Relais Le Clarisse in Trastevere

Housed in a building dating back to 1122, Relais Le Clarisse was once a church cloister. The hotel still shares a wall with the original church, but the space has been remade into 18 homey rooms. The main hotel is situated around a quiet Mediterranean-style courtyard with olive trees, which doubles as a breakfast area every morning. The hotel is surprising subdued given its location in the enchanting, but dynamic, Trastevere neighborhood. The location, stylized mix of old and new, and the tranquil atmosphere inside the hotel's cloister walls tends to attract laidback couples and families who also appreciate the low rates for the area. 

Relais Le Clarisse is located in the Trastevere neighborhood of Rome, across the river from the historic center. The area is full of lively restaurants and bars, as well as artisan shops and traditional Italian bodegas. Best of all, the district is known for its charming cobblestone streets draped with ivy and oozing with Italian character. Though divided from the center by the Tiber, the hotel remains close to several major sites. Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, Campo de’ Fiori, and Teatro Marcello are all accessible on foot in 20 minutes or less. Set back off of Viale Trastevere, Relais Le Clarisse is also convenient for buses and trams. While there is no nearby metro stop, the tram line leads directly to Stazione Trastevere where trains to the airport are available. Otherwise, Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo Da Vinci airport is approximately a 35-minute drive away.

The rooms at Le Clarisse have all been named after the Mediterranean plants found in the hotel’s courtyard garden. Given the historic nature of the old convent, each room is distinct to match the layout of the building. The hotel has undergone a slow expansion past the original convent walls and into a neighboring building, and currently has 18 rooms in total. The decor is rustic Italian, with terra-cotta tile floors and wrought iron bed frames. Many of the rooms also incorporate original architectural details such as rough stone walls or exposed wooden ceiling beams.Double rooms feel slightly cramped, but the hotel also offers suites and mini-apartments. Two of these larger rooms have terraces and others have small kitchenettes. Otherwise, standard rooms come with a refrigerated minibar, flat-screen TV, air-conditioning, and safe. The remodeled bathrooms vary in size, but all include showers and olive oil-based toiletries which match the hotel’s eco-friendly leanings.

Past the simple lobby, Le Clarisse has a quiet internal courtyard filled with tables and chairs. Surrounded by olive trees and grapevines, the courtyard serves as the dining area when weather permits. Otherwise, the breakfast room is located in the former convent refectory, down a set of steep stairs. The buffet style breakfast is the only meal offered on-site, and it consists of meats, cheeses, eggs, fruit, and fresh bread. The hotel also offers free Wi-Fi throughout and staff can help with booking private cars to the airport. The features, however, end there and guests must venture out into the pretty neighborhood for dining, drinking and entertainment.