Argentina Residenza Style Hotel

Beware the ides of March: it’s here, in the Roman piazza now known as Largo di Torre Argentina, that Julius Caesar was assassinated by his conspirators in 44 BC. These days, a couple of millennia later, the square is perhaps best known to tourists for its cat sanctuary. Hundreds of felines lounge around on the picturesque ruins of four ancient temples and the Theatre of Pompey, soaking up the sunshine and creating endless photo opportunities for passerby. You’ll see them from the windows of Argentina Residenza, a small and stylish guest house located on the third floor of one of the stately buildings that line the square. If you have a camera with a zoom lens, all the better.

There’s no grand entrance here: a stay at the Argentina Residenza is more like being in a private apartment. Standard rooms are, well, standard, but smart and elegant, with high ceilings, parquet floors, heavy drapery and brand-new bathrooms. Each comes with a flat-screen TV, free wi-fi, a universal charger, a coffee and tea station, a bathtub and a separate glass-encased shower. Upgrade to a suite for extras like a Jacuzzi and a Nespresso machine. But that’s about the extent of the in-room luxury. This isn’t one of Rome’s lavish old hotels, but a stylish and practical guesthouse, a place to recharge between sightseeing and wining and dining in the Eternal City, to linger over a simple but gourmet continental breakfast while planning the day’s activities.

One of Argentina Residenza’s great assets is the people: it’s not like you have to try hard to find a good place to eat around here, you're in the very heart of Rome. But with the help of the hotel’s in-the-know staff, you’ll find your way away down quieter passageways to the family-run trattorias and tiny cocktail bars that are popular with locals. If you lose your way, as one tends to do in this cobblestoned labyrinth, especially after a couple of apertivi, don’t bother inquiring after Caesar or the temples. Just ask anyone to point you toward the cat sanctuary.