• The Colosseum is but one of Rome's many historic attractions.Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty Images
  
  Downtown Rome covers the "Centro Storico," the central historic district of the ancient and medieval city, as well as the neighborhood adjacent to St. Peter's Square and Vatican City. The area has hundreds of hotels to choose from, ranging from luxurious five-star accommodations to austere rooms in monasteries and convents.
  
  

The Spanish Steps

• The Hotel Hassler is only a short walk from Rome's famous Spanish Steps.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Located at the top of the Spanish Steps, the Hotel Hassler Roma is a five-star classic. In 2009 Travel+Leisure magazine named the Hassler the best hotel in Italy, the best hotel in Rome, and the best city hotel in Europe. The location is ideal for shopping in the boutiques along the Via Condotti. In addition to its elegant restaurants and bars, including the rooftop restaurant Imágo, which has received a Michelin star, the Hassler has a day spa for its guests. The Villa Borghese gardens and the trendy sidewalk cafes of the Via Veneto lie within easy walking distance of the Hassler.
  
  Hotel Hassler Roma
  
  Piazza Trinita dei Monti, 6
  
  00187 Rome, Italy
  
  011-39-6-699-340
  
  hotelhasslerroma.com
  
  

The Pantheon

• Marvel at the dome of the Pantheon, close to the Albergo Santa Chiara.Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty Images
  
  Standing in the little piazza in front of the Albergo Santa Chiara is Bernini's whimsical sculpture of an elephant bearing an Egyptian obelisk on its back. The hotel is in the center of Rome's historic district; the Pantheon is just one street away. The rooms and suites in this three-star hotel are simply furnished but comfortable. Breakfast is served at the hotel, but no other meals, which is no hardship given the many restaurants in the neighborhood. This is an excellent choice if you want to experience Roman nightlife: Every evening lively crowds gather in the cafes and around the fountains of the Piazza della Rotondo and the Piazza Navona.
  
  Albergo Santa Chiara
  
  Via Santa Chiara, 21
  
  00186 Rome, Italy
  
  011-39-6-687-2979
  
  albergosantachiara.com
  
  

The Vatican

• St. Peter's Square is only two blocks from the Hotel Bramante.Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty Images
  
  Housed in a small 15th-century palace, the Hotel Bramante is on a quiet side street, two blocks from St. Peter's Square. In fact, the main advantage of the Bramante is its easy access to St. Peter's, the Vatican museums and the Castel Sant'Angelo. Each of the rooms and suites in this three-star hotel features a color TV, which is not always the case in Rome hotels. Breakfast is served daily. For lunch and dinner, you'll find many restaurants on the Borgo Pio, one block from the hotel.
  
  Hotel Bramante
  
  Vicolo delle Palline, 24
  
  00193 Rome, Italy
  
  011-39-6-687-9881
  
  hotelbramante.com