Hotel Fontanella Borghese

Italy's noble Borghese family once owned the 16th-century mansion that now houses this charming and traditional boutique hotel. A short walk through a grand archway and pretty courtyard leads to the entrance and impressive lobby. The elegant formal parlor has intricate terrazzo-tile floors, marble door frames and staircases, and a rich combination of gold, green, and red accents. There's a small, tasteful chandelier suspended from the high ceiling, and light pours in from floor-to-ceiling windows with ornate drapery. While the setting is traditional and buttoned-up, the atmosphere is intimate and causal, and the owner often interacts with guests, who tend to be couples on vacation. 

The hotel is located on a narrow cobblestone street in central Rome near the Palazzo Borghese and just east of the Tiber River. It’s surrounded by shops, restaurants, and bars. Several bus stops are a brief walk away, and the closest subway station is eight minutes on foot at the Spanish Steps. It’s an eight-minute walk to the Pantheon and an 11-minute stroll to Trevi Fountain. By public transit, the Colosseum and the Vatican can be reached in about 15 and 25 minutes, respectively. Expect roughly a 15-minute taxi ride to catch trains at Termini Station, and it’s approximately a 45-minute drive to Leonardo da Vinci International Airport and to Rome Ciampino International Airport.

Guest rooms are decorated in a simple and traditional style, which is either charming or dated depending on individual taste. Expect cream walls, floral-print bedspreads, drapes with damask patterns, and handsome parquet or tile floors. Small armoires provide storage, upholstered wooden chairs accompany desks, and some larger rooms also have benches. High ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows help make the rooms brighter and more inviting.  The rooms are well-maintained and they come in a range of sizes that can accommodate from one to four guests. Standard amenities include air-conditioning, mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, phones, and free Wi-Fi, though units lack kettles or coffeemakers and safes. Bathrooms are comfortable and also vary in size, featuring white marble vanities, light-gray tile walls, and either showers or shower/tub combos. All come with bidets, magnifying mirrors, heated towel racks, hairdryers, and toiletries. Rooms overlook rooftops, the inner courtyard, and the street, and some units face neighboring buildings. Courtyard-facing rooms tend to hear less ambient noise, but all are generally quiet. 

Amenities are limited at this cozy boutique hotel, but they do include a free continental breakfast that consists of boiled eggs, cheeses, cold cuts, yogurt, cereal, and pastries, plus cappuccino and other espresso drinks. There's no full restaurant or fitness room on-site, but there's a computer and printer set up in the lobby for guests to use, and Wi-Fi is free and accessible throughout the property. The front desk is staffed 24/7, and concierge services include valet dry cleaning and laundry, as well as arranging airport transfers, sightseeing tickets, and babysitting for an extra charge. The hotel has an elevator, but it’s quite small. Travelers with limited mobility should be aware that top-floor units require a short stair climb.