Roman Treasures

In Rome, a lifetime is not enough. But on a first visit, try to stay in a central location and walk everywhere. We stayed near the Spanish Steps and enjoyed all the wine bars, restaurants, and cafes in the vicinity. Each day we headed for a different region, including St. Peter's and the Sistine Chapel, Villa Borghese, Villa Barberini, Via Veneto, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Piazza del Puopolo, and also Tivoli, Assisi and Orvieto, by bus.

Quick Tips:

Like all major cities, Rome can be very expensive. Don't even think about driving there. We left our rental car at the airport and taxied into Rome. It's not necessary to break the bank to stay in a great area. We enjoyed our week in a pensione (very basic) hotel around the corner from Euros hotels at the Spanish Steps and paid only Euros per night.

Best Way To Get Around:

You can try the subway, but it's not easy to get tickets often and I would not recommend the buses. Just walk everywhere, it's more fun and just as fast if you have a good map. You do need to adapt to Roman traffic (just follow the locals) as it is very fast and different, even from New York, etc. Never hesitate, just move quickly and assertively.

This is an excellent choice for those who want a great location (two blocks from the Spanish Steps) but can also accept small rooms. The staff is friendly and English-speaking. The location is superb for the price, and amenities are spotless. Even at this price, you get your own private (tiny) bathroom, good security and a relatively quiet outlook onto a courtyard. And you are in the middle of the most fashionable shopping area in Rome!

Dine in the frescoed Palazzo Lantante della Rovere on inventively prepared French or international cuisine served by a Christian order of lay missionaries dressed in colourful costumes from around the world. Atmospheric beyond words, this is the haunt of jet-setters and even the current pope years ago.

Service is prompt and friendly, the wine list good, and the singing of Ave Maria around 9pm a distinctly different experience. The salads are wonderful, though I found the beef filet flambe a bit ordinary. Try the duck filet in Grand Marnier sauce or the daily fish special.

This is a great value when you consider what you are getting for the price. There is also a prix fixe for about 15 euros.

Right across from Pension Panda is one of the best values in Rome, casual dining in the middle of the high-priced Spanish Steps area. A friendly pub/wine bar, its dishes are varied and excellent, and the choices of wines, beers, brandies, and grappa are second to none. You can even buy your liquor supplies to enjoy in your hotel. Service is very friendly and efficient, and the clientele interesting. A class act!

Right at the bottom of Via della Croce, after a busy day of museum going, we discovered one of the best dining experiences--so much so that we returned twice. At first, the well-set tables in the small square in front of Emperor Augustus' Ara Pacis looked expensive, but we found the prices moderate, the house wines excellent, the rack of lamb outstanding, and the service wonderful. The chef makes frequent personal visits to ensure all is up to standard, and the clientele included many Roman regulars, not just tourists. This spot has a great location with a family atmosphere, and allows you to dine inside or outside in the square.