Where to begin? I almost am hesitant to write this review because I don't want anyone else finding out about this amazing gem of a place to stay in Rome. But I can't withhold all of the positive things I am compelled to say about Andrea and his truly amazing apartment in Rome. This was my first trip to Italy, and I honestly believe that our stay at Andrea's had nearly everything to do with my falling in love with Rome. The location, just steps away from Vatican City, was absolutely perfect for us. And despite being that close to the Vatican, the apartment is located in a quiet neighborhood with a charming and safe feel. There are quite a few restaurants and small grocery stores that stay open fairly late into the night which made it nice and convenient to grab a bite to eat on the way home after being out for the day. Whether during the day or at night, walking out of the apartment, going just a few steps and turning the corner to get an amazing visual of the dome of St. Peter's Cathedral never failed to take one's breath away. And St. Peter's Square was like our backyard - we passed through multiple times each day. Our stay over Christmas could not have been more perfect. Christmas Eve in St. Peter's Square gave a tangible feel to "all is calm; all is bright." And I don't think I ever could have imagined in my life that I would have a seat in St. Peter's Square to see the Pope in person on Christmas Day (FYI - I am in no way Roman Catholic, and barely a Christian except that I love the teachings of Jesus Christ in the four Gospels, however one can't help but to feel all the feels of seeing the Pope - such an important person to over a billion people - in person, particularly on Christmas Day.). It was so easy to get to and from the apartment - and it was accessible to a number of different neighborhoods, including walking along the river with the option of taking any of multiple bridges to get to other areas on the opposite side of the river. Now to the apartment - wow. Easily accessible up just a few very wide steps to the first floor. And then the inside - impeccably clean with charm. We loved the separate rooms - kitchen, bathroom, dining area, and bedroom. The kitchen worked well for us - we never cooked a full meal here but were able to warm up leftovers and make quick breakfasts before heading out into the city. The bathroom was awesome - and could have easily held both of us if we ever needed to be getting ready simultaneously. The shower is great to boot (unlike our AirBNB in Florence). The dining room was so charming and perfect for us when we ate, had coffee, sat and talked (and even set up the drying rack after washing our clothes in the washing machine thoughtfully located in the kitchen). The bedroom is large with a great closet including lots of hanging space, drawers, and large countertop - complete with iron, ironing board, and vacuum. There were large windows in each room extending nearly all the way to the incredibly high ceilings. We absolutely loved this apartment and its location. And finally to Andrea himself. He is a perfect host. Since it was my first trip to Italy, and I tend to be a planner - I had countless questions for him when I first booked the apartment months before our trip. He was always quick to respond which I greatly appreciated - and he was always patient and thoughtful with me and my inquiries. Although he had planned to greet us at the apartment when our originally arrival time was before 10 p.m., our flight into Rome was delayed, and so he changed our check-in to a self check-in instead which was incredibly easy. (He can grant access to the apartment through an app on his phone - just make sure you can communicate with him via phone or messaging on AirBNB through your own mobile carrier - I thought I had set up international calling but it didn't work right away for me. However I was able to send messages through my data plan.) He had left the keys inside the apartment for us along with clear instructions on how to leave and re-enter the building and the apartment which is incredibly secure. Due solely to our schedule and not Andrea's, it took a couple of days before we connected with Andrea in person - and he was always patient with us when we said we were too busy to meet him during reasonable hours. When we finally met in person, he could not have been nicer. As I said earlier, I believe it was because of Andrea and his apartment that I fell so completely in love with Rome. I will not hesitate for a second to recommend this apartment to any individual or couple who wants to stay in a great place in Rome, and we will absolutely be returning to Rome, and I hope his place is available the next time we go because we will definitely be staying there again.