Hotel Romanico Palace

Every inch of the 19th-century Hotel Romanico Palace is elaborately decorated in Baroque style, from the marble floors to the frescoed ceilings. Arched wooden doorways lead through the lobby and the Poeticus American Bar, which are packed with showy crystal chandeliers, damask fabrics, and gilded mirrors and furniture. Some guests find that such over-the-top style verges on tacky, but others revel in the ornate decor. Rooms, arranged over eight floors, are competitively priced, and it's hard to beat the views of Rome from the enclosed terrace in the seventh-floor breakfast lounge. 

This hotel is a little farther away from the sights than other more centrally located properties, but the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps are within a 20-minute walk, and there are several markets, bars, and shops nearby. Other major sights, such as the Pantheon and Colosseum are about a half-hour away on foot, and are more easily reached via public transportation. Within walking distance are the Borghese Gallery and Museum, the Piazza Barberini, and Barberini metro station. Across from the hotel is the Embassy of Japan and down the street is the U.S. Embassy. It's a 10-minute walk to the shops on the famous Via Veneto. The Vatican is a 30-minute subway ride or 20-minute cab trip. It’s a 35-minute drive to the Ciampino Airport and 40-minute drive to the Leonardo da Vinci International Airport. Private airport transfers are available through the front desk. 

The 120 rooms at the Hotel Romanico Palace feature over-the-top Roman decor. Gilded details, frescoes, Roman columns, and damask fabrics give the rooms a theatrical look. While the look is extravagant, some guests find the style too gaudy. Deluxe and Classic Rooms have one double or two single beds; some suites have four-poster beds. Marble bathrooms are also decked out in lots of gold and include heated towel racks, bidets, and bathtubs or shower stalls. Some Luxury Suites and Junior Suites have whirlpool tubs. The sixth-floor Imperial Roman Suite has a terrace with a mini pool. Luxury Suites offer more space, with separate sitting areas in some, and terraces or balconies with whirlpool tubs in others. All rooms include free Wi-Fi, mounted flat-screen TVs, safes, and minibars.

Hotel Romanico Palace packs in several high-end amenities as a small, historic property, but many are limited in what they offer. Continental breakfast -- including fruit, pastries, cereal, coffee, juice, and other items -- is included in the room rates and served in the seventh-floor Roof Garden Restaurant, which offers great views of Rome. But no other meals are served on-site. Downstairs, on the ground floor, is the Poeticus American Bar with a piano and showy Roman style. The Roman theme continues in the small spa, which has a steam room, sauna, and heated water beds. The small gym has a few modern cardio and weight-training machines, and a mounted flat-screen TV. Two meeting rooms are also available. There's a computer in the lobby for guests' use, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.