Placed in the city centre student district of San Lorenzo, the Ateneo Garden Palace occupies a unique niche in the world of 4 star hotels in Rome. This trendy inner city area is largely undiscovered by tourists thanks to the absence of any major monuments, churches, basilicas, temples, museums or man-made wonders of the world, (unlike the rest of the city). It is however, as central as can be and in only 15 or so minutes guests can walk to Termini – the city’s ‘central station’.

San Lorenzo is the student area of Rome, the city’s famed university La Sapienza being just up the road by the National Library, and as so provides the stage for a diverse and truly cultural experience. It is also one of the few remaining areas that are populated predominantly by true Romans (7 generations is the traditional yardstick).

Locally, you can sample the traditional Cucina Romana - often for a fraction of the price of the same dishes half a mile across town – such tantalising delicacies as tripe, intestines, liver, kidneys and bone marrow. The local pubs and cultural associations provide a lively atmosphere for everyone to enjoy and the fascinating architecture provides a near-endless canvas for young artists inspired by politics, football and the polemics of a generation.

Click here to go full screen

How to find us

From Fiumicino Airport take the Leonardo Express train to Termini; from Ciampino Airport take the Schiaffini shuttle bus to Termini. The former runs about every half hour until 11pm, the latter is timetabled to coincide with incoming flights. Both cost under €10 p/p at time of writing. Alternatively, a taxi before 11pm costs a fixed price of €40 from Fiumicino or €30 from Ciampino. Be sure to remind your driver of this fixed price.

From Termini, a taxi directly to the hotel should cost less than €5. If you don’t have a lot of luggage you may prefer to walk it – print out the map above to help you: Exit Termini by Via Marsala, turn right, walk for about 500m then take a left under the arches onto Via dei Ramni. Then take a right onto Via dei Salentini. Ateneo Garden Palace Hotel is number 1.