If you’re tired of navigating crowded piazzas and tourist-trap restaurants while searching for the “real Rome”, it’s time to venture beyond the well-worn path to the Spanish Steps and Colosseum. Tucked away from the selfie sticks and souvenir stands lies a neighborhood, Salario, where Romans actually live, work, and gather—a place where you can sip your morning espresso alongside locals heading to work, browse family-run shops that have served the same customers for generations, and discover trattorias where the menu changes based on what’s fresh at the nearby market.

This is where our latest acquisition is: Piazza Alessandria 22 is a spacious apartment in the beautiful piazza by the same name.

On the fourth floor of a building dating back to the early 20th century (but with an elevator!), Alessandria 22 is an interesting solution for visitors who come to Rome not only with the expectation of experiencing a less touristy and more authentic capital city, but also with specific requirements such as the possibility of accommodating a larger family: up to six people can stay comfortably here!

With two bathrooms, an office area, a laundry room, and a kitchenette equipped with all the appliances you need for a comfortable stay, Alessandria 22 is a real Roman apartment, not your usual vacation rental! In a building steeped in history (designed for employees of the historic Peroni brewery that used to be nearby), Alessandria 22 is versatile and affordable for all budgets!

We mentioned the Peroni brewery: for decades, it was the most imposing presence in the Salario district. Today, its buildings have been converted (commercial establishments, gyms, a modern art museum – the famous MACRO, with a free admission), but they are not the only interesting things in the area: right in the square, a lively market – one of the oldest in Rome – is among the most visited attractions in this part of the city. Nearby Piazza Fiume is also where you can see and walk around the ancient Roman walls!

Piazza Alessandria and its surroundings really have a lot to offer visitors, from services such as banks, a post office, a laundromat, movie theaters, and bars, gelato parlors, and dozens of high-quality restaurants. You won’t find any tourist traps here!

While the existence of the former Peroni factory reminds us that this area of Rome was once considered the suburbs,  the historic center can be reached in just a few minutes thanks to the extensive network of city buses that run through this part of the city.

Other attractions such as Porta Pia, Villa Borghese and the Borghese Gallery, Villa Torlonia with its city museums, the archaeological complex of the Baths of Diocletian, and the church of Santa Maria della Vittoria, which houses Bernini’s masterpiece “The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa,” are all within walking distance…. And Termini station is also just 10 minutes away by public transport. What more could you want? Here, you won’t just visit Rome—you’ll live it.