We didn’t want to leave this lovely apartment in a quiet, residential, Rome neighborhood. Located on the top floor of the building and accessible by a charming elevator, Gio’s place has a spacious balcony that spans the length of the apartment. The balcony is furnished with patio furniture that encourages dining al fresco or sharing a bottle of wine as you view the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. Retractable awnings over the balcony make it possible to enjoy it at any time of day or night. The apartment itself is the height of Italian chic—eclectically furnished with an artist’s eye. No detail is left out—there is a large flat screen TV, stereo and CDs, incense, and even a little prism that hangs outside the French doors that casts beams of colored light onto the walls in the morning. There is a table for 4, a sofa and a chair in the living room. The kitchen is cheerfully decorated in red and yellow and contains all you need for a short or long visit, including dishes, glassware, silverware, trays and linens. There is a range, a small refrigerator and a microwave. All dishes and linens are provided, and Gio even greeted us with a bottle of wine and some savory crackers to enjoy on our first night there. The bathroom is very modern and tastefully appointed with a shower, toilet and bidet. A bonus is a washing machine in the bathroom (there was even laundry soap in the apartment). A clothes hanger with clothes pins is also provided, and clothes dry quickly on the balcony. The bed is good, and there is plenty of room in a dresser and closet to store your clothes. Across the street is a small grocery with fresh fruits and vegetables and many grocery essentials. There are cafes and shops on the same street. The Vatican is a 15 minute walk from the apartment with lots of interesting shops, cafes and restaurants on the way. It was lovely to visit tourist attractions, but then retreat to the quiet of a neighborhood when we were ready to rest. Gio was a great host who responded to all of our communications quickly and greeted us at the apartment at check in. He also came by to say goodbye. We highly recommend this apartment to anyone who wants to have the experience of living in Rome.