Rome Travel Forum

Hello everyone! My name is Jennifer from Long Island new york. Im 26 years old and just booked a trip for my boyfriend and I to trastevere rome the last week of january. We are staying at a small bed and breakfast called domus tiberina. After reading some responses in this forum I am so nervous now that I chose the wrong part of rome for our first trip. We will be there 7 days! We DO plan to go back for 3 weeks another time. Unfortunately at this time it is too late for me to make changes to my itinerary. Are we going to be very far from the Spanish steps and other attractions?! This is a surprise for my boyfriend and Im beginning to get nervous. I wish I found you all earlier!
please respond with any information that will calm me down...lol
-Jennifer

Trastevere is a central area in Rome. It is not close to the Spanish Steps, but old historic Rome was a big city, so wherever you stay you cannot possibly be close to all the major sites. Anyway, there are buses.
This address is that of in interactive map of Rome, and you will find a lot of information there. Be aware that the map shows only the historic centre of Rome:
www.livinginrome.com/guide.php?ae=56

Don't forget to buy a "carta settimanale" (weekly ticket) for public transport. It costs just over 12 euros and can be used on buses, trams and subway trains in Rome. Tickets can usually be bought at any "edicola" (newsstand) or tobacconist's (marked "tabacchi") throughout the city.
Trastevere is on the other side of the Tiber from the Spanish Steps and the best known sites of classical Rome. But it's a good area for small restaurants, and it's not so far - if you like walking! - from St Peter's and the not-so-touristy restaurants just north of the Vatican.

Trastevere is an excellent location - very historic with some excellent churches. The restaurants of Trastevere are also good - frequently very traditional family places. It is said there has been a degree of "gentrification" of Trastevere in recent years, though I couldn't comment on that, as I didn't know it beforehand. It still has a different atmosphere from other parts of Rome and you will find people from all over the world living there - much as has been the case for 2000 years.

A tip for a great walk from Trastevere: walk up the Janiculum (Gianicolo) hill, past San Pietro in Montorio. Stop there and see the church: don't miss Bramante's Tempietto. Then walk on to the statue of Garibaldi. Stop and look at the view - take your time. Then walk down the other end of the hill to near the Vatican. More fun than the Spanish Steps (which are only steps, honest) and you won't forget the view.

1. As James said, Trastevere is a great part of Rome to stay in.

2. Old Rome (what I call "Imperial Rome") really isn't that big. Yes, you are about 1.8 kilometers from the Piazza di Spagna (a little over a mile). You can walk to it in 20 minutes. And you will stroll through some amazing parts of Rome on the way. P.S., James is right - the steps look much better in photos than they do in real life - too many people selling stuff, hustling, and just hanging around.

3. You are immediately across the river from the heart of Imperial Rome: the Circus Maximus, the temples in the Foro Boario, the Mouth of Truth, and the Roman Forum.

4. You are just south of the Vatican - a ten minute walk.

5. Rome is a city for walking, although bus passes are useful. When I first lived in Rome, I walked across the entire Imperial city (Piazza del Popolo to the pyramid in the south wall) in 3 1/2 hours - and that was with a lot of sightseeing.

So chill out. Think yourself lucky to be staying in a part of Rome that has the real feel of Rome, yet you are immediately across the Tibur from the core of the old city.

Besides, there's scarcely anything more romantic than sitting in a small restaurant in Trastevere, off a street that is hardly more than 12 feet wide, eating the local fish (orata? dorato? I'll have to go look it up ;-) ), drinking the local white wine (made in the hills around the city), and knowing that you're there off-season when the locals actually WANT you there. The official spousal unit and I were there in February, 2000, and it was great. Go have fun!

Bill

Can't comment on the area.
Rome is very pretty with historical buildings every where. It is best to walk, everything is so close. I took my 8 and 5 year old and we walked everywhere. They loved it. DON'T TRAVEL ON THE METRO DURING PEAK HOURS. That is when the pick pocketerS are most active. Both my wife and my backpack have been opened after 2 stops on the Metro.
Enjoy Rome
Kammy

In my unworthy opinion, the Metro is only worth using when there's no alternative. Not so much because of the pickpockets, but because Rome looks much less interesting down there. Those new air-conditioned trams are a much nicer option, though travelling on them may be less of a relief in the cooler seasons.

I think the fish Bill refers to is the gilthead bream, also known as dorado or daurade in Spain and France, respectively. The name can cause confusion with the humble domestic goldfish, a less tasty proposition. The gilthead (so called because of the gold stripe on its forehead) is a sea fish of quality and definitely worh eating. Rest assured it isn't caught in the Tiber.

Thanks, James. The fish is cooked and served whole, and it usually about 8-10 inches long. Sound right? My wife loved it.

I agree on the subway - I never found a reason to use it myself. Besides, it doesn't go to all that many places. It's much easier (and as James said, "scenic") to walk and/or ride the bus.

Bill

Excellent location! You do not want to stay by the steps as that area is deserted at night and also full of very cha cha expensive restaurants - Trastevere is a real neighborhood. The center of ROme is not that big. If you like to walk then you may only need to take a couple of buses, from Trastevere there is the tram to Piazza Argentina, also you can walk in 10 min from Trastevere to Campo Fiori / Navona, so don't worry.

Trust me, you have nothing to worry about. I'm 21 and spent five months living in Tresetever last year about two blocks away from Piazza Santa Maria. It's an amazing part of the city to be staying in with narrow roads and lots of culture. The restaurants are amazing but surprisingly pretty cheap. I recommend Ferrara on Via Del Moro, which is said to be one of the best restaurants in the city. Your about a 7 minute walk right accros the Tiber from the Pantheon, Campo Di Fiori which has all the bars, and Piazza Valencia. Rome is a great city to walk and it most of the time faster and more efficient than bothering with the public transportation. Whenever I go back to Rome from now on I'll always stay in Trestevere and you'll definitely be thrilled when you get there.

ps don't miss the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere - really quite a sight.

Jennifer, in case these 11 replies have not reassured you yet, you really could not have chosen a more typical and charming area to stay. The distances in Rome are indeed big (and this anywhere you stay) but you can take the bus, or better, walk around and stumble on incredible places you would have never seen otherwise. In addition, you will be thus staying in the best area for restaurants and nice bars.

Enjoy and don't worry: I am sure that your bf will LOVE your surprise!
Vanessa