Rome....two choices of where to stay. In Prati area or San Pietro, near the Basilica.

I lived in Prati for a few years and looking on the map, Piazza Caprera is not in Prati. It appears to be off Via Nomentana, a road we traveled often when headed to IKEA and the mall. The zip code for Piazza Caprera is 00198; our Prati apartment zip code was 00192. So I'd verify the address/location of the first option.

And the "the San Pietro area" is pretty general - perhaps they're referring to the San Pietro train station. There are plenty of bus options in that area and you can train to Trastevere fairly easily. You could also walk to the Piazza Navona area in about 20 minutes.

Of this location or Via Nomentana, I'd lean towards San Pietro, but I think you need more information. Good luck!

If you have addresses you might do a Google Map check to get more specific info. Both areas you mention can be nice but both areas can also be a bit more remote than you might want. Late August? Make sure air conditioning is included. Energy bills are very high.

I second the comment about AC being there , and the bills for it included so you don't get a huge utility bill when you leave.
Rome can get swelteringly humid and hot.

Melissa, we stayed in Prati once (on Via Degli Scipioni, near the river and not far from the Lepanto metro station) and after looking at a map, I'll agree with RNR that Piazza Caprera is not in Prati at all, not that there would be any sort of safety issue, lack of restaurants, etc. Frequent poster Laurel - who spent 5 years in Rome - lived in Parioli (I'm not sure exactly where but it's NW of where you would be) and often recommended Prati as a closer-in but more residential location for visitors versus being out quite as far as they were. Piazza Caprera is far enough that you would definitely want to take public transit into more central parts of the historic city and many of its attractions.

Laurel, you there? Care to hop in here?

I'll also agree that "San Pietro" is too general description, and I'd be cautious of booking that one too without a solid address to look up on a map. With an address, you can also do a virtual walk on google maps to see what would be around you.

Generally, getting around on public transit isn't really much of an issue.

Thanks, all. I understand the "San Pietro" apartment is 10 minutes walk from the Basilica, 3 minutes walk from the San Pietro train station. Does that sound OK? I'm checking to get an actual address if possible. I understand there is AC and under the terms of our home exchanges, I am not liable for the electric bill! On the other hand, I've had a few big ones when I've swapped out my place in the south of Spain in summer, too!

Thanks

The San Pietro apartment sounds like it could be off Via Gregorio VII, which is a residential area with a huge amount of 6-7 story apartment buildings. This is a highly trafficked area with many bus connections - we rode the 916 and 982 in this area often. Again, I'd get more info and perhaps use Google Map Streetview to "walk" the neighborhood. Good luck!

Got the address in San Pietro. It's on Via di Monte del Gallo . In Google street view it looks somewhat unappetizing, but not unsafe. The place supposedly in Prati, looks more appealing, but is more out of the way. Maybe I'll just keep looking for another offer.

Stazione di San Pietro is not really in Prati as I think of it but it is almost Trastevere. I would be curious about the exact address and perhaps plug that into Google Maps along with some places you want to visit and see what the transportation options are, how far you have to walk to get a bus, what the walking times are, etc.

Dunno, Melissa, I took another look at the Piazza Caprera area (it's in Quartiere Trieste) and it does look attractive. Did a little more digging and came up with this resident's suggested walk.

https://www.ft.com/content/5480424c-1576-4e50-9ce8-179aa0e75643

So how long will you be house-swapping in Rome? If you'll be there quite a bit longer than the average tourist, the bit longer distance from center might not be that big of a deal. You'd also have the opportunity to base in an area that the vast majority of tourists never see: that could be viewed as a plus if you like what you see.

Laurel and RNR, your thoughts?

As Laurel points out... neither one of these properties is in Prati. The San Pietro train station area is probably a little more "gritty." in both cases, you'd probably use public transportation to get to the center - although from San Pietro it's perhaps an easier walk. (Depends on how far down Via di Monte del Gallo the apartment is).

For the San Pietro location, you'd walk to Via Gregorio VII and from Piazza Caprera, you'd walk to Via Nomentana. There are multiple buses running these roads, so plenty of options. For either, if you are there for a month, buy a tessera mensile, which allows you to ride the buses, trams, metro, and local trains for a calendar month. I'd "walk" the neighborhoods via Streetview to get a sense of the areas. And ask both parties for plenty of photos (inside and out). My sister - with 5 kids - often does home exchanges in Europe and she always asks for and exchanges videos.

Again thanks. I’m going to pass on the Sam Pietro apartment. The address for the so called Prati apartment is Via della Alpi., which as one of you lovely people suggested appears to be in ear the border of the Trieste and Nomentano neighborhoods, close to the vía Corso.

My plan was to spend 2 weeks or so in Rome and I have now found a nice apartment near the train station, but only for 1 week. I think I’m going to accept it, and then move to the Via Della Alpi apartment for another week or so. I’ll try to concentrate my more intense sightseeing in week one and relax more in week two.

Again thank you for your help

Via Della Alpi is definitely not in Prati but it is a nice neighborhood in the quarter known as Trieste off Corso Trieste (not to be confused with Via del Corso!). It will take longer to get to the historic center from there so it might be nice to split your time. OTOH, you will be living rather like a local in the Trieste neighborhood. Lots of good dining options there and few, if any, tourists.