We spent a full week at the Residenza and had a wonderful time. The rooms was impeccably clean and the service outstanding. The room is small but that is the norm for Rome. Besides, we were hardly ever in the room as our intent was to see the city. The Residenza provides a private oasis on a quiet street. The location is actually ideal as it is within easy walking distance of the Vatican, Piazza Navona, and it is very close to the metro which can get you virtually anywhere you need to go.

We met up with a bunch of friends in Rome and booked out 5 of the 6 rooms that this lovely little hotel has. Great location not far from Lepanto train station and just up the road from the Vatican as the name suggests, with some really good shopping in the main road a block away. Note that the two back rooms are the largest, although all bathrooms are small as is the norm in small hotels in Italy. Rooms are serviced daily and are clean, quiet and very comfortable with good air conditioning. They do not take credit cards so be prepared.

Don't do the Vatican tour that is advertised in the brochures at the hotel however. It cost 45 euros a head (it only costs 12 to get into the Vatican) and we thought we were going on a small tour which was confirmed when a mini bus picked us up at the hotel in the morning. Silly us, the small bus took us to the tour company's office and we were then loaded onto a massive bus with 50 other people! We then stood in a queue for over two hours in the baking sun and were herded around like sheep. Ripped off.

We would have been much better going directly to the Vatican (we could walk to it from the hotel) later in the day when the queue is much shorter, paying our 12 euros and wandering around ourselves. It's not worth standing in a queue for two hours, even to see the Sistine Chapel, where you wonder why you're doing the right thing and not taking pictures or talking loudly, when everyone else is.

The room was very very small, with the door right next to the B&B entrance, so that we could hear other guests coming in all hours of the night. I have never in my life seen such a small shower stall. The cleaning person threw out some personal toiletries. And you better not be thirsty- you will be charged 3 euros for bottled water from the fridge. It is not as close to the Vatican as one would imagine of a place named Residenza Vaticana. The welcome was nice, as was the lady that served breakfast, but altogether not a pleasant experience.

Residenza Vaticana is a small B&B (6 rooms), situated on the second floor of an apartment house. We stayed here for three nights. It's a lovely place to stay, very new and clean, nicely decorated, the staff are very friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, the rooms and the bathroom are a bit small, especially the shower cabin was quite tiny. The continental breakfast consists of tea, coffee or cappuccino, 1 slice of white bread, 2 crispbreads, 1 croissant and different kinds of jam, which is enough, if you are not a big eater.
The neighbourhood is very nice and quiet. Vatican is within 10-15 minutes walking distance, the tube station (Lepanto) is around 5-10 minutes on foot. There is a nice restaurant around the corner called "Trattoria dei Grachhi" (not very cheap, but the food was delicious!)