My wife, Linette, and I were recently gifted a wonderful and very thoughtful holiday to Rome by our daughter. The holiday included the use of the wonderful apartment in Esquilino hosted by Camilla and her family where our daughter had stayed previously during her trip to Rome.
We preorganised our arrival time with Camilla and Rosalba, her mother and received a very warm welcome when we arrived. Camilla speaks fluent English, which helped us a lot until we could get a bit more Italian under our belts.
The apartment is a good size, very neat and tidy and incredibly well stocked with everything you might need, be it for a weekend or for a week or more, obviously you have to provide your own foods etc. though.
Downstairs there is a spotless kitchen with a breakfast bar, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, oven & hob. There's a lovely bathroom, which also houses a washing machine. There is a writing desk, a good sized double sofa and a smart TV with access to Netflix, Amazon & You Tube, if you don't speak fluent Italian just yet and find the terrestrial channels a little confusing.
Upstairs there is a lovely bedroom with a super comfy bed, which is fantastic after so much walking around the sites in the city. There is plenty of room upstairs in the walk-in wardrobe for all your luggage and to hang your clothes with additional shoe racks and chest of drawers.
There is adjustable and directional air-con both upstairs and downstairs, which is such a blessing if you're not used to the heat in Rome. There is also free Wi-Fi in the apartment incase you need a strong internet connection.
Outside the apartment is a lovely courtyard with a table, two chairs and a canopy above it which is so pleasant to enjoy your breakfast under or simply to just sit in the shade under with a coffee.
There are plenty of amenities nearby with local supermarkets, restaurants, cafés and take away food outlets. The Manzoni metro station is only 5 minutes walk away and is a great gateway to many different historic sites and beautiful locations around Rome with trains running every 4 minutes. The historic Colloseum itself is only a 20 minute walk from the apartment.
The apartment has maps and guides of Rome for you, which are so handy if you have poor cellular reception whilst there and Camilla will guide you well with anything you might need a hand with.
Camilla, Rosalba and Camilla's father, Roberto, are a lovely family and they have provided a clean, quiet and, most importantly, SAFE apartment.
Because of all these things it is simply kindness to return the thoughtfulness that they have shown to treat the apartment with care while you're there. Not just for the Marano family, but to bless all the other guests that will benefit from staying at this lovely apartment whilst visiting such a beautiful and historic city.
Dio benedica la famiglia Marano.
- Keith Gainham & Linette Penney-Gainham