Paola's place is awesome! It's a cute little green house with gated entry and private entry room, so I was able to come and go as I pleased and felt very secure. The neighborhood is a bit outside the city, which was nice because it felt safer and much quieter. There are plenty of coffee shops and restaurants within walking distance. Very close to Pignetto, the aqueduct, and a church where you can tour some catacombs. It is about a 10 minute walk to the train station and a 20-30 minute ride to most everything in the city itself.
The room was lovely. Very clean and comfortable. Paola provided tea, coffee, and an electric kettle in the room as well as basic toiletries in the bathroom. Note on the bathroom... If you haven't spent time in Europe before, ask about the Bidet hose (took me a bit to figure that out). The house has a beautiful little garden area where you can sit, sip wine, and enjoy the quiet evenings.
Paola and her partner, Ermanno, are great! They were very hospitable and friendly. Paola does photography, works with immigrants and has traveled all over the world, so she has many great stories. Ermanno is a talented jazz drummer and has an impressive collection of music. They greeted me every day and were more than willing to provide suggestions for places to eat and things to do. A few evenings we sat out in the garden talking and having some wine, which was great. My last night in Rome was also my birthday and Paola and Ermanno made me a wonderful Italian dinner with vegetables from the garden and even got me a cake! It was awesome and so kind of them! Also, definitely ask Paola to play some Calabrian music.
Overall it was a great experience and a perfect place to stay! The quality for the price is absolutely unbeatable. I highly recommend Paola's!