The unit is a mashup of different eras, from 9'+ high Victorian painted ceilings, to period antiques, to modern furniture, to grandma's best. Host communicates within a couple hours and meets you in person. He's a treasure trove of information on what to do, eat, and see in the area. He was an amazing host! The flat felt even more spacious with the high ceilings. We had a nice stay, but there were definitely pros and cons.
Pros: Much closer to sights than expected (easy to walk to Spanish steps & Fiori Fountain area; Colosseum & Forum only a short bus ride away); Plenty of space in apartment; Grocery stores just a couple blocks away; BEST gelato place 5 minutes away (La Donna); Beautiful painted ceilings; Nice to have hairdryer & iron; Safe neighborhood; Quick walk to/from Termini station, busses, metro, & tram; Separate bidet next to toilet in bathroom; Beautiful antique end tables & dressers; Multi-spray shower; Great host-made tourist manual highlighting nearby restaurants and shops with maps included;
Cons: Additional "Rome Tax" of about 3+ euros per person/per night (add'l 73 euros for us) is required IN CASH upon arrival (I'm totally skeptical on this, but most of the other listings in the area mentioned it, so I was prepared, even though his listing did not mention it when we booked) The apartment is DARK (pictures are deceptively brighter) which made it very difficult for us to wake up in the morning; Cool ceiling lighting possibilities, but many lightbulbs were burned out and didn't work; No dryer which means tending your laundry to dry on the back porch and hope it is not a humid night; Lackluster throws on sofa (to hide the disintegrating vinyl) and main bed (just a fleece throw not a regular comforter as shown in picture); Electrical in kitchen is temperamental (only one appliance can be used at a time); Ivy on back porch was dead (unlike pictures); Older stove (needs to be lit with matches or lighter); Would be helpful to have more necessities like toilet paper, napkins, & laundry soap
The place could use updating, but served us well and was well located, not to mention Ferruccio was a great host!