New at From Home to Rome: San Giovanni in Laterano

When looking at a map of central Rome, Via di San Giovanni in Laterano is right in the middle of action – perhaps excessively so! This long stretch of road starts right at the Colosseum, passes the lively bars of the so-called “Gay Street” and moves past a handful of restaurants and cafes that seem to be busy no matter what time of day it is.

Little do (most) tourists know, though, that there’s a shift that happens right around the Basilica of San Clemente and this noisy, crowded street changes almost instantly, to become a quieter version of itself, almost at odds with the chaotic nature of the Eternal City. Such is life in Rome, where most residential areas seem to be copy and pasted in from a different area of Italy. This is, incidentally, where our newest accommodation is located!

Where past and present meet

The history of San Giovanni in Laterano (both the church and the street leading to it) are well-known and complex. Suffice it to say that the property we just started managing bears witness to most of it, when the road, unpaved and winding, was traversed by the none other than the Pope, who rode on horseback through orchards and woods to reach the imposing Basilica at a time when St. Peter’s was not as important (crazy!). The road at the time was known as Via Papalis, and the video below makes an almost exact walkthrough of it.

A centennial olive tree in the courtyard of the building where this apartment is located is what remains of one of such orchards, while the names of the alleys surrounding this area tell the story of a part of the city that was dangerous, dark, and out of the way. What a difference a handful of centuries makes!

Residential Rome, around the corner from… The Colosseum!

In a residential, historical building fitted with an elevator, this fourth floor apartment can sleep up to four people (two in the main bedroom, up to two in a very comfortable double sofa bed), has independent heating, A/C, a free Wi-Fi connection – and there’s more to learn about it if you read the complete description, here.

As is the norm with our managed accommodations, the kitchen is fitted with all the essentials to prepare some simple meals from scratch – you can even explore the street market down the road for groceries! – and your laundry needs while traveling can be fulfilled by the washing machine that is found in the bathroom. Being in Italy, it doesn’t have any drying function, so keep that in mind! A colorful, tastefully decorated apartment, San Giovanni in Laterano is ready to welcome you!