, the story doesn't end there. Second thought was to park well clear of Rome and train in. There's a general strike, however, the day I arrive in Rome. There are lots of closures (though it's never definitive what will or won't run).
So, plan C is to find parking as convenient as possible to the Monti neighborhood where we are staying. We do pack crazy light by most standards, so walking with bags isn't a big deal.
Please give me your suggestions. Points for convenience to get into (and out of) Rome as directly as possible, also points for secure parking (so the car is in one piece when we pick it up), points for not having to return periodically to pay a fee, and, of course, points for relatively easy walk to our lodging at Via Ariosto, 24, 00185 Roma.
Not overly interested in free places to park. I'd rather just pay for not worrying about the car while I'm enjoying Rome.
Thanks for your help,
Brad