Palazzo Cardinal Cesi

"A lovely cool and tranquil oasis right on the doorstep of St Peter’s . Huge doors screen this little hotel from the bustle of the city . Very atmospheric public areas . Helpful reception staff . Room was fine with most essentials including complimentary bottled water each day . Not so keen on shower which had a flimsy curtain and no tray ( I think it was a disabled room) . No shelving in bathroom to put stuff on . The worst aspect was the poor lighting which made it difficult to read . Breakfast was adequate served in a lovely little room . We were given tickets to the Popes Wednesday audience and also told about the wonderful roof terrace of the sister hotel which I’d highly recommend. The hotel’s location is wonderful- so near the Vatican !"

"Excellent location, very close to Saint Peter's Square. Very friendly and professional staff. I stayed in a standard room that was a bit small, especially the bathroom, which was truly tiny, without a bidet and with the shower closed off only by a curtain. It does not seem appropriate for a 4-star hotel to me. The breakfast, although not particularly rich in variety, was of good quality. If I may offer a suggestion: I would write the names of the cakes and indicate the presence of any allergens."

"I have so much to say about this hotel- all good things! It is worth booking and is a memory I will never forget. My mother and I stayed at this hotel during our stay in Rome. It felt like we had been transported back in time. This hotel had a boutique and intimate feel to it, it was a private haven that we escaped to and it felt like a home for our few days in Rome. Quite literally on the door step of the Vatican, the location was more than ideal for us and we loved that we were staying in such a historical building built upon Seneca’s house. Ideal location, not only for the Vatican but for the city centre. It was around a 10 minute taxi to many sight seeing locations. The location is extremely undervalued. The rooms were spacious and had a boutique feel to it. The air con and shutters were fantastic, especially during 40 degree celsius heat. There was free water in the mini fridge which was refilled days. The rooms were extremely clean and the attention to detail in the rooms were superb. We enjoyed receiving our daily bible verses, we felt that it was a nice touch. It is wheelchair accessible, lifts and ramps are located within the hotel. Additionaly, we loved sitting in the garden square throughout the day, the plants were vibrant and well cared for. The breakfast had a large array of items. Cakes, different types of bread, jams, Joghurts, cheeses, meats, juices and of course traditional English breakfast items. I recommend asking for a cappuccino on a morning while having your breakfast. They also had a good range of drinks you could purchase, alcoholic and non alcoholic during the day. The staff were polite, friendly and fluent in English. They went out of their way to be accommodating and helpful. They pointed out local gems, gave us advice and made us feel beyond welcome. The team is small and has a family feel to it. It is an extremely safe hotel. For example the large traditional doors to the hotel had a code we were provided with which gave us access to the hotel. It felt like we were living in our own apartment! This hotel is worth the splurge. We hope to return one day soon."