My Partner and I stayed at this hotel last week and loved it. You cannot beat it for its location. It is literally moments away from St Peters Basilica and is an oasis of calm in the madness that is Rome.
The bedrooms are not big, but hey it is an old building. The bathrooms are really tiny - I was worried after reading about the size of the showers, however they were adequate.
I really loved it there. We booked via the hotel website and breakfast is included, albeit a strange breakfast and not to everyone's taste but "when in Rome you should do as the Romans do" and try it, My partner liked it.
I would definitely stay at this hotel again.

In late May, a group of 12 "old friends" (we graduated from high school together over 44 years ago!) booked a Princess cruise that left from Civitavecchia on May 26th. We decided to add a little adventure to our trip by flying to Rome two days earlier and seeing the sights on our own. Luckily we found the web site for the Palazzo Cardinal Cesi and they had rooms for all of us! (Only 30 rooms are available as it is still an active monastery).
Not only were the rooms quiet, comfortable & fabulous, but the people who work at the hotel are all fantastic! Franz, especially was awesome! Not only did he see to our every need during our stay, but he also helped as our unofficial tour guide booking Vatican tickets and making sure we understood the open air bus routes...plus he located some lost luggage at the airport!
Every morning we were treated to a delicious Italian buffet breakfast that was out of this world with variety. Everything about this hotel is 5 star plus! You'll love the location, too as it's just yards away from St. Peter's Square!
We highly recommend the Palazzo Cardinal Cesi!
Sincerely,
Judy, Gary & fellow travelers

Stayed for 1 night, the hotel was very nice, beautiful courtyard to sit and have a drink or pot of tea.

Location is excellent for the Vatican, we even saw the Pope on the Wednesday.

Room had everything you needed except for tea making facilities which were really needed after a day of sightseeing.

Right next door to the Vatican City it is ideally situated if the Vatican is your main focus for the trip. The courtyard/lobby is the best I have ever experienced but, a common theme with Italy and indeed most European cities, the room was small.
Right outside the hotel is are about 6 tour bus stops so take your pick of bus and see the whole of Rome or stroll 100 yards up the road to see the Sistine Chapel, Basilica Church and the museums etc. Our tour cost 130 euros for both of us (pre booked)and even picked us up at the hotel for the 30 second drive to the museum. The bonus of doing it this way is you miss the 4 hour queue and have a guide per about 6 tourists who explains things you may have missed such is the layout and lack of plaques and info etc.
They say rome wasn't built in a day but if you exclude the Vatican, it can be toured in a day if you start early enough. We saw all the sights and chose the 15 euro hop on, hop off tour bus deal enabling us to get off and walk to different sights that you can't get to by bus (such as the Spanish Steps and the Pantheon).
Beautiful hotel. Our room was a standard as the were no deluxe available. it has 30 rooms and only 4 deluxe. All rooms have a shower only and those wanting a bath in their room has to book at their sister hotel down the road (which is not as nice). All rooms have electric shutters which block out all noise (not much in this part of town anyway) and all light. Our standard was tiny but adequate. It cost 255 euros per night which again, is expensive but worth it to save the commute to get into Rome. There is no parking but they have a deal with an underground garage nearby who allow you to park there at a discounted rate of 20 euros per day. We used it for one day with no problems. The breakfast room is excellent and food was good. The courtyard is available from 1600 to sit and have a drink but again is expensive. My wife seemed a little too comfortable to chill out there sipping her way through vodka and oranges at 7.50 euros a piece. It is an idylic setting in the courtyard. You are metres from the hussle and bustle of Rome yet it is so tranquil. The main door at the front is shared between the hotel, the pilgrimage and some sort of Cardinal's group. There are lots of choirs singing and it is lovely. There are also tombs of ancient priests etc there.
I was disappointed not to have got a deluxe room and asked to see one on our last day so I could compare. I must say, it was about 1 metre wider and about 50 euros a night more expensive so definately not worth it. The only real bonus is you don't have a comically small shower room in the deluxe.
All in all a lovely hotel in the heart of Rome a literal stones throw from St Peter's Sq. Staff are great and, apart from the usual room size issue, it is faultless. I apologise in advance. I forgot to take pics of the room. close your eyes, picture a double bed and a tiny shower room and you'll be spot on.
Recommended