Host: Ezio went above and beyond to make our stay in Rome a truly memorable one. He was flexible with check-in and was very communicative throughout the entire process. During our stay, Ezio inquired about our plans for the next few days and shared with us an entire 3-day itinerary for Rome, Vatican City, and Naples. His guide included google map directions, a list of all the main sights alongside hidden gems and absolutely amazing food recommendations. Since this guide was made by a local, we managed to avoid the tourist trap-y, overpriced restaurants and had a taste of quality Italian food at reasonable prices. Ezio also invited us to join local music shows, hangouts and a film screening that was happening in the area. During our downtime, we also exchanged great conversations about capitalism, climate change, movies and the likes.
Place: Ezio's apartment was clean, spacious and got a lot of natural sunlight. The sofa bed was large and more than comfortable for two people. Although we were just in the living room, Ezio gave us our space and made us feel right at home. The bathroom was also clean and large. The kitchen was well equipped with separated trash bins for different items - definitely a plus!
Location: Ezio's apartment is a 2-minute walk from the tram/bus station and a 5-minute walk from the metro. Coming into Rome, this makes for convenient travels to and from the bus station, train station, and airport. It also gave us quick access to Rome's central city with all the sights you'd want to visit. Pigneto, where Ezio's apartment is, itself is a very cool and alternative place to be. The nightlife is great with lots of local bars, cafes and restaurants open till late.
Summary: If you're the kind of traveller who wants to experience the true vibe of a place, meet and hang out with locals, see an alternative side to the normal tourist sites and don't mind sleeping on a sofa bed, then I highly recommend Ezio's place. He was a wonderful host and we got to see a side of Rome that we would have totally missed out on otherwise!