Review of Hotel Santa Maria, by Joanna Monkhouse

As a city comprised of luxury and glamourous elegance, the boutique Hotel Santa Maria is in no way out of place in Italy's capital. Tucked into a bend of the river lies Trastevere (across the Tiber), Rome's 'left bank', a warren of cobbled streets, bars, boutiques and popular trattorias. Just off the piazza in the heart of this ever more desirable area is the Hotel Santa Maria, a one storey boutique establishment surrounding two courtyards of orange trees. This space, cocooned by the neighbouring buildings, was once a 17th-century convent, then a car and motorcycle workshop until its latest transformation in 2000.

The staff are friendly and welcoming. Stephano, the manager, is also a qualified guide and arranges superb tours of Rome's major attractions both for groups and individuals. On summer evenings Hotel Santa Maria offers an orientation tour of the locality to new guests. The rates are a steal in this city of eternally increasing boutique hotel prices.

The facilities

An inviting buffet breakfast is served in the airy, pillared breakfast room of terracotta floor tiles and dark beamed ceiling. It doubles as a bar in the evenings and has an internet point for guests. Both breakfast and evening drinks can be enjoyed in the courtyard when it is warm enough, about 8 months of the year.

The rooms

The boutique hotel has 18 simple rooms decorated in pale yellow and green florals that reflect the vibrant nature of Rome. Most are doubles or twins, junior suites feature a sofa bed. The suites can sleep a family of up to 5/6, some have further beds on a higher level under a mansard roof. Original artwork, tiled floors (deliciously cool in summer, a bit chilly in winter), wooden furniture and wrought iron or padded bedheads bring a Provencal feel to the rooms. The walls at Hotel Santa Maria are thick which keeps the rooms cool in the heat of summer, but there is also air conditioning. Between some rooms noise travels via the ceiling space in the bathrooms - this is an issue that the management are aware of and are working on. The bathrooms feature tubs (all but three), bidets and large shower heads. One room is adapted for wheelchair users.