First of all, Luca is a total professional. I was a bit nervous to book the apartment given that it was so new to the market that it only had four reviews, but not after talking to Luca. He was very responsive to emails and happily obliged all of my many questions (and I had quite a few). He was always accessible - even when he should’ve been sleeping given the time difference! - and provided multiple ways to get in touch with him. During our stay, we ran into him a few times and he was always friendly and asked if there was anything that we needed. He provides a personal touch, which is not usually the case when renting an apartment, and is a real gem. Lucas is also honest.

The apartment itself is spacious and light-filled. It was clean, safe, and everything worked perfectly. The unit faces out towards a one-way street, which does not get a lot of traffic. A large street light is outside the building, but noise- and light-reducing shutters are on every window. The building has locks at the street gate, the building, and the unit. The apartment is accessible by a (quiet) elevator or two flights of stairs.

The wifi was super fast throughout the apartment. Two of us simultaneously streamed movies and used FaceTime. The beds were very comfortable. Without asking, Luca provided additional large towels (more like bath sheets). We had plenty of hot water for everyone. The kitchen was well-stocked: pots, pans, plates, utensils, glasses, soap, sponge, towels, dish rack, and basic cooking needs like oil and seasonings. There is also a dishwasher, a small washing machine and drying rack, an iron and an ironing board. Luca provided everything that was necessary for a comfortable stay. The water is rather hard, but that is an issue throughout Rome, not the apartment. I only mention it if anyone has long or thick hair, like me, and needs to bring extra conditioner or special products to deal with it.

The apartment is easy access to the Vatican Museums - literally less than a five minute walk - and Luca will tell you how to skip the lines. One day we left the apartment and heard a roar. We walked down the street, turned towards St. Peter’s, and saw that a large group had gathered to see the Pope. For the Vatican or St. Peter’s Basilica, this is the perfect apartment! For other sites, the metro is close, but we preferred to walk through a bustling square and past a castle. It is a quiet neighborhood far from the chaos of the more touristy areas, but it does have plenty of amenities such as a grocery store and several good restaurants. If you need almost anything, the street behind the apartment is much busier with various shops. Oh, and gelato is within walking distance.

I would definitely rent the same apartment, or another one from Luca, if I were back in Rome.