What "area" in Rome do I want to stay in if I want to be in the middle of all the action..resaturants, shopping etc.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,

Our favorite place to stay is near the Pantheon. If you are looking for a hotel, we love both the Albergo del Senato which is right on the Piazza della Rotunda. Or the Santa Chiara , which is right behind the Pantheon. We never have to take public transportation, walk everywhere including to the Vatican, the Colosseum, the Piazza del Populo, even the Villa Borghese. It is a wonderful central location. Also anything between there and the Piazza Navona would be good.

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Originally posted by mnatella:
What "area" in Rome do I want to stay in if I want to be in the middle of all the action..resaturants, shopping etc.

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i agree about staying in the area around the pantheon-piazza navona..it is truly in the center of it all.
and we have stayed at the santa chiara a few times and would again.
but i also want to add the area around the spanish steps, since you mention shopping, restaurants, etc. we have friends who stay at the hotel mozart and love both the hotel and location.

The Senato has a terrific location literally overlooking the Pantheon, and prices aren't hateful for what you get.

I also really like the Campo dei fiori area nearby -- some less expensive places are available. The morning markets cannot be beaten.

Campo dei Fiori, Campo dei Fiori, Campo dei Fiori... Trattorie galore, enoteche here, there, everywhere, morning market with produce beautiful enough to make you weep, Forno dishing up the tastiest pizza bianca - really just thin, crispy foccaccia- by the the etto, Filetti di Baccala with it's anchovy dressed puntarelle and - suprise- battered, fried filetti di baccala, walk everywhere, wander in the maze of medieval lanes, stroll over to Piazza Farnese for a bit of class or via Guilia for a bit more, join the mulling throngs at la Viniera or enjoy the serenity of l'Angolo Divino, Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake here in 1600 for his Copernican ways, Caravaggio killed a man here over a game of tennis, hop and skip-quickly- across via Vittorio Emmanuele over to San Luigi dei Francesi and gaze upon Caravaggio's Calling of St. Matthew...wow, wow, wow, stroll up to Largo Argentina, see the kitties among the ruins and leave the kind ladies who look after them a donation before hitting Pascucci for the frullati of your dreams (assuming, of course, you dream about frullati, we didn't either until we'd been), slightly boho, slightly chic, heavily touristed but oh so wonderful, Campo dei Fiori, Campo dei Fiori!

Gotta agree with Campo Dei Fiori.

And Caravaggio's Saint Matthew will bring tears to your eyes.

What's nice about Campo Dei Fiori is that it's central enough to walk just about anywhere in a reasonable amount of time.

I always chime in for Trastevere. I prefer its less touristy and more lived in feel. It is just a minute walk from Campo di Fiori so it is fairly central. But the feel is as different from Navona, Pantheon, Spanish steps areas as Times square is from the Village is in New York. Both are distinctly experiences of New York, but the Village is not the hugely touristed area and has a larger porportion of people actually living there. Trastevere is the same, a more intellectual/artsy feeling, bohemian, great food and drink.

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I love being somewhere in the area at or between the Pantheon and Piazza Navona.

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Originally posted by MikeLastort:
Gotta agree with Campo Dei Fiori.
And Caravaggio's Saint Matthew will bring tears to your eyes.

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but his trio of paintings are in s.luigi dei francesca,next to the piazza navona..
and i do agree...we walk in there every time we pass the church.

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[This message was edited by Marta on 15 October 2003 at 09:54 PM.]

I have said this before, but I'll say it again: Trastavere!!! For the same reasons as Dean mentioned--the more intimate village feel, the less touristy atmosphere, the food, and the proximity to all the big sights. Trastavere definitely has good vibes, and is worth consideration!