A beautiful hotel on the Aventine!
This lovely, serene hotel is just a 10-15 minute cab ride from the heart of Rome and Vatican City. It's also just a few blocks down from the famous Villa Malta Keyhole -- a definite must see as it showcases St. Peter's Basilica beautifully.
It's a gorgeous hotel. Walking through ivy-covered gates, you feel like you've been transported to Wonderland. lol. The path towards the dining room and other hotel rooms is sheltered by their many fruit trees and and plant-covered awnings. It's quaint and almost breath-taking.
I didn't actually do any of the booking plans or anything like that since I was there for a retreat/conference and the travel company had taken care of all of that, but I had no issue checking in; and when we requested separate beds, they were more than willing to accommodate. The staff is extremely friendly and courteous. Need anything and they're ready to help. Be sure to try the fresh-squeezed orange juice offered in the main lobby -- they're made from the oranges that grow right in the garden! They have mandarins too.
The room was lovely. The beds were comfortably firm and everything was beautifully furnished. It felt very opulent and classic. The view wasn't that great (looked out onto the back alley/garbage), but I never looked outside, to be honest. Nice bathrooms -- a jetted tub (didn't use, but some of the other guests said they had issues with their jets), full-standing shower, toilet, bidet, the whole enchilada. They had minor mold issues though, in one of the ceiling corners; it's an older hotel, so I brought it to their attention.
The dining room/bar area was nice. I loved that their breakfast room was a greenhouse -- you could enjoy the beautiful atmosphere whilst enjoying your meal. They servers were very attentive. Complimentary international newspapers were available as well, if you wanted to catch up with the world.
FREE WIFI! That was a blessing since I didn't want to buy an international plan for a four day trip. It was fairly strong everywhere but the dining room.
My only reservations about the place would be that bathroom mold and the lack of proximity to shops, restaurants, etc.; everything is a 10-15 cab ride away, but it would be nice to have some nightlife nearby. read more