Maria's place is very cool and in a very convenient location if you're coming in by train. We spent two nights here and enjoyed walking checking out the area with this as our home base. It is a bit farther from the major sites (probably about a 20-25 min walk to the Colosseum if you walk quickly) but it does give you a chance to see more of the Esquilino neighborhoods. There's a great, truly authentic Italian caffe on the street below the building.