Ricchi's B & B

Ricchi's B&B is something in between a nice hotel and the house of a truly Roman grandma; you get all the amenities of a hotel (air-conditioning, mini-fridge, TV, double-glazed windows to keep it quiet), but you're also staying in a real home, and a very lived-in one at that. Rosanna Ricchi's place is packed with photos telling the story of her life, her grandchildren's toys are all over the place, and her living room is filled with typical "grandma" knick-knacks, food, gifts, embroideries, etc. On the other hand, the separate area for guests is orderly, clean, and bright. The two guestrooms have private bathrooms (one is ensuite, and one is non-ensuite, and no, unfortunately we can't guarantee anybody a certain room!).

Rosanna, the legendary (if you read reviews of her place) hostess, is in great shape physically and mentally, but she is, after all, in her seventies, so her trusted cleaner Ivona comes in daily to help keep the place sparkling. You can tell that Rosanna has taken care of a large, happy family in her lifetime, and it has become second nature. She now thrives on putting all that care into making her guests' stay special, if she feels it's appreciated -- she also knows how to be discreet and give guests their space!

Rosanna doesn't just set out some pastries and coffee for breakfast; she sets a perfect breakfast table with her best silverware and fine porcelain, a fruit bowl, and a beautiful table cloth (she says some of her younger guests even feel a bit embarrassed about the fuss made over them!) She doesn't just make coffee, but waits until she hears her guests stir before turning on the coffee maker so as to have it hot and ready when they're ready for breakfast.

There are stories of guests who have left her in the morning immersed in a "mountain of tomatoes" in her tiny kitchen, to come back in the evening after a long day of sightseeing to find her in the same spot and position, still canning tomatoes. In perfect grandma fashion, she is, of course, always good for a surprise: this innocent tomato-canning and (award-winning!) pie-baking "nonna" is a modern artist who in her free time plays around with funky images and decoupage techniques to make surprising pieces of modern-art furniture and pictures.

The B&B is a short, ten-minute walk to St. Peter's. It's very well-connected to bus and train lines that lead to all other parts of the city. The rooms look out on busy Via Gregorio VII, but are an oasis of peace inside.

*Please note that for triple rooms, she can only accept a third person if it is a child under 5 years old. She cannot accept 3 adults in a triple room.*