Federico greeted me warmly, promptly, and gifted me with a large basket of fruit and a bottled water. This was my second stay at Casa Lavaiulia - I was their first Airbnb renter two years ago. Given I stayed this time for 3 weeks, I was happy they had upgraded the washing machine, and added an appropriately tiny ironing board. :) Everything else inside the apartment was still charming and "tiny but perfect" for 1 or 2 people. This is one of the only apartments I've rented in Rome (more than a dozen) that has enough hot water for a proper shower and shampoo - ahhh!
The one small but significant change for the worse (not wihin the apartment owner's control, obviously) is that, two years ago the neighborhood was fairly silent at night - so rare in Rome! But now, the little market shop downstairs doesn't close until 1am - between 11pm and 1:30am, a group of 4-5 talk loudly and call out to one another socially, until finished closing up shop. I used earplugs and soothing music to help cover up the noise and then managed to sleep well.
I love this neighborhood! For me it's the perfect walking distance to walk to my favorite areas - Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, and Trastevere (all of these have great restaurants!). Those areas are much more crowded, so I wouldn't wish to stay right in them, I prefer to return at the end of a busy day to a quieter neighborhood (though didn't find any delicious restaurants here). Being steps from Piazza Mattei, my favorite small piazza in all of Rome, means that one's first and last sights of the day are of the sweet, lovely, Fontana delle Tartarughe - turtles fountain. There are painted panels inside the apartment that echo this fountain. Overall the charm, convenience, and location of this well-appointed apartment make it my favorite apartment in Roma!