Duca D'Alba Hotel

This lovely boutique hotel exudes warmth and classic elegance. The white stone walls and coffered ceiling of its small lobby are accented by black-marble tables and dark-brown leather furniture. Floors are an alternating mix of beautiful Italian marble and parquet wood. Traditional artwork graces the walls, and fine antiques are on display. Separate rooms hold several cozy seating areas. The handsome front desk has black leather-padded frontage and a black-marble top. The breakfast room, with its series of stone-vaulted arches marking the long, narrow room throughout, reflects the building's history, and age. Glass tables are positioned along the walls, and the floors are herringbone-pattern parquet. The hotel, near some of Rome's most famous landmarks, draws tourists, especially couples and families.

The Duca D’Alba Hotel is located in two adjacent buildings on a narrow cobblestone street in the heart of Monti, one of Rome’s oldest neighborhoods. It’s a safe and lively area that’s filled with restaurants, shops, and nightclubs, frequented by tourists and Romans alike. The Cavour metro station is a short walk away, and reaching the Colosseum and Roman Forum is also doable on foot. - Three-minute walk to Cavour Metro station

• Eight-minute walk to the Bascilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
• 10-minute walk to Colosseum
• 11-minute walk to Termini station
• 12-minute walk to Roman Forum
• 13-minute drive to the Baths of Diocletian and Palazzo Barberini
• 15-minute walk to Trevi Fountain
• 15 minutes to Pantheon by public transportation
• 15 minutes to Spanish Steps by public transportation
• 50 minutes to Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport by public transportation (45-minute drive)
• 60 minutes to Rome Ciampino International Airport by public transportation (35-minute drive)

The Duca D'Alba Hotel's 27 rooms are individually decorated in a classic yet contemporary style that reflects the long history of the surrounding neighborhood. The room we photographed on our visit was in the adjacent annex -- it has original wood ceiling beams and a decorative fireplace. Walls were covered in black-patterned wallpaper, but other rooms have striped wallpaper in dark and light earth tones. Other classic touches can include traditional artwork and wood paneling on the lower half of the walls, lovely Tuscan terra-cotta tile or parquet floors. Wood furniture, including desks and chairs with dark leather upholstery, are of high-quality. All rooms include 40-inch flat screen TVs with satellite channels, room service, free Wi-Fi, minibars, and safes. Bathrooms vary in size and decor, but most are small with lovely travertine marble tile and walk-in showers with clear glass doors. Rooms can be small: Singles measure 75 to 86 square feet, Standard and Superior Rooms are 129 to 161 square feet, and Junior Suites are 269 square feet and include sleeper sofas and double beds. Most rooms have either two twins or one double bed. Some rooms have balconies and street views, but interior-facing rooms overlook adjacent buildings, or a courtyard. With their double-glazed windows, rooms are relatively quiet, but they can pick up some noise from the surrounding restaurants and nightclubs, especially on weekends. Some rooms have shower/tub combos. Some annex rooms have tiny kitchenettes with sinks and stove-top burners.

This small, lovely boutique hotel doesn't come packed with many extras, but a breakfast of hot dishes and pastries is included in the room rate, and the concierge desk will arrange airport transportation and tickets to popular attractions. Valet dry cleaning and laundry services are available, and self-serve laundry facilities are on-site. There's a computer with Internet access for guests' use in the lobby, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the main building and the annex. Parking is limited (and expensive) in this neighborhood, and there's no on-site parking. The hotel will store guests' bags for those arriving early or leaving late.