My experience wasn't as positive as other reviewers, so this might just be a matter of taste. When I arrived at the airport, Francesca had arranged a private car to pick me up. It was very convenient, as the driver met me at the exit and took care of my luggage. Unfortunately, the driver made me leave the car a mile away from the home. The streets were closed for a political protest held by migrant workers. I had to walk about a mile through the protest, which wasn't violent, but very tense, and not a safe situation. I felt that the host could have contacted me to give me a heads up about this. I would have waited somewhere else until everything was clear. Not a good start to the visit. Not the host's fault but could have been handled better.
The neighborhood is really seedy. Graffiti everywhere, dirty, shady characters. Not my style.
There are a lot of tourists in the area, and it is very close to the ancient attractions such as the colosseum. There is a good grocery store directly across the street, and a metro station a few feet away. There's a good breakfast spot that you can see from the window, and a few good restaurants within very close walking distance. These are some of the highlights.
The pictures do not accurately reflect the neighborhood or the apartment. It was photographed to look a lot more elegant than it is. The photos definitely over-promised. Maybe some more realistic photos would keep expectations in line with reality. There were no paper towels, four napkins and a couple rolls of toilet paper for a five night stay. The apartment was under stocked with the basics. On the plus side, the a/c was very good, and the English cable tv was nice. The wifi was spotty everywhere except the bedroom, but it was great in there. It just wasn't for me.