Housed in a beautiful white building built in the 1870s and set off from the street by a wide open, empty stone patio, Al Colonnato consists of little more than three guest rooms. The entrance is empty except for a table that holds a phone, tour books, candy, and fresh flowers. Although it is located off a busy street, no street noise reaches the interior. Most of the guests are couples or solo travelers who want to stay somewhere homey while touring the nearby Vatican and Italian tourist spots. 

The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica looms down the street, and each of the Colonnato’s three rooms overlooks the ancient Aurelian Walls. The Vatican is within a 10-minute walk, as is the Castel Sant’Angelo. The Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Trastevere, and Piazzas di Spagna and Navona are less than a 30-minute walk away. For shopping, Via Candia, Via Ottaviano, and Via Cola di Rienzo are within a 20-minute walk. Bus No. 64 stops down the street, and its route includes the Colosseum, Villa Borghese, the Forum, and Roma Termini train station, which is about a 30-minute ride away, and connects to Rome Fiumicino Airport.

There are only three rooms at the Colonnato, two with private bathrooms and the third with a bathroom just outside the door. The bathrooms, though small, are remodeled and are immaculately clean, equipped with soap and toiletries, a toilet, bidet, and stand-up shower stall. Along with high ceilings and heavy wooden cabinets, headboards, nightstand, chair, and wardrobe, each room has a large orthopedic bed, a mini-fridge and safe, a heater and air-conditioner, a small, flat-screen satellite TV, and free Wi-Fi. The rooms look out on the Vatican’s ancient Aurelian Walls. Each room is clean and quiet. Though they're not huge, they're large enough to enjoy breakfast or relax after a day of taking in the sights.

The bed and breakfast has been owned by the same family for several years, and has a long history of hands-on help for guests. Staff is happy to arrange airport transport, and dinner or tour reservations. A breakfast of cappuccino, fresh fruit, and pastries is served in the rooms every morning, and fresh fruit and bottled water are available throughout the day. The rooms have free Wi-Fi and satellite TV. There is no easy parking nearby.