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Run by the highly experienced Enjoy Rome team and handily located in a quiet street near St Peter’s. Rooms are clean, staff are friendly and multilingual. Internet access and free use of the kitchen and the terrace. No curfew. No breakfast served. Self catering apartments are available.

Imperial Rome constructed many impressive monuments, including the spectacular amphitheatre.

A 2nd-century AD commemoration of conquests along the Danube, this colossus stands 30 m (100 ft) high and is composed of 28 marble drums. The 20 spiral reliefs realistically chronicle scenes from two wars. A statue of the emperor and his wife once stood on top of the column, but it was replaced by one of St Paul in 1589.

Trajan’s Column was such a success (see Trajan’s Forum and Column) that this 29.5-m (97-ft) one was erected in AD 180–93 to honour the military career of Marcus Aurelius. The spiral of reliefs celebrates his campaigns against the Germans (169–73) on the bottom and the Sarmatians (174–76) on the top. In 1588, Pope Sixtus V replaced the statues of the emperor and his wife with that of St Paul.

Amid the designer boutiques along this street (see Via Condotti), the hotel offers comfort and period furnishings. All rooms are soundproofed, and many feature views over the rooftops; one has a terrace. The staff are unfailingly attentive.

Constantine (306–37) established Christianity as the state religion and moved the capital to Constantinople.

The place to eat if you decide to explore Via Nomentana. Try pasta with lobster sauce.

This small hotel occupies a part of the Palazzo Doria-Pamphilj (see A Morning Stroll around the Pantheon). Request an interior room with garden views.