I just rented an apartment for my family on the Viale del Pantheon just up the street from the Pantheon. But I looked at the ATAC map and it doesn't look like there is a bus that comes by that street. We are a family of 6 with 4 children who will be ages 19,14,11 and 8 when we will be in Rome and we are all healthy so a reasonable walk should be OK. Have I made a good choice? We will be there in November for 8 nights.

My husband and I were in Rome for a few days in 2002, But oddly enough we didn't make it to the Pantheon area. My husband has been to Italy and Rome many times but is no help in answering my questions about the area, safety, noise and so on. He doesn't care - as long as he is in Rome it doesn't matter to him. That's how we ended up staying way out of the city center last time.

I remember reading a few years back that "Kim" - one of the moderators here, went to Rome with her children and stayed in this area. Did you have to take taxis everywhere? I'm just nervous I guess!

Thanks for any comments, Sherri

quote:

Viale del Pantheon

Bus 116 will be the closest to your location, I believe. This is a small electric bus that travels throught the narrow streets in the historic center. Its eastern terminus is in the Borghese Gardens, useful if you plan to visit Villa Borghese. (You'll have to walk through the park about the equivalent of 2 or 3 blocks.) The western terminus is at Terminal Gianicolo, which is about 2 block from St. Peter's (Piazza San Pietro) There is an east bound bus stop about 30 meters east of the Pantheon on Via del Seminario. This stop will be useful if going east bound. The nearest stop for Bus 116 on its west bound route will be a 4 or 5 blocks north of your hotel.

If you want to go west to St. Peter's then you should walk about 3 blocks south of the Pantheon on via Cestari, past Piazza della Minerva, to Largo di Torre Argentino, where you will be able to catch 18 west bound bus routes, and if you cross the street you can catch 21different east-bouind bus routes. In addition, you can catch Tram 8 south bound to Trastevere there also. Bus 62 will take you adjacent to Piazza San Pietro and Bus 64 will be go to Terminal Gianicolo. Bus 40 west bound will take you close to St. Peter's at its terminus adjacent to Castel Sant'Angelo.

Bill

I think your choice of locations is fine and that you will like that area.

Bill

quote:

Its eastern terminus is in the Borghese Gardens

Actually the eastern terminus is outside the gardens on Via Porto Pinciana, but the bus does go into the Borghese Gardens and makes a u-turn (with a bus stop) near the Villa Borghese.

Bill

You may not have a bus literally on your corner, but from that location you can walk in three different directions to pick up buses that will go anywhere you want. A couple of blocks in the centro storico is like a half a block in New York - everything is just much closer together so I wouldn't worry about it at all.

I agree with the others, and think you will be fine. You can walk to a lot of things from where you will be, and it is safe to be out after dark. There are also lots of great restaurants in the area!

the pantheon is a fantastic area to stay and in November the crowds of tourists won't be so large. You'll be walking distance to everything including San Pietro. I don't think you'll need to use the bus at all and Rome is a walkinmg city after all.

You are in a great area of Rome! Perfectly safe (just be aware like everywhere else in the world) of pickpockets. Your children are old enough to walk almost everywhere from your location if they are in reasonably good physical shape. We will be in Rome in August with a 7 and 5 year old and do not plan on taking that many buses (we will have a small stroller). I have been preparing them for the great walking city of Rome by taking them on long walks thru our neighborhood with their little backpacks filled with a water bottle and snacks. They think this is fun as they are preparing for their Italy trip! Also, we were given a children's book, "100 things you should know about Ancient Rome" which has been fascinating! ALL of you would enjoy this book - I've learned A LOT about Rome myself! My 7 year old daughter started taking notes (her idea!)! There are many fun projects in this book that you can do with your kids to help prepare them for Italy. One project has them learning about mosaics and then they actually MAKE the mosaic! It certainly has given my kids new appreciation and understanding of this type of art and they can't wait to see the fresco's in St. Peter's! We are also doing another project on making a toga - thought we would let them wear it they day that we go to the Colosseum - possibly a good photo for our Christmas card! This book was written by Fiona MacDonald and was purchased at Barnes & Noble. You all are going to LOVE Rome - you are in a great area!

When at the Villa/Park don't forget the zoo/Bioparko

The bus 116 comes the closest to the Pantheon when it is traveling in an easterly direction (pink line);
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/showphoto.php?photo=38544&cat=4131
It travels a different route when it moves in a westerly drieection.
If you walk to Corso Vittorio Emmanuele, there are a lot of buses that travel in in both directions:
62
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/showphoto.php?photo=38541&cat=4131
64
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/showphoto.php?photo=38542&cat=4131
40
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/showphoto.php?photo=38672&cat=4131
81 north half
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/showphoto.php?photo=41538&cat=4131
81 south half
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/showphoto.php?photo=41539&cat=4131