For a total Roman immersion this is the place. It's located in an alley, a block from Piazza Navona in a 16th Century building facing another building whose walls were built by the ancient Romans, Let's get the negatives out of the way. You have to climb 30 steps to get the apartment, no lift, and there is no living room. But the trade-off is four large bedrooms ensuite - well worth it. A well-equipped kitchen and dining area and a small outside patio which seats six. And, most importantly, Barbara invested heavily in air conditioning everywhere, a washer and dryer, frig and she provides all of the supplies from coffee to laundry detergent. The lack of a living room isn't important because you are in the center of Roman life. Step out of your door and you are flanked by two restaurants with excellent seafood.. Turn right and in a minute you have pastry shops, caffes etc.
Turn right up the alley you find Catina & Cucina (best carbonara in Rome) that is the tip of the iceberg of probably 100 sidewalk ristorantes attracting an endless parade of dinners from tourists to locals well past midnight. It a safe, lively ecosystem with music, families, college kids of vacation, grand parents taking their multi-generation clan for an adventure. No fights. No uncomfortable leering. During the day, the Vatican is a 10 minute walk and for a $10 cab ride you can hit nearly everything that you want to see. Remember Rome is a contradiction of itself. Great art scarred by ugly graffiti everywhere by no-body vandals who should have their arms chopped off. Bottom line. This is a great apartment, ata great price hosted by a great hostess.
Dennis