We are signed up for a late August Best of South Italy Tour, which begins in Rome in the Trastevere area(Hotel San Francesco).
We were in Rome at the end of the Best of Italy Tour; stayed a couple of extra nights to include the Borghese Gallery. We are mainly interested in spending more time at St. Peter's; maybe even climbing the Dome. We are also considering a tour of the floor area of the Coliseum, but do not care to spend more time at the Forum. We would definitely want to walk to the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain.
So, I am wondering if we should consider staying at another location in Rome before the tour begins; somewhere more centrally located, or is the Trastevere area convenient? If, another area, would appreciate hotel suggestions also.
Thanks!
Posted by
Phoenix🌵
2713 posts
We stayed near Piazzo Navona for 4 nights prior to the SOI tour. (Last I heard Hotel Due Torri has closed.) The area is very close and walking distance to everything. I liked the area more than that around Hotel San Francisco, although it’s more touristy.
Posted by
Irving
2943 posts
Trastevere is most convenient the closer you stay to the river. I love the Trastevere neighborhood and highly recommend the area.
Posted by
11130 posts
We haves stayed between Piazza Navona and the Pantheon twice, a perfect location for visiting Rome’s antiquities. Travestere is a little off, across the river, above the Vatican.
We rented an Air BnB one time and stayed at the modern design inside of an historic building ,Palazzo Navona, another time.
Posted by
Sapulpa, OK, USA
6289 posts
We're doing this tour in late May. We're heading to Rome a few days early, and will stay near Termini. We're planning a food tour, a couple of museums we haven't seen, and a day in Ostia Antica.
Our tour hotel is near Piazza Navona; we're moving there the night before the tour begins.
Posted by
Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas
2181 posts
Hotel San Francesco was fully booked before our Southern Italy tour, so we booked at another hotel in Trastevere. It was near Piazza San Calisto. We enjoyed the area and it’s well served by tram lines #3. I don’t think it took us any longer to get back to Trastevere than it did when we got lost between the Trevi fountain and our post tour hotel in the Santa Maria Maggorie area. Rome is not a huge city, so really anywhere you stay gives you lots of options.
Posted by
OP
Southern Oregon
647 posts
I just looked up the location of the Piazza Navona that some of you have mentioned (horsewoofie, Suki). I think that would be a good location; walkable to St. Peter's as well as the Pantheon.
Jane: Would you mind sharing the Tour hotel near Piazza Navona? I haven't finalized my thinking in how many days ahead of the tour I'd like to arrive.
Ideally, I'd like a slower start than Rome,....like maybe fly into Milan and then travel to Varenna for a few days, before heading to Rome.
Posted by
Sapulpa, OK, USA
6289 posts
Carol, sorry I didn't see your hotel question sooner. Our South Italy tour starts in Rome at the Smeraldo, very near Piazza Navona. It's very popular here on the Forum.
Posted by
Pleasant Hill, Ca
233 posts
We stayed at the Hotel San Francesco prior to our SI tour. It was a lovely neighborhood and an easy walk to Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. It’s Rome! You’ll love it.
Posted by
Sarasota, FL
6 posts
We've also stayed at Smeraldo - wonderful location and easy to walk to all the sights.
Sadly, our favorite hotel near the Spanish Steps (Hotel San Carlo) closed due to Covid.