This apartment is what AB&B should be! A real apartment rented out by real people, and not an investment property professionally run by an agency pretending to be the owner. Francesca loves eclectic vintage and antique decor, and the high ceilings and her collection made the place feel homey to us--we share an aesthetic. In the US "garden apartment" is often a code word for a basement space, but that is NOT what this place is, as it is a short half flight of stairs up from the front door. With the back windows open, you may get a visit from one or 2 of Francesca's cats, so if you have pet allergies, this might not be the place for you, but if you don't mind a visit, the brave one will even let you give him some love without being intrusive.
We were apparently her first AB&B guests, and were very happy with her communication and friendliness. She was very responsive to our inquiries and knowledgeable about her neighborhood, which included nearby local restaurants and bars that are not just for tourists, but for the locals--there was even locally renowned good Chinese a block away. The Wi-fi was not the fastest we encountered, but perfectly serviceable for evening internet surfing to plan the next day and post photos of the day gone by. There is a main bedroom as well as a fold-out bed by the back windows (which is separate from the living room couches, although open to it.)
The high-ceilinged main floor apartment is in a great location just an easy 15-17 minute walk from the Rome Termini train station--or 2 short subway or a few tram stops away. There is a full grocery store literally across the street, as well as a Metro stop 3 blocks away and bus/tram just 20 meters from the front door. The neighborhood is not a fancy tourist area, but felt very safe and had a good variety of restaurants and wine bars nearby, while being very easy to access from the main tourist spots. The coliseum is a short walk or tram/bus away, and the Spanish steps and Trevi Fountain are a straight shot on the Metro about 5 stops away. It was really nice to have a real living room with a couple of couches to collapse onto at the end of each day.
We were really happy with the location's convenience and Francesca's hospitality!